Bar Leone

Bar Leone opened in Central in mid-2023 as the first solo venture of the Italian bartender Lorenzo Antinori, who previously worked at bars including Charles H, Caprice Bar and Argo. It rose quickly. The bar was ranked number one in Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2024 and 2025, was named The World's Best Bar in 2025, and in 2026 placed third in Asia and was named the Best Bar in Hong Kong.

The idea is simple and deliberately unpretentious. Antinori built the bar around the Italian notion of cocktail popolari, or cocktails for the people, with an emphasis on speed, consistency and simplicity. The list relies on spirits and ingredients found on most back bars, often Italian, rather than obscure house-made preparations, so drinks arrive quickly and taste the same every time.

The house order is the Leone Martini, which is pre-batched and poured chilled at service, finished with a twist or a smoked olive. The Spring Break Manhattan is another favourite, made with a chamomile-infused Italian vermouth and saffron orange bitters. To eat, the smoked olive and mortadella sandwich is the signature snack, and some cocktails are sold canned to take away.

The room is styled as an Italian neighbourhood bar. Framed football shirts hang on the walls and the soundtrack swings between Italo disco and Pavarotti. Because of its awards, the bar is busy, especially later in the evening and at weekends, so arrive early or be prepared to wait for space. Prices are in line with Hong Kong's top cocktail bars.

Its run of awards in just a few years, from Asia's top spot to The World's Best Bar, shows how quickly a simple, well-executed idea can win over both drinkers and the industry. The bar posts updates on its Instagram account, which is the easiest place to check before you go.

Bar Leone suits couples, small groups of friends and solo drinkers who enjoy classic cocktails without fuss. It is less suited to large groups or anyone wanting a quiet, seated evening at peak times. Bridges Street is in Central, so it is easy to combine with dinner at Ho Lee Fook on Elgin Street or Mott 32, or with a visit to Coa on Shin Hing Street, another of Hong Kong's most awarded bars. Check the bar's website or social media for current opening hours before you go.