Hong Kong's Bar Leone Tops Global Ranking as European Venues Secure 13 of Top 25 Spots

Hong Kong establishment Bar Leone took the top spot in the latest global rankings released by the Top 500 Bars organisation on 11 November 2026. Oslo-based distillery bar HIMKOK placed second overall, making it the highest-ranked venue in Europe, while European establishments accounted for 13 of the top 25 positions worldwide.

The ranking is compiled by aggregating online user reviews, search engine data, and evaluations from hospitality journalists, industry experts, and social media influencers. Bar Leone, co-founded by Lorenzo Antinori, features classic drink preparation alongside Italian pop culture design elements. Antinori’s other venue, Montana, placed third in the global list, while Hong Kong’s ARGO secured the 24th position.

European venues were prominent throughout the top ten. HIMKOK, located in Norway's capital, incorporates locally inspired ingredients into its menus alongside house-made spirits, including aquavit, gin, and vodka. Line in Athens claimed fifth place overall, relying on fruit wines produced and bottled on-site using ingredients from local growers.

Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons took seventh place, operating behind a barbershop facade and utilizing specialized freezing methods in its cocktail development. Italian and Spanish establishments also featured in the top group. Milan’s Moebius, which maintains an inventory of more than 300 spirits for drink combinations, took ninth place. Barcelona’s Paradiso, located behind a pastrami shop entrance, ranked tenth.

Further down the list, French and British venues registered multiple inclusions in the top 25. Paris saw De Vie, Danico, and The Cambridge Public House ranked at 15th, 18th, and 21st respectively. London recorded inclusions for The Connaught Bar at 11th place and Lyaness at 19th. Spanish bars SIPS in Barcelona and Angelita in Madrid placed 12th and 14th, while Italy’s Locale Firenze took 13th place.

Latin American establishments also secured several positions in the upper tier. Alquímico in Cartagena ranked fourth, Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City placed sixth, and Tres Monos in Buenos Aires placed 20th. South American entries were rounded out by Brazil’s Exímia in São Paulo at 23rd and Peru’s Lady Bee in Lima at 25th.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com