Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025: Bar Leone remains No. 1, steep drop in number of Singapore bars on the list

Hong Kong’s Bar Leone was crowned No. 1 spot for the second year running at this year’s Asia 50 Best Bars ceremony in Wynn Palace in Macau. The popular bar by Lorenzo Antinori snagged for the top spot for second year in a row, making it both the Best Bar in Hong Kong and the Best Bar in Asia for 2025

This is yet another impressive showing for Bar Leone, whose explosive catapult to the No. 1 spot last year made Asia’s 50 Best Bars history. This marked the first time a new bar debuted directly in first place. It also placed No. 2 at the World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in 2024. 

The top three bars on the list were the same as last year’s. The No. 2 spot went to Zest in Seoul, while Jigger and Pony came in at No. 3.

Singapore had only five bars on the list this year, a large drop from 11 on the list for the last two years. Apart from Jigger and Pony retaining its title of The Best Bar in Singapore for the sixth consecutive year, the only newcomer from last year to retain its position in the top 50 is Offtrack, which rose two spots to No. 23. Nutmeg & Clove plummeted to No. 24 this year after being sixth overall in 2024, while Native (No. 45) also fell 14 spots. 

Singapore’s only new entry to the list this year is Cat Bite Club (No. 44), a neighbourhood cocktail club founded in June 2023. With a focus on agave and rice spirits, it describes itself as “a place where mischief meets mastery”. 

The sustainability-focused Korean bar Zest retained its No. 2 spot for the second year running, while Bar Us (No. 4) from Bangkok climbed 17 places from last year. This year’s winner of the Highest New Entry award is Dry Wave Cocktail Studio from Bangkok, which debuted at an impressive No. 5, rounding off the top 5 bars in Asia. Dry Wave Cocktail Studio previously also won the Campari One to Watch award in 2024. 

This year’s Campari One to Watch award went to Workshop14 (No. 83 on the extended 51-100 list) in Hanoi, recognising it for its fusion of modern drink recipes and traditional Vietnamese ingredients, while Bangkok’s Vesper (No.29) was the recipient of 2025’s Rémy Martin Legend of the List Award. 

The Best Bar Design award, introduced last year, went to Messenger Service (No. 90) from Bangkok, with Sora in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, winning the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award for its zero-waste beverage initiative, utilising everything from reusable containers to ethically sourced local ingredients to maintain its eco-friendliness. 

Industry icon Jay Khan, who is the founder of Coa in Hong Kong (No. 17), Coa Shanghai (No.85) and The Savoury Project, was honoured with the Roku Industry Icon award. A former Altos Bartenders’ Bartender awardee in 2020, Coa Hong Kong retained the No. 1 spot in Asia for three years under his leadership before it was dethroned by Bar Leone in 2024. However, Coa’s position on the list took a great tumble after being ranked No. 4 last year.

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “The region’s bars continue to redefine excellence in cocktail culture, as seen in the talent and creativity of this year’s winners. With 20 new entries, the most in recent years, this list is a testament to the boundary-pushing creativity of Asia, with truly memorable drink experiences waiting to be explored by cocktail enthusiasts.”

Held every year, the Asia’s’ 50 Best Bars list is determined by votes from Asia’s 50 Best Bars Academy, composed of 300 of the region’s most renowned bartenders, mixologists, drinks writers and specialists. Run by UK-based media company William Reed Business Media since 2016, it showcases the regional talent and innovation within the drinks industry in Asia.