This autumn Bar Leone, Hong Kong’s most talked-about bar, doubles its footprint with a new outpost in Shanghai’s lively Huangpu district. Co-founders Lorenzo Antinori and Justin Shun Wah are setting sail on a fresh adventure, intent on matching the triumphs they’ve already chalked up together.
Bar Leone Shanghai: Same Soul, New Stage
The setting may change, but the formula stays firmly in place. And why tamper with something so vibrantly alive? Bar Leone pulled off what few—if any—bars had ever achieved: a debut that shot straight to the top of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2024, then held the crown in 2025. Add to that a second-place ranking in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 and the picture of a modern classic becomes clear.
Roman Aperitivo and Cocktail Popolari
At the heart of that success lies Lorenzo Antinori’s vision: to bring the spirit of his native Trastevere to Asia. Think easy warmth at the door, meticulous attention to detail, and a refusal to take itself too seriously. The classic Italian aperitivo sets the tone—snacks perfectly pitched to accompany a first drink—while the room tells its own story: vintage football shirts and Roma pennants, an old-school espresso machine, posters and photographs with the patina of time. It feels like a bar lifted from another place and era, yet completely at home in Hong Kong’s restless energy.
Then there are the so-called cocktail popolari, time-honoured recipes reworked with seasonal ingredients and a light touch, allowing every flavour to shine without fuss.
Old Friends, New Horizons for Bar Leone Shanghai
Speaking to Drinks International ahead of the Bar Leone Shanghai opening, Antinori captured the mood: “This is an exciting moment for us and for our team. Leone was conceived from the start as a neighbourhood bar, a place that celebrates conviviality and community. We can’t wait to join Shanghai’s flourishing bar scene, to meet old friends and make new ones along the way. And we want to thank everyone who has supported us from day one of this journey.” When Antinori says it, you believe him.
Photo Courtesy Bar Leone
