Hong Kong Bars
Your guide to the best Hong Kong bars to visit – all reviewed anonymously and impartially by our experts
The best Hong Kong bars for mocktails and low alcohol drinks
Ever had trouble looking through the listings of the best Hong Kong bars for a place that offers drinks that are a little less hangover-inducing? We feel you. After all, who needs another hangover? Well, if you thought the city’s bars only catered to the ‘work hard, play hard’ crowd, you’d be wrong. More and more bars are taking into consideration customers who prefer their cocktails light or even entirely alcohol-free. Here are our favourites.RECOMMENDED: Prefer your drinks cheaper? Check out our guide to Hong Kong’s best happy hours. Or if you want to stay in, try the best alcohol delivery services.
Let the good times roll at Hong Kong's first ladies-only speakeasy
Head through the grand double doors, up the elevators and down a dim corridor somewhere within the walls of the newly-opened Rosewood hotel, and you will find an inconspicuous knob. Flip the panel up, enter the password, and with a resounding whoosh, the wall will open inwards, leading you into Hong Kong’s first ladies-only speakeasy – XX. Named after the chromosomal combination only females possess, the sultry cocktail bar is a haven for girls. Sorry, gents, it’s no man’s land from here! Much like the hotel, XX is furnished luxuriously without an ounce of pretentiousness or contrivance. With the birds-and-bees patterned wallpaper, plush, emerald green couches, and sensual lighting from ornate chandeliers, the hidden bar is an ethereal oasis specifically tailored to ladies’ likings. Among their signature cocktails, we were feeling Sexy. A champagne-based cocktail, the Sexy ($160) is an intoxicating concoction of jasmine, bergamot orange, fizz and London No. 3 Gin. Citrusy and sweet and velvety smooth when it hits the tongue, the fruity bergamot proves a perfect foil for the sharpness of the gin and the effervescence of the champagne. Topped off with a dainty jasmine flower in its tall, slender glass, Sexy is the quintessence of femininity. The BFF ($130), in contrast, is a refreshing, light, easy-on-the-throat highball that pairs Fair vodka with cucumber juice, pine needles, and yuzu vinegar. Combined with a decorative, rolled-up slice of cucumber containing pine needles an
The best bars in Central
Deciding on the best bar in Central is a contentious issue. While we can’t scientifically prove it, there’s probably nowhere on Earth with as many quality drinking dens just around the corner from one another as our cramped CBD. Sure, the ’hood might not have the underground kudos belonging to Hong Kong’s most hipster neighbourhoods like Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun, but who cares when the area is home to some of the best cocktail bars and whisky bars on the planet.Whether you’re interested in the latest meticulously made cocktail at Bar De Luxe, a fine selection of wine at La Cabane, local craft beer by the bottle at The Globe, or one of the best rooftop bars in Hong Kong like at Popinjays, you can find whatever you desire in Central. The only trouble is knowing where to start. That’s why we’ve rounded up 28 of the best bars from the neighbourhood that provide Central’s finest libations. You need never go thirsty again.
The best festive cocktails in Hong Kong to try this Christmas season
'Tis the season to be jolly, which means celebrating with friends and family and maybe indulging in a few festive cocktails. Whether you prefer your festive drinks classy like a hearty glass of mulled wine or spiced up and fun like a "sugar cane rush", we've rounded up some of the best spots for the most festive cocktails in town this holiday season. RECOMMENDED: Looking for more things to do this Christmas? Check out our complete guide to a perfect Christmas in Hong Kong, sample some of these season’s eatings for a mouth-watering Christmas meal in town or get crafty with these Christmas workshops.
What your drink order says about you, according to Hong Kong bartenders
Ever wonder if your friends secretly judge you for not knowing what to order at the bar? Or maybe you've always wondered what the bartender thinks about your fancy cocktail order – are they impressed or do they just think you’re pretentious? We picked the brains of five bartenders in Hong Kong and learned everything from whether or not they’re secretly judging you to the best way to get a bartender’s attention on a busy Friday night. Bottoms up! RECOMMENDED: From speakeasies to sake joints, these are the top Hong Kong bars shaking and stirring your favourite drinks. If you’re trying to cut back on alcohol, though, these Hong Kong bars serve excellent mocktails every bit as creative as their alcoholic offerings.
