Bar Leone’s Lorenzo Antinori on the secret to his latest Asia’s 50 Best Bars win
‘Nothing changed but everything changed,’ says the Bar Leone co-founder, now a 2-time winner of the awards
Bar Leone’s story mirrors Sylvester Stallone’s underdog tale. Like Rocky Balboa – the unknown brawler who shocked the world by going the distance with champion Apollo Creed – this Bridges Street cocktail bar burst onto the scene, barely a year old, and achieved a historic result, clinching the title of Asia’s Best Bar before being announced runner-up at World’s 50 Best Bars later in the year.
In the sequel, Balboa cemented his legitimacy by defeating Creed. Similarly, Bar Leone topped the Asia rankings again this year, proving last year’s result was no fluke.
“When you get validated a second time by something like 50 Best, it’s amazing,” says co-founder Lorenzo Antinori of his establishment’s latest triumph, flashing a grin. “But we’ve never really worked towards a number. We work towards creating good experiences,” he adds with perfect Italian charm.
Antinori is no stranger to success. His bar programme at The Four Seasons’ Argo earned widespread acclaim, and within the F&B industry, he’s well-liked and respected for his work across continents. But Bar Leone’s success feels different.
