The citys cocktail scene is once again getting global recognition, with several Hong Kong-based names appearing on Drinks International’s Bar World 100 2026.
Leading the local showing is Lorenzo Antinori, co-founder of Bar Leone and Montana, who has been voted the world’s sixth most influential figure in the bar industry.
Antinori’s influence has only grown over the past year. Bar Leone ranked No. 1 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list, cementing the neighbourhood bar as one of the most talked-about cocktail destinations in the world.
He has also expanded the Bar Leone name to Shanghai and opened Montana in Hong Kong, a Cuban-inspired bar created with Simone Caporale, the co-founder of Barcelona’s Sips, who also ranked #7 on the list.
Early in March, Antinori served Hollywood A-listers at the Oscars after-party, while his Yum Sing Bar pop-up collaboration with Louis Vuitton further shows how his reach now extends beyond the bar world.
Hong Kong’s strong showing did not stop there. Agung Prabowo, best known for Penicillin and The Lockdown, ranked #40, reflecting his continued influence in sustainability-led cocktail culture. Ezra Star of ARTIFACT placed #60, adding another local name to the international list. Jay Khan of COA, one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated agave-focused bars, ranked #73, while Shingo Gokan of Gokan landed at #9.
Image credits: Lorenzo Antinori