As most people who are interested in drinks, nightlife, and bar culture will know by now, Hong Kong’s very own Bar Leone has just been awarded first place in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 ceremony on Wednesday, October 8. This friendly neighbourhood watering hole in Sheung Wan has only been around for two years, but it has already broken so much ground, debuting as the Best Bar in Asia and winning second place in World’s 50 Best Bars in 2024, and finally being awarded this highest accolade this year.
We’ve already reported last month that Bar Leone is set to open a new location in Shanghai, and we took the chance at the World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony to grill the co-founders about their plans, so here’s what we know about Bar Leone 2.0.
It will be a larger space than Hong Kong’s original bar
Bar Leone is not really small by any means, but anyone who’s been there for a filthy martini will know that the queues can go down the block and once you’ve made it through the doors, you’re often still rubbing shoulders with your neighbours. Their new space in Shanghai is going to be spread out over two floors, so fingers crossed that it’ll be easier to get in!
They’ll be serving low-alcohol options alongside regular cocktails
Bar Leone’s ethos has always been ‘cocktail popolari’ – cocktails for the people – and that means drinks that are accessible and approachable. The team will therefore be catering to all bar-goers by offering lighter sips and low-ABV beverages on the ground floor, such as spritzes and highballs. “It’s inspired by these great Italian aperitivo bars where you just stop and have a little negroni or a spritz,” says co-founder Lorenzo Antinori.
Some of the Bar Leone Hong Kong signatures will be available in Shanghai
While the ground floor of Leone Shanghai will serve lighter options, the upper floor will focus on cocktails that are a little more spirit-forward and bolder, including “some of the OGs from the Hong Kong menu”. We’re betting the olive oil sour will be one of them!
It’ll be in the Jing’an district
Situated within the beautiful former French Concession, Bar Leone Shanghai will actually only be a few minutes walk away from the mainland China outpost of another Hong Kong bar titan, the agave spirits-focused Coa. We love that we’ll get a good taste of home even when in Shanghai.
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