Time to raise a glass – the results are in. The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list has just dropped, and once again it’s proof that the global cocktail scene has never been more exciting, experimental or downright delicious at bars from Milan to Singapore.
Taking the top spot this year is Bar Leone in Hong Kong, an intimate Italian-inspired bar that’s only been open for two years. Founded by bartender Lorenzo Antinori, it’s proof that sometimes simplicity trumps spectacle. Forget smoke machines and Heston Blumenthal-style theatrics – the philosophy is all about reviving the classics with impeccable craftsmanship, seasonal ingredients and warm neighbourhood charm.
In second place is Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City, where you’ll feel like you’ve slipped into the 1920s the moment you walk through the door. The interiors are pure Great Gatsby – dark wood, gold accents and soft jazz – but the drinks are modern art in a glass. Expect playful, inventive cocktails that reimagine old favourites (one even arrives disguised as a bouquet of flowers).
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Meanwhile, Barcelona continues its reign as Europe’s cocktail capital, with Sips landing in third place and Paradiso close behind in fourth.
Sips, run by award-winning bartenders Simone Caporale and Marc Álvarez, is sleek and theatrical, serving drinks that blur the line between bar and laboratory in the best possible way. Paradiso, tucked behind a pastrami shop fridge door, remains one of the city’s most creative drinking dens, famous for its inventive presentations and boundary-pushing techniques.
Aside from Barcelona, London is the only other city with two entries in the top ten. Tayēr + Elementary, known for its stripped-back minimalism and cutting-edge approach, lands at number six, while The Connaught Bar – an evergreen Mayfair institution famed for its martini trolley and impeccable service – sits comfortably at number seven.
The same bars claimed the top three spots in last year’s list, though Bar Leone was second in 2024 and Handshake Speakeasy first.
For more drinking destinations, check out the top ten bars in the world below.
The top 10 best bars in the world, according to World’s 50 Best
1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong
2. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City
3. Sips, Barcelona
4. Paradiso, Barcelona
5. Tayēr + Elementary, London
6. Connaught Bar, London
7. Moebius Milano, Milan
8. Line, Athens
9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore
10. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires
See the full list of the World’s 50 Best Bars here.
ICYMI: These 61 bars have been added to a prestigious Michelin-style list.
Plus: The beautiful Mediterranean capital named Europe’s best city to visit this year.
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