List Of Asia’s Top 50 Best Bars for 2024: Bar Leone Crowned As Best Bar

Bar Leone, a vibrant Italian cocktail bar nestled in central Hong Kong, has clinched the title of Asia’s Best Bar for 2024. This prestigious accolade marks a significant milestone for the establishment, considering it has been open for just about a year.

The recognition was announced at the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ceremony held on July 16 at the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong’s Kowloon district.

The win comes as a pleasant surprise to Bar Leone’s co-founder, Lorenzo Antinori, who spoke to CNN following the award ceremony.

“We were not expecting this,” Antinori said, reflecting on the unexpected victory. Originally from Rome, Antinori transitioned from a legal career to the bar industry, finding greater joy in his part-time job behind the bar than in his law studies.

His enthusiasm for the vibrant bar scene in Hong Kong is evident, as he notes the city’s evolving cocktail culture post-pandemic, driven by fresh ideas and innovative business models.

Asia’s 50 Best Bars for 2024
Rank	Name	City
1	Bar Leone	Hong Kong
2	Zest	Seoul
3	Jigger & Pony	Singapore
4	Coa	Hong Kong
5	Bar Benfiddich	Tokyo
6	Nutmeg & Clove	Singapore
7	BKK Social Club	Bangkok
8	Penrose	Kuala Lumpur
9	Argo	Hong Kong
10	The Aubrey	Hong Kong
11	Virtù	Tokyo
12	The Cocktail Club	Jakarta
13	Vesper	Bangkok
14	Hope & Sesame	Guangzhou
15	Sago House	Singapore
16	Night Hawk	Singapore
17	Darkside	Hong Kong
18	Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar	Bangkok
19	The Savory Project	Hong Kong
20	Bar Cham	Seoul
21	Bar Us	Bangkok
22	The St. Regis Bar	Macao
23	The SG Club	Tokyo
24	Penicillin	Hong Kong
25	Offtrack	Singapore
26	Quinary	Hong Kong
27	Pantja	Jakarta
28	Craftroom	Osaka
29	Smoke & Bitters	Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka
30	Vender	Taichung, Taiwan
31	Native	Singapore
32	Origin Bar	Singapore
33	The Curator	Manila
34	The Bellwood	Tokyo
35	Analogue Initiative	Singapore
36	Bar Trigona	Kuala Lumpur
37	Bar Mood	Taipei
38	Employees Only	Singapore
39	Barc	Kathmandu
40	ZLB23	Bengaluru, India
41	Reka	Kuala Lumpur
42	Fura	Singapore
43	CMYK	Changsha, China
44	The Public House	Taipei
45	Mostly Harmless	Hong Kong
46	Alice	Seoul
47	The Halflington	Hanoi
48	Le Chamber	Seoul
49	Atlas	Singapore
50	Pine & Co	Seoul

The Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards are determined by votes from bar industry professionals, media representatives, and mixology experts throughout the region.

The criteria include the quality of drinks, service levels, and the elusive “vibe” of the bar, which collectively contribute to the overall experience.

This year’s ceremony highlighted not just the top bars but also new entrants making waves in the cocktail scene.

an Italian cocktail spot in central Hong Kong – has been crowned the best bar in Asia. It’s an impressive achievement, considering the venue has only been open for about a year.

“We were not expecting this,” co-founder Lorenzo Antinori told CNN shortly after the award ceremony.

Before Bar Leone’s remarkable rise, Hong Kong’s Coa held the top spot for three consecutive years, a record for the awards.

Coa’s owner, Jay Khan, whose latest venture, The Savory Project, was recognized as the year’s best new opening, was among those celebrating Bar Leone’s success.

Khan, known for his mezcal-forward approach at Coa, expressed his support, acknowledging that being number one is not always the ultimate goal.

Emma Sleight, head of content for 50 Best Bars and 50 Best Hotels, praised Asia’s bar scene for its dynamism and constant evolution. She emphasized that each city’s bar landscape can change rapidly, with new establishments continuously reshaping the industry.

In a celebratory tone, Lorenzo Antinori concluded the evening with a light-hearted promise: “Free drinks at Bar Leone for everyone tonight!” He humorously checked with his team, “The bar is closed tonight, right?” signaling a joyous and well-deserved celebration of their significant achievement.