Hong Kong Cocktail Bar Named Asia's Best
The terracotta paint on the outside walls of Bar Leone is peeling off in places. There's a palm tree beside the arch-shaped door.
This bar could be anywhere in the Mediterranean. But it's not. It's in the center of Hong Kong, and this place has just been named Asia's best bar.
And if that wasn't enough, it was also named the best new cocktail bar in the world at the Spirited Awards in the US.
So what's so good about this Hong Kong cocktail spot? Italian boss Lorenzo Antinori says he makes "cocktails for the people."
That means making drinks that are quick and simple, said the judges. That, and some nice sandwiches. But also, it's about "the vibe."
Not everything on the menu is simple. For example, Antinori uses Japanese yuzushu — a drink made from yuzu — in his negronis.
Bar Leone, which has only been open for about a year, was one of nine Hong Kong bars in the top 50.
Singapore had the most bars in the list, with 11, while Seoul bar Zest was named the second best in Asia.
Tokyo had two bars in the top 20, with Bar Benfiddich coming in fifth.
The 10-year-old bar, which only has seats for 17 people, has no menu and many of the drinks are made with ingredients from owner Hiroyasu Kayama's farm outside the capital.
Craftroom in Osaka was 28th in the list. It was the first time an Osaka bar has been named in the top 50 since the list was first published in 2016.
