The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list has been released, celebrating the top bars shaping the global cocktail scene. For the first time, the top honor went to a bar in Asia: Bar Leone in Hong Kong’s Central district. Inspired by neighborhood bars in Rome where locals meet for aperitivi, coffee and conversation, Bar Leone recreates the atmosphere of 1980s and ’90s Rome. Its menu rotates frequently, offering seasonal and inventive cocktails that reflect its nostalgic Italian influences.
Handshake Speakeasy © 50 Best
In second place is Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico City. The bar is known for its precise takes on classic cocktails—espresso martinis and dirty martinis among them—alongside drinks that blend Mexican and Japanese elements. Signature creations such as the Lychee Highball (Vólcan de mi Tierra B.T., lychee sake, jasmine tea and soda) and Matcha Yuzu (Toki whiskey, matcha, vanilla, yuzu and whey) showcase this fusion. Handshake also offers an exceptional tequila selection and an inventive range of tea-based sparkling cocktails.
Third place went to Sips in Barcelona. Sips highlights playful reinterpretations of familiar drinks—its espresso martini variation is a crowd favorite—and offers cocktails like Bloom, which combines Grey Goose vodka, Saint Germain, honey, black lemon and milk oolong tea for a fragrant, layered sip.
Sip and Guzzle © 50 Best
The highest-ranked U.S. entry is New York City’s Superbueno, which placed 12th. The United States placed four bars in the top 50 overall: Sip & Guzzle (New York, No. 39), Double Chicken Please (New York, No. 41), and Jewel of the South (New Orleans, No. 44), in addition to Superbueno.
London remained a major hub for cocktail culture, placing four bars in the top 50: Tayēr + Elementary (No. 5), Connaught Bar (No. 6), Satan’s Whiskers (No. 21), and Scarfes Bar (No. 31). These venues continue to influence trends with imaginative menus, expert bartending and atmospheres that range from refined to playful.
Bar Leone © 50 Best
The awards also highlighted regional standouts. Nairobi’s Hero Bar was named the best bar in Africa and appears at No. 69 on the extended list. In the Middle East, Dubai’s Mimi Kakushi earned the top regional spot at No. 36. Australasia’s best bar remains Melbourne’s Caretaker’s Cottage, which placed No. 19.
The 2025 ranking reflects evolving global tastes—greater appreciation for regional ingredients, tea-infused cocktails, and cross-cultural techniques—while reaffirming the creativity and hospitality that define exceptional bars. The full ranked list and details on each bar’s approach can be found through the official 50 Best Bars channels.