The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 heads to Hong Kong

The global cocktail community is packing its bags for Hong Kong for the reveal of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025, on Oct 8.

In its 17th edition, the programme returns to Asia for the second time in its history. This year’s festivities will bring together the bar community through a series of events across the bustling metropolis, culminating in an awards ceremony at the iconic Kai Tak Cruise Terminal overlooking Victoria Harbour.

Other key events will include the Bartenders’ Feast, the first assembly of the teams behind the soon-to-be-ranked cocktail spots that takes place the night prior to the ceremony and the Closing Party on Oct 9. The programme will also see the return of 50 Best Signature Sessions, which are one-time-only collaborations between world-leading hospitality establishments, hosted at some of Hong Kong’s hottest venues, taking place between Oct 4-6, among other collaborations that run until Oct 11.

The 50 Best Signature Sessions is designed to foster connections and encourage cross-border collaboration. The immersive, spirit-forward events see world-class bartenders from across the globe teaming up with local talent to deliver standout drinks experiences. Open to the public, Signature Sessions not only offer a special glimpse into the creativity shaping global cocktail culture but also invite consumers to be part of the wider celebrations around The World’s 50 Best Bars.

Thirst quenchers from Oct 4-11:

Oct 4

• Pan-American Party: A fun-fuelled transcontinental takeover serving craveable crowd-pleasers at Honky Tonks Tavern. Two of the North and South America’s most convivial bars, Yacht Club (Denver) and Tres Monos (Buenos Aires), join forces with Hong Kong's Honky Tonks Tavern.

• The Graduates: Drew Fleming of Kiki Lounge x Apoorva Kohli of Bar Wold x Calliope Draper of Bisou Bisou at Call Me Al.

Oct 5

• TokyoLima Confidential: Flame-grilled skewers and fun-fuelled sips from Tokyo via London and Lima at TokyoLima. Japanese skewers paired with inventive sips from the super-cool drinking den Tokyo Confidential (Tokyo).

• Healer (Shanghai) x Dry Wave Studio (Bangkok) x Le Chamber (Seoul) at The Green Door.

• Laowai (Vancouver) x Bar Bello (Montreal) at Barcode.

• Lynette Marrero x Tato Giovannoni x Gn Chan x Uno Jang at Gokan.

• Best In Glass: A reunion of Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award winners at Gokan.

• Yacht Club (Denver) at Call Me Al.

• Atlas (Singapore) at Artifact.

Oct 6

• Canton Cocktail Banquet: Cantonese cooking paired with cocktails from across the Pearl River Delta at Ho Lee Fook. Renowned bars Hope & Sesame (Guangzhou) and Wing Lei Bar (Macau), head to a Cantonese restaurant institution to pair its dishes with a selection of cocktails.

• Workshop 14 (Hanoi) at Lockdown.

• Moonrock (Taiwan) at Artifact.

• Backdoor Bodega (Penang) at The Savory Project. Expect Malaysian drinks and snacks.

• Writers Bar (Singapore) at The Old Man.

• Angelita (Madrid) at Tell Camellia.

• Reka:Bar (Kuala Lumpur) at Barcode.

• Le Room (Taipei) at The Daily Tot.

• Punchroom The Tokyo Ginza Edition at The Old Man

• The Bar In Front Of The Bar (Athens) at 25:00.

• Robin Leung (The Tuxedo - Shanghai) at Alibi.

• Joe Haywood (Warehouse - Singapore) at Dead Poets.

• Jeff Savage (Prophecy - Vancouver) at Avoca.

• Julio Bermejo (Tommy's - San Francisco) x Dre Masso (Altos Tequila) at Cardinal Point.

• Barstars Global at The Aubrey.

• Bar Sathorn (Bangkok) at The Old Man.

• Employees Only (New York) x Employees Only (Singapore) at The Diplomat.

• Tropic City (Bangkok) at Aer.

• Bianca Bertoli (Brujas - Mexico City) at Dead Poets.

• Off Menu: Cocktails from (officially) the best drinks menus across the world at The Savory Project. An evening of explorative flavours from modern pioneers of savoury-themed drinks programmes and previous winners of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award.

Oct 7

• Atwater Cocktail Club & Foiegwa (Montreal) at Call Me Al. Includes a kitchen takeover.

• AGLXY Pop-Up Store at Aer.

• Vesper (Bangkok) at The Old Man.

• Bar Cham (Seoul) at Tell Camellia.

• 1920 (Dubai) at Barcode.

• Atwater Cocktail Club x Foiegwa (Montreal) at Call Me Al.

• Laizhou Distillery Marathon Guest Shift at Kinsman.

• ZLB23 (Bengaluru) at Mostly Harmless.

• The Elephant Room (Singapore) at Ella.

• Wing Lei Bar (Macau) at Mostly Harmless.

• Alice Cheongdam (Seoul) at 25:00.

• Penrose (Kuala Lumpur) at Green Room.

• Ju Young Lee (Bar SookHee - Seoul) at Alibi.

• Robin Leung (Tuxedo - Shanghai) at Bar Buonasera.

• Bar Outrigger (Goa) x Una Hacienda (Bangalore) at The Daily Tot.

• Victor Su and Paul Hsu (Obsidian Bar - Shenzhen) at Avoca.

• Locale Firenze (Florence) at Mostly Harmless.

• Karel Varga (Svanen Bar - Oslo) at Dead Poets.

• Offtrack x Nighthawk (Singapore) at Aer.

• A Night Of Legends: Giancarlo Mancino x Salvatore Calabrese x Peter Dorelli at Qura Bar. An unforgettable "Martini Night" featuring three icons of the cocktail world.

• Great American Party: At The Green Door featuring Cat Bite Club; Bamboo Bar x Martiny’s: Chanel x Ethan + Special Guest: Takuma; Swift and Bar Blanc: Jameel Frith and Chase White; Allegory: Deke and Kapri; and Long Table: Thunderbolt Tom and Mike.

Oct 8

• A non-alcohol pairing experience at Mostly Harmless.

• Aruba Day Drink (Tijuana) at Dead Poets.

• Wax On (Berlin) at The Old Man.

• Danico (Paris) at Aer.

• World's 50 Best Bars 2025 at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Oct 9

• Foco (Barcelona) at Artifact.

• Cat Bite Club | Puffy Bois (Singapore) and Bar Madonna at Call Me Al.

• Kate Gerwin (Happy Accidents - Albuquerque) at The Old Man.

• Bar Choice (Shenzhen) at Kinsman.

• Lady Bee (Lima) at The Poet.