Bar Leone warns of NYC dupe bar
Hong Kong’s Bar Leone has publicly distanced itself from a soon-to-open venue of the same name in New York City.
Bar Leone in Hong Kong topped The World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2025, having won praise for its ‘cocktail popolari’ ethos. Its founder, Lorenzo Antinori, opened a second venue under the same name in Shanghai in November 2025.
The bar group has now made a public announcement after an Instagram profile was created under the name Bar Leone – New York (@barleonenyc). The bar’s bio says ‘Coming 🔜’, however no address or website has been provided.
The Hong Kong bar and Antinori posted on Instagram: “It has come to our attention that the Instagram account @barleonenyc (which unfortunately has blocked us LOL) is using logos and pictures with the name ‘Bar Leone’ that appear to relate to a bar in New York, per the descriptions.
“This is to announce and clarify that we are not affiliated, associated, or in any way connected with the above Instagram account, and have not authorised, licensed, endorsed or sponsored the same.
“While Bar Leone is looking for potential expansion, we currently have one bar in Hong Kong, located at 11-15 Bridges Street and founded in June 2023, and one bar in Shanghai, located at No 527 Middle Fuxing Road, Huangpu District, opened in November 2025.”
Others in the comments section noted that the New York venue had also blocked their accounts, while some offered to report the profile for imitation.
The Spirits Business has contacted Bar Leone NYC for a statement.
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