Hong Kong now has back-to-back bragging rights in the drinks world: Bar Leone has again taken the number one spot on The 50 Best Bars 2026 list, announced at a ceremony in Milan on October 7. The venue also picked up the Best Bar in Asia title, capping a strong showing for the city, which landed five bars across the top 100, including Argo (25), Montana (36), Gokan (41) and Coa (54).

The ranking, run by William Reed Business Media (the outfit behind The World's 50 Best Restaurants), is compiled by an academy of hundreds of anonymous industry professionals. Formerly known as The World's 50 Best Bars, it's the list bartenders and barflies alike treat as the global benchmark.

The rest of the top five reads like a cocktail-lover's itinerary: Moebius Milano in second (also Best Bar in Europe), Alquímico in Cartagena in third (Best Bar in South America), Bar Us in Bangkok in fourth, and Athens' Line in fifth. Mexico City stands out as the only city with two bars in the top ten: Handshake Speakeasy at six and highest new entry Bar Mauro at ten. Paris and New York lead on overall numbers with four entries each in the top 50, though every US bar on the main list is in New York City, from Sip & Guzzle at 14 to Schmuck, which took the Best New Opening award at 11.

Continental titles went to Handshake Speakeasy (North America), Moebius Milano (Europe), Alquímico (South America), Bar Leone (Asia), Mimi Kakushi in Dubai (Middle East), Caretaker's Cottage in Melbourne (Australasia) and Front/Back in Accra (Africa). Special honours included the Art of Hospitality award for Alquímico, Bartenders' Bartender for Takuma Watanabe, and a One to Watch nod for Melbourne's Three Horses. Edinburgh's Panda & Sons won Best Cocktail Menu, landing at 72 on the extended list.

Beyond the top 50, the 51-100 list is a treasure map for anyone planning a drinking-focused city break: Double Chicken Please in New York, Boadas in Barcelona, Jewel of the South in New Orleans, Boilermaker in Goa, and The SG Club in Tokyo all feature. Bangkok quietly racks up seven entries across both lists, while Athens, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Singapore and New York each fill out their fair share.

For travellers, this is essentially a ready-made bar crawl itinerary for 2026. If Hong Kong is on your list, Bar Leone is the obvious first stop, with Argo and Montana close behind. Bangkok and Athens make compelling cases for cocktail pilgrimages, and Milan, host city of this year's ceremony, now has two reasons to raise a glass with Moebius Milano at number two and speakeasy favourite 1930 at 94.