'World's best bar' opens Shanghai outpost

Bar Leone, the Hong Kong-based bar recently named No 1 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 list, has opened a new outpost in Shanghai. Co-founders Lorenzo Antinori and Justin Shun Wah announced that the venue officially opened its doors on Sunday.

Located at 527 Fuxing Zhong Road in Huangpu district, Bar Leone Shanghai spans two floors and operates daily from 6 pm to 1 am. The new space brings the bar's "Cocktail Popolari" philosophy — described by the founders as "cocktails for the people" — to a new audience, emphasizing conviviality and accessibility.

The menu features both classic and original cocktails, alongside seasonal spritzers and spirit-forward creations. Its food offerings include familiar Bar Leone items such as focaccia and smoked olives, as well as dishes created exclusively for the Shanghai location.

Bar Leone was founded in Hong Kong by Antinori and Shun Wah, who established the bar's reputation for relaxed hospitality and an unpretentious approach to classic cocktail-making.

In addition to its World's 50 Best Bars title, Bar Leone also topped the Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025 ranking and received honors at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards for Best International Cocktail Bar, with Antinori named International Bartender of the Year.