2 Hong Kong bars make The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list, with one debuting at No 2

The World’s 50 Best Bars has released its rankings for 2024, and taking second place as a new entry to the list is one Hong Kong spot

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Representatives of bars that made The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list celebrate at the award ceremony in Madrid, Spain. Taking second place as a new entry to the list is one Hong Kong spot. Photo: World’s 50 Best Bars

Bloomberg

Published: 12:13pm, 23 Oct 2024Updated: 2:30pm, 23 Oct 2024

Corrected [2:21pm, 23 Oct, 2024]

[2:21pm, 23 Oct, 2024]
A previous version of this story stated that Handshake Speakeasy was a new entry to The World’s 50 Best Bars list.

Down a hall that leads to a hotel, behind an unmarked black door, is Handshake Speakeasy. Tonight, according to The World’s 50 Best Bars, it is also the best place to drink on the planet.

The bar in Mexico City is hidden behind an unmarked door; inside, the elegant, art deco-inspired speakeasy is buzzing.

Marcos Di Battista, Rodrigo Urraca and noted bartender Eric van Beek run the place. Van Beek’s classically inspired drinks feature a dose of molecular gastronomy. Among his signatures are the Mexi-Thai, an intoxicating mix of tequila, makrut lime, coconut, basil and tomato; and the creamy Carino, made with aged rum, yellow Chartreuse and Greek yogurt.

The No 2-ranked bar is also a new entry: Bar Leone in Hong Kong’s Central district, from cocktail legend Lorenzo Antinori. His casual Italian establishment specialises in deceptively simple-sounding drinks like Olive Oil Sour and both classic and adventurous Negronis.

Bar Leone is also No 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bar list this year – the first time a new bar has ever got that distinction. Despite that, Hong Kong has only one other place, Coa, on the 2024 World’s Best list, while its regional rival Singapore scored four places.

Bar Leone’s Lorenzo Antinori (right) celebrates after his bar was named first in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking for 2024. Photo: Charmaine Mok

Even though a Mexico City establishment has topped the global list, this year has marked a decline in the Mexican capital’s overall bar standing. In 2023, Mexico City had three places in the top 25 alone; this year, there are three in the top 50.