The World's 50 Best Bars 2026 list is out, and the headline is the same as last year: Bar Leone in Hong Kong is still the world's top bar. The result was announced at a live ceremony in Milan on Wednesday, according to VinePair, which covered the reveal.
A Milan bar surged to No. 2, Singapore got a brand-new entry, and the United States lost ground, keeping only four bars on the top 50, all in New York City.
Quick take
- Bar Leone in Hong Kong held the No. 1 spot for a second year running.
- Moebius Milano climbed from No. 7 in 2025 to No. 2 in 2026.
- Alquímico (Cartagena), Bar Us (Bangkok), and Line (Athens) filled spots 3 through 5.
- The US placed four bars in the top 50, down from five in 2025, all in New York City.
- The highest-ranked US bar is schmuck. At No. 11, followed by Sip & Guzzle at No. 16, Martiny's at No. 46, and Bar Snack at No. 49.
What changed on the list
Bar Leone is the first Asian bar to claim the No. 1 spot, a feat it pulled off in 2025, and now it has defended the title. The Hong Kong room, opened by Lorenzo Antinori in June 2023, leans on Roman aperitivo classics, a format that has now played well with the 50 Best voting academy for two straight cycles.
The US count dropped from five bars to four, and every single one is in New York City. Chicago, New Orleans, and the rest of the country didn't place. The strongest US showing is schmuck. At No. 11, the same bar that took VinePair's Next Wave Award for Bar Program in 2025, which suggests the room is still trending up even if the country is not.
The Asia picture tells a different story. The extended 51–100 list, covered by Time Out Singapore and Restaurant Online, now includes 16 Asian bars, with four from Hong Kong alone. Singapore added a debut entry: Offtrack, a North Canal Road bar that opened in 2022 and placed 89th. Europe leads the extended list with 18 bars, and 13 cities made the list for the first time, including Accra, Dublin, Istanbul, and Shenzhen.
Our analysis
The signal here is consolidation, not decline. The voting academy, made up of more than 800 industry experts, is rewarding depth in a few cities rather than spreading the love. New York, Hong Kong, London, Singapore, and Bangkok are absorbing most of the attention, and a bar outside those hubs now needs a sharper hook to break in.
For a nightlife reader, the practical read is that the top of this list is a curated global tour. If you're planning a trip, the names at positions 1 through 10 will give you one good stop per city. The 11 through 50 range is where the personality sits: schmuck., Sip & Guzzle, and Martiny's are doing distinct work in three different New York neighborhoods, and they will feel nothing alike on a Friday night.
Decision checklist: How to use this list
- Identify your city: Top 10 gives you one confirmed stop per destination.
- Consider neighborhood variety: Pair the headline bar with an extended-list entry in the same city.
- Adjust expectations: These are cocktail rooms, not dance venues or big-night-out spots.
- Check the 51–100 for emerging scenes: 13 first-time cities signal where the next wave may come from.
What to watch next
- Whether Bar Leone can pull off a third straight No. 1 in 2027.
- Whether the 13 new cities on the 51–100 list, including Accra, Dublin, and Istanbul, push any bars into the top 50 next year.
- Whether New York can add a fifth bar back to the US count, or whether the gap to Chicago and New Orleans widens further.
Who should care
- US bar fans: The country is over-indexed on New York; a night in Manhattan is the only easy way to visit a 2026 US entry.
- Asia travelers: Hong Kong and Singapore both have momentum, with four Hong Kong entries on the extended list and Offtrack now a global name.
- London visitors: Three Sheets and Scarfes Bar made the extended list at 73 and 77, giving the city two new cocktail anchors.
- Cocktail-first planners: The top 10 is a solid city-by-city shortlist, not a global ranking of vibes.
- Different-format readers: If you're looking for high-energy venues, this list covers a narrow slice of nightlife; that's intentional.
Key takeaways
- Bar Leone at No. 1 is a continuity story, not a surprise, and it tightens Hong Kong's grip on the global cocktail map.
- The US slipped from five top-50 bars to four, and every one is in New York.
- The 51–100 list is the more useful travel tool, with 16 Asian entries and 13 first-time cities.
Frequently asked questions
Which bar is No. 1 on the 2026 list?
Bar Leone in Hong Kong, holding the title for a second year, according to VinePair's coverage of the Milan ceremony.
How many US bars made the top 50?
Four, all in New York City: schmuck., Sip & Guzzle, Martiny's, and Bar Snack.
Did Singapore get a new entry?
Yes. Offtrack debuted at No. 89 on the 51–100 extended list, the only Singapore bar featured.
Which bars made the top five?
Bar Leone, Moebius Milano, Alquímico in Cartagena, Bar Us in Bangkok, and Line in Athens.
When was the 2026 list announced?
The 51–100 list dropped ahead of the live top 50 reveal, which was broadcast from Milan on 7 October 2026.
