Bar Leone is not a new concept: from its walls adorned with framed football jerseys to the dual soundtrack of Italo disco and Pavarotti, there are dozens of charming spots like it in the Italian capital. But Leone is more than a simple transplant. Opened in mid-2023 in Hong Kong's Central district, it is the first solo venture from the effortlessly charismatic Lorenzo Antinori, who previously held the reins at Charles H, Caprice Bar and Argo.
After years working with scientific methodologies and advanced techniques in his previous roles, Antinori wanted to strip back all superfluity for his own venue. Everything at Leone is guided by its core philosophy: 'cocktail popolari,' meaning 'cocktails for the people'. Speed, consistency and simplicity guide its drinks programme, which majors on spirits and ingredients found on almost every backbar, with a particular penchant for Italian bottles. The Leone Martini, for example, is pre-batched to be poured straight into a chilled glass at the point of service, with a twist or smoked olive in tow. Other cocktails, including the King Kong Negroni, see classics injected with a fun twist (toasted coconut chips and banana liqueur in this case); some are also available canned and ready to take home. To pair with its drinks, the smoked olives and mortadella sandwich have already established their status as one of the world's finest bar snack offerings.
In 2024, Bar Leone made 50 Best Bars history as the first-ever establishment to debut on the list in the No.1 position. In 2025, it holds onto its title as both The Best Bar in Hong Kong and The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by Perrier.
