In early October, Hong Kong will host a lively series of events leading up to the 17th edition of The World’s 50 Best Bars awards, which takes place on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. As part of the celebration, the city welcomes the 50 Best Signature Sessions—a three-day program of special gatherings held from Saturday 4 to Monday 6 October. These sessions bring together top bartenders from around the world with local venues to create memorable experiences for cocktail lovers.
After its first run in Singapore two years ago, the Signature Sessions returns with a fresh lineup of collaborations. The idea is simple: visiting bartenders team up with Hong Kong’s own bar and restaurant scene to offer guests something new, whether it’s a creative drink, a unique pairing, or a chance to meet the people behind some of the world’s most respected bars.
The weekend kicks off on Saturday afternoon at Honky Tonks Tavern in Central Hong Kong. This event, called the Pan-American Party, features bartenders from Yacht Club (Denver) and Tres Monos (Buenos Aires). Together with the local team, they’ll be serving up easygoing drinks and good vibes in a casual setting. Later that night, a special one-off event called The Graduates takes place at Call Me Al in Sheung Wan. Starting at 9:30pm and running late into the night, this session features Drew Fleming and Apoorva Kohli, both alumni of the 50 Best Bars Scholarship program.
On Sunday, the action continues with two sessions. The first takes place in the afternoon at TokyoLima, where guests can enjoy grilled Japanese skewers alongside cocktails from Tokyo Confidential, a bar known for its playful style and international influences. Later that evening, Gokan hosts Best in Glass, a gathering of past winners of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award. It’s a chance to see some of the industry’s most respected figures come together behind the bar.
Monday rounds out the series with two final sessions. At Ho Lee Fook, a well-known Cantonese restaurant in SoHo, with Canton Cocktail Banquet, Andrew Ho from Hope & Sesame in Guangzhou and Mark Lloyd from Wing Lei Bar in Macau will present cocktails that match the restaurant’s bold flavors. Meanwhile, The Savory Project will host an event called Off Menu, where the evening will be focused on savory-style cocktails and previous winners of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award. This session features Penang’s Backdoor Bodega, bringing Malaysian ingredients and techniques to Hong Kong.
Together, these sessions offer a relaxed and engaging way for the public to take part in the excitement surrounding The World’s 50 Best Bars. Whether you’re a seasoned cocktail fan or just curious to try something different, the Signature Sessions promise a weekend of discovery, connection, and great drinks across Hong Kong.
