For two years running, the best bar in Asia has been a small, no-reservations Italian joint in Wan Chai. Then, last October, it became the best bar on the planet. As the drinks world looks to Macau for the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 reveal, the obvious question is whether Hong Kong can hold the crown again.
What is Asia's 50 Best Bars?
Asia's 50 Best Bars is the region's most influential drinks ranking. Published annually by the same organisation behind The World's 50 Best Restaurants and Bars, it is voted for by a large academy of bartenders, writers and industry figures across the continent. A spot on the list can transform a bar's bookings overnight.
Hong Kong has long punched above its weight here, and 2025 was a landmark year. Bar Leone topped Asia's 50 Best Bars for the second time, then went one better in October by being named The World's Best Bar 2025 — the first Asian bar ever to take the global No. 1. If you are new to the city's drinking scene, our guide to the best cocktail bars in Hong Kong is the natural next stop.
When and where is the 2026 reveal?
The 2026 ranking is revealed in Macau on Tuesday 28 July 2026. For the second year in a row, Wynn Palace hosts the festivities: a Bartenders' Feast on 27 July, the live awards ceremony and full countdown on 28 July, and a closing party on 29 July. The reveal is broadcast on the 50 Best YouTube channel, so you can watch the numbers land in real time.
Macau is an hour from Hong Kong by ferry, which makes this very much a home-turf affair for the city's bar talent. Expect a strong Hong Kong delegation — and, if recent form holds, a familiar name near the top.
Hong Kong's six contenders
These are the six Hong Kong bars that made Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 — your shortlist to visit before the new list drops. Positions below are the 2025 results; the 2026 ranking will be confirmed on the night. Each links to our full venue guide.
Hong Kong on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025
| Bar | Neighbourhood | 2025 rank |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Leone | Wan Chai | No. 1 |
| Argo | Central | No. 11 |
| Coa | Central | No. 17 |
| Penicillin | Central | No. 27 |
| The Savory Project | Central | No. 32 |
| Gokan | Central | No. 33 |
2025 positions per Asia's 50 Best Bars. The 2026 ranking is revealed 28 July 2026.
Bar Leone
The reigning champion, and now the best bar in the world. Lorenzo Antinori's Roman-style "popular bar" trades on simple, joyful drinks and free bar snacks rather than tweezered theatre. Expect a queue — it does not take bookings. Find it at G/F, 7 Amoy Street, Wan Chai, a short walk from Admiralty or Wan Chai MTR.
Argo & the Central pack
Central is where the rest of the list clusters. Argo sits inside the Four Seasons Hotel (8 Finance Street, by Hong Kong MTR) with a low-waste, future-facing cocktail programme. Nearby, agave specialist Coa (Shop A, G/F, 6-10 Shin Hing Street) celebrates mezcal and tequila, while sustainability pioneer Penicillin (LG/F, Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Road) builds drinks around closed-loop ingredients. The Savory Project (4-6 Mee Lun Street) leans into savoury, umami-driven cocktails, and Japanese-inflected Gokan (30 Ice House Street) rounds out the six.
Want the wider picture? Our roundups of the best bars in Hong Kong, the city's hidden bars and speakeasies and the latest new bar openings map out where to head next.
How to follow it (and where to drink)
You do not need a ceremony invite to be part of the night. The countdown streams free on the 50 Best YouTube channel, and the smartest way to celebrate in Hong Kong is to book ahead at one of the listed bars — tables vanish fast once a result is announced. For a relaxed start, our pick of the city's best rooftop bars pairs a sunset drink with the view.
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 — At a Glance
Ceremony details per Asia's 50 Best Bars and Time Out Hong Kong. Confirm timings nearer the date.
Whatever the order on the night, Hong Kong heads into the 2026 reveal as the bar capital to beat. The only real suspense is by how much.
Frequently Asked Questions
Drink your way down the list
Start with our guide to the best cocktail bars in Hong Kong 2026 and tick off the contenders before the new ranking drops.