The 50 Best Bars: Milan’s Moebius comes second only to the (re-ranked and very Italian) Leone in Hong Kong
Two very different stories, yet linked by the Italian culture of hospitality: the winner of the world rankings is Bar Leone, a venture founded in Hong Kong but inspired by Rome’s traditional neighbourhood bars; hot on its heels is the rise of Moebius, which has climbed from seventh to second place in the global rankings
Key points
Italia reigns supreme in the world of cocktails: it has simultaneously claimed first and second place on the global podium of The 50 Best Bars, with two very different stories linked by the same ability to transform Italian hospitality and culture into an international language. On the one hand, Bar Leone, a project (last year’s winner) – founded in Hong Kong but under Italian management and deeply inspired by Rome’s traditional neighbourhood bars; on the other, Milan’s Moebius, which has risen from seventh to second place in the global rankings.
This is a particularly significant achievement for the capital of Lombardy, which is hosting a major event in the 50 Best world for the second time in Italia, following Turin last year with the 50 Best Restaurants. The eighteenth edition of The 50 Best Bars – regarded by most industry insiders as the world’s most important and prestigious ranking in the field of mixology and cocktail bars – brought together bartenders, bar owners and professionals from all over the world at the Palazzo del Ghiaccio, reflecting an increasingly broad and diverse international scene.
Antinori’s confirmation
For Bar Leone, being named number one is the culmination of a journey that began in 2023. The Hong Kong venue was founded by the Roman bartender Lorenzo Antinori with the aim of bringing a contemporary take on the Roman neighbourhood bar – inspired in particular by Trastevere – to the Central district.
The philosophy centres on ‘popular cocktails’: not necessarily chasing trends, but focusing on classics prepared with precision, quality ingredients and, above all, genuine hospitality. The décor also reflects this approach, featuring wood, Italian vintage touches, football memorabilia and a deliberately informal atmosphere.
“I didn’t expect it; I wasn’t among the favourites. It’s a source of great pride, especially considering all the new bars that have entered the global scene,” says Antinori.
The project has, in fact, grown rapidly. Bar Leone made its debut at number one in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking in 2024, retained its regional top spot in 2025 and, in the same year, reached the top of the world rankings. It has now retained this position for the second year running.
On the menu, classic cocktails feature alongside house specialities and a selection of food that includes, amongst other things, smoked olives and a mortadella sandwich. This is an element that Antinori believes is becoming increasingly central to the contemporary bar experience. “In my opinion, the food makes all the difference. The food on offer is important – it’s not just about the cocktails. These days, customers do everything at once and eat straight away.”
