The World’s No. 1 Bar Comes to Bengaluru: Bar Leone, Hong Kong, Takes Over ZLB23 at The Leela Palace Bengaluru

• A one-night-only collaboration brings global cocktail culture to Bengaluru’s most celebrated speakeasy.

Bengaluru, January 2026: ZLB23, the award-winning Kyoto-style speakeasy at The Leela Palace Bengaluru, will host a one-night-only bar takeover by the World’s Best Bar - Bar Leone, Hong Kong, on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Led by acclaimed bartender Lorenzo Antinori, the evening will see the world’s No. 1 bar step behind the counter at one of India’s most awarded cocktail destinations. Curated in partnership with The Dram Attic, the collaboration brings together two globally recognised spaces shaped by precision, personality and a shared respect for craft.

Tucked away within Zia’s Garden at The Leela Palace Bengaluru, ZLB23 has emerged as one of India’s most distinctive bar destinations. Known for its Kyoto-inspired aesthetic, immersive atmosphere and meticulously curated cocktail programme, the bar has earned recognition among Asia’s 50 Best Bars and was named Best Bar in India in 2024. ZLB23 has become a platform for meaningful global collaborations, offering visiting bars an intimate and considered setting to engage with India’s evolving cocktail audience.

Bar Leone arrives in Bengaluru following a landmark year on the global stage. Founded in Hong Kong by Lorenzo Antinori, the bar has redefined modern hospitality through a focus on classic cocktails, approachability and cultural nuance. In just its first year, Bar Leone was named No. 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 and No. 2 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, cementing its place among the most influential bars worldwide. Now, Bar Leone stands at No. 1 on both World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 and Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025

On the upcoming collaboration, Nishant Agarwal, Vice President and General Manager at The Leela Palace Bengaluru, says, “ZLB23 has evolved into a space where global bar culture can be experienced with intention and depth. Hosting Bar Leone marks a natural progression of that journey - a meeting of shared values rooted in craft, restraint and authenticity. It is about creating moments that extend beyond the drink, where thoughtful hospitality and meaningful exchange take centre stage.”

A Shared Approach to Craft and Culture

This one-night collaboration brings together two spaces united by a belief in clarity, craftsmanship and connection. At ZLB23, Bar Leone will present its signature philosophy rooted in what Antinori describes as cocktail popolari - drinks that are familiar, balanced and designed to bring people together.

Lorenzo Antinori, Founder of Bar Leone, adds, “Bar Leone was created as a place rooted in simplicity, where classic cocktails, human connection and a sense of ease come together naturally. ZLB23 shares that same sensibility - a space defined by intention, atmosphere and respect for craft. Bringing our philosophy to Bengaluru, and into a setting that values depth, feels like a meaningful exchange rather than just a guest shift.”

The Cocktail Experience

For the takeover, Bar Leone will present four signature cocktails that reflect its philosophy of familiar flavours executed with clarity and balance. Milan With A View is a refreshing, aperitivo-style gin cocktail featuring Italian bitters, citrus and fresh saline notes, delivering gentle bitterness, crisp brightness and a light savoury finish. Olive Oil Sour is a whisky-forward serve built on aged Scotch, accented with extra virgin olive oil, citrus and subtle sweetness, creating a rich yet smooth, rounded mouthfeel. Coconut OF reimagines the Old Fashioned using toasted coconut-infused brandy, dark rum and aromatic bitters, offering depth, warmth and a softly smoky character. Caffè Paradiso is a bittersweet, aromatic cocktail combining amaro, vodka and herbal liqueur with coffee-driven notes, resulting in a smooth, warming profile designed as an elegant after-dinner serve.

Commenting on the collaboration, Priyanka Blah, Founder of The Dram Attic, says, “Bangalore has firmly established itself as one of the country’s most exciting bar cities. As the demand for world-class drinks and exposure to global bar culture continues to grow, the arrival of Bar Leone feels like a powerful opening act to what promises to be a defining year for F&B in Bangalore, and India at large.”

Factsheet:
Venue: ZLB23, The Leela Palace, HAL 2nd Stage, Kodihalli, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008
Date: Saturday, 17th January, 2026
Timing: Slots - 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM; 10:00 PM onwards
Price: INR 5,000++ per person
For Reservations: please message +91 9632060433
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zlb23.in/