Latest Hong Kong bar reviews
XX
Head through the grand double doors, up the elevators and down a dim corridor somewhere within the walls of the newly-opened Rosewood hotel, and you will find an inconspicuous knob. Flip the panel up, enter the password, and with a resounding whoosh, the wall will open inwards, leading you into Hong Kong’s first ladies-only speakeasy – XX. Named after the chromosomal combination only females possess, the sultry cocktail bar is a haven for girls. Sorry, gents, it’s no man’s land from here! Much like the hotel, XX is furnished luxuriously without an ounce of pretentiousness or contrivance. With the birds-and-bees patterned wallpaper, plush, emerald green couches, and sensual lighting from ornate chandeliers, the hidden bar is an ethereal oasis specifically tailored to ladies’ likings. Among their signature cocktails, we were feeling Sexy. A champagne-based cocktail, the Sexy ($160) is an intoxicating concoction of jasmine, bergamot orange, fizz and London No. 3 Gin. Citrusy and sweet and velvety smooth when it hits the tongue, the fruity bergamot proves a perfect foil for the sharpness of the gin and the effervescence of the champagne. Topped off with a dainty jasmine flower in its tall, slender glass, Sexy is the quintessence of femininity. The BFF ($130), in contrast, is a refreshing, light, easy-on-the-throat highball that pairs Fair vodka with cucumber juice, pine needles, and yuzu vinegar. Combined with a decorative, rolled-up slice of cucumber containing pine needles an
Think Wine
Opening its doors this autumn in LL Tower just off Hollywood Road, Think Wine is the labour of love of renowned French sommeliers Romain Loriot and Jean-Beniot ‘JB’ Issele. The two are no strangers to Hong Kong’s food and beverage scene, previously holding head sommelier positions at Le Comptoir (the group behind popular restaurants Ecrtiure and Bibo) and Michelin starred Belon respectively. This new venture sees these two forces of the wine world come together in an intensely personal venture that reflects the pair’s extensive knowledge, impressive attention to detail, and passion for vino. The bar boasts almost 600 wines from across the globe, with particular emphasis – at least 250 varieties – from the Burgundy and Languedoc-Roussilon regions of France. All well and good for the amateur oenologists amongst us, however such a varied menu is potentially grape-ly bewildering for the average customer. To ease the picking process there are friendly and knowledgeable staff on hand to educate in an un-patronising way about the tipples, and guide the appropriate drink to even the most winey of philistines. In terms of volume, wines are offered here by the bottle and by glass, with prices ranging from as low as $60 per glass to as high as $15,000 per bottle. A good place to begin is at the cheap end of the spectrum, but for those looking to really explore Romain and JB’s collection, a cool glass of the Italian Maso Cantanghel ($120) proves a nice white to start on, with light, tr
Tell Camellia
There’s been a veritable whirlwind of hype in recent months surrounding the new brainchild of accolade-heavy bar team Sandeep Hathiramani and Gagan Gurung. After a litany of unfortunate setbacks delayed the bar’s opening, the swell of anticipant whispers from thirsty patrons has now given way to bums on seats, as Tell Camellia finally opened within Central’s stylish H Code complex in late July. The mission of the bar is to fuse tea and cocktail culture in a way that challenges all who drink here to abandon preconceived cocktail notions, and to steep themselves in the unknown. Of course, challenging staid notions with something seldom seen (or indeed drank) before is never going to be an easy task, especially considering the perennial popularity in Hong Kong of more traditional cocktail styles. However, true to form, the duo seems to be succeeding in their quest here, purveying a delicious selection of cocktails (or Teatails, if you will) that pair well with the bar’s inviting ambience and very personable customer service. Let’s start with the menu which, much like the bar’s interior, is outwardly simple yet impressively attentive to detail. The lineup is split between signature Teatails, all of which are infused with exotic teas and local spices from particular world regions, and house gins that have been lovingly redistilled with different flavoured, you guessed it, tea. The entire experience here has been designed to be gratifyingly thematic, so expect some extra touches
DarkSide
Overlooking Victoria Harbour and the refurbished Avenue of Stars, the Rosewood Hong Kong occupies the prime space vacated by the New World Centre and adjoins the soon-to-open K11 Musea. The luxury property is a feather in the cap for Kowloon, and its flagship bar, DarkSide, pays tribute to this neighbourhood’s history — Kowloon is often (for better or worse) called ‘the dark side’ for simply not being Hong Kong Island. At first glance, the venue appears to have brought the best elements of both sides of the harbour together. The insulated atmosphere of Hong Kong speakeasies like 001 meets the space and comfort of bars like Aqua Spirit in the art deco-inspired form of low lights, plush chairs, velvet drapes, large windows and a stage with a live band playing easy listening music. If you’re looking for a view, however, you might be disappointed, as it is obscured by the hotel’s driveway. The food and drink menus are filled to the brim with options, including port or cognac from the barrel, a wide selection of premium spirits such as whisky, madeira and Armagnac, and classics with twists (Martini vs Vesper, $120). The venue even boasts its own Rosewood-branded pilsner and IPA, as well as decadent bar snacks, including an elevated version of the egg tart ($90) and the Bikini Sandwich ($160), which is comprised of Parisian ham, Emmental cheese and black truffle. We opt for one of the six signature cocktails, the No Rules ($125), and order the wagyu beef cheek tempura ($120) to
