The Best Sips

The World’s 50 Best has published its annual top 50 list of bars, which features spots in 26 cities around the globe. Here are the top three.

COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

№1: Bar Leone, Hong Kong

Bar Leone, in Hong Kong’s vibrant Central district, is the brainchild of renowned bartender Lorenzo Antinori, whose storied CV includes some of Europe and Asia’s most beloved hotel bars, among them London’s American Bar at The Savoy and Dandelyan (now defunct). Built on the philosophy of cocktail popolari – “cocktails for the people” – Bar Leone pays tribute to the neighbourhood bars of Rome, where locals like to gather. The interior is a love letter to the city in the 1980s and ’90s, designed to be unpretentious and rooted in Italian culture and hospitality. The bar’s success owes much to its attention to detail – the warmth of the greeting, the pitch of the lighting – every moment matters. No wonder it has taken the top spot for the second year in a row. | @barleonehk

№2: Moebius Milano, Milan

Located in a former textile warehouse in central Milan, Moebius Milano is a multi-faceted space that fuses mixology, fine dining, design and music under its industrial roof. Founded in 2019 by Lorenzo Querci, the venue takes its name and aesthetic inspiration from the science-fiction and surrealist artwork of Jean Giraud (pen name Moebius). Designed by Studio Q-Bic, the impressive space contrasts raw iron and exposed brick with warm timber, all centred around a 700-year-old Andalusian olive tree that spans two floors and serves as the beating heart of the building. The cocktails served at Moebius Milano – among them the Seed Negroni, a popular tipple infused with toasted pumpkin seeds and cream – reflect its bold setting. | @moebiusmilano

№3: Alquímico, Cartagena

Brimming out of its colonial building in the vibrant Colombian city of Cartagena, Alquímico is three storeys of pure fiesta. Jean Trinh and Paola Oviedo have created a space that is built on community empowerment. The cocktails and food are an ode to Colombia, with the ground-floor menu built around a partnership with disadvantaged farmers who grow rare, regional ingredients in the previously war-torn Montes de María. Climb the showpiece staircase and you’ll discover drinks made from organic ingredients grown at the Alquímico farm, which was built during the pandemic by the bar’s very own bartenders. | @alquimicocartagena

The Top 20

For the full list, visit the50best.com

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