On Wednesday, October 8, “The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025” was announced by the global bar community to honor the outstanding achievements of their peers. This year, the 17th year of the event, Bar Leone, located in Hong Kong’s Central district, won The World’s Best Bar, becoming the first No. 1 in Asia.
Other top five restaurants included “Handshake Speakeasy” in Mexico City at No. 2, “Sips” in Barcelona at No. 3, “Paradiso” at No. 4, and “Tayēr + Elementary” in London at No. 5. The following three restaurants from Tokyo were ranked in the top five.
No. 18 Bar Benfiddich
A bar in Nishi-Shinjuku with an international reputation. It serves herbal drinks and cocktails under the concept of “farm to glass” using fresh herbs and botanicals grown in owner-bartender Hiroyasu Kayama’s family farm in Tokigawa-machi, Saitama Prefecture. There is no menu; guests order by telling Mr. Kayama what they like, and in the 15-seat restaurant, guests can watch him work up close and often ask him questions about the plants used in his drinks, the antique tools in his hands, and the old books open on the counter.
📍 1-13-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Yamatoya Bldg. 9F
👉Official account🚇5 min. walk from West Exit of Shinjuku Sta.
No. 45 Virtù
A bar located on the 39th floor of Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi. You can enjoy original cocktails created based on vintage French spirits and rare cognacs. virtù means “virtue” in French. The signature cocktails are tied to a folktale about the virtues of Japan and France, and incorporate classic French flavors with Japanese ingredients and new techniques. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of Japanese whiskeys, which have become very popular around the world in recent years.
📍 Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi 39th Floor (1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
👉Official accountDirect connection from C4 and C5 of Otemachi station to 🚇Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo Otemachi
No.48 The Bellwood
Produced by Atsushi Suzuki, the world champion of CHIVAS Masters and group manager of SG Group for 5 years, The Bellwood in Shibuya was ranked in “The World’s 50 Best Bars” for the first time this year. The drink program is inspired by the tradition of kaiseki cuisine. Each kaiseki course, such as appetizer, yakimono, and rice, is skillfully reimagined as a cocktail.
📍 41-31 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku
Official account🚇About 10 minutes walk from Shibuya station