Bars and restaurants in Hong Kong that play the best music

The Eaton’s popular bar isn’t just about the drink and the awesome terrace. Tucked away in a hidden corner of the bar lies the Terrible Baby music room, which was designed specifically with acoustics in mind, and is outfitted with a top-notch sound system including 18-inch subwoofers. The utilisation of the sound system takes various forms, with live performances. Sometimes, however, there are DJ-led vinyl concerts where records are played so the attendees can appreciate the lush sound.

Hong Kong’s most celebrated dive bar keeps it real with the music that blasts from the speakers and reverberates around dingy space’s concrete walls. Come here and sip on all-time favourite cocktails like the Hobnail, or the Bad Dream Mama, while getting down to the perpetual medley of rock from the 70s through the present. You’ll be pleased to know the all-girl team of bartenders here is as badass – if not even more – than the music.

Speaking of vinyl and expensive sound systems, Music Room at Potatohead has sound on lock-in Hong Kong, with an incredible sound system complete with top-of-the-line vintage gear from the US, the UK, and Japan. The room is replete with literally thousands of vinyl records that the DJ spins on the regular, so audiophiles here can enjoy one of the most beautiful sonic experiences the city has to offer while enjoying signature cocktails.

Calling all K-pop fans, you know who you are. If you’re looking for a place to listen to some of your favourite Korean tunes whilst munching on some ridiculously moreish KFC (Korean fried chicken), then grab a couple of friends and get down to this Sai Ying Pun eatery. Order an item from the extensive selection of chicken – we recommend the half-and-half chicken combo, which allows you to select two types of fried chicken from a range including spicy, soy, and sweet and spicy – and then sit back, eat away, and embrace the catchy music. The best part is that the wall is peppered with flat-screen TVs so you can watch your favourite K-Pop videos to go along with the music!

What could be better than a sake bar with a food menu full of sashimi and adventurous Japanese-style fish and rice rolls? Add an awesome playlist of rock music to the equation and you get the idea. TMK’s music repertoire includes songs from old school artists like KISS, Queen, AC/DC, and more recent rockers like Blink 182 and The Offspring, to name just a few. Rock on and let the sake flow!

If the bright neon sign or the smell of delicious food doesn’t get you through the door at Holy Eats, then surely the music will. These guys are pretty new-school when it comes to the tunes they bump, with anthems from Lil Uzi Vert, Tory Lanez, playing with interspersed hits from the likes of The Weeknd and Chris Brown. Once inside, you may as well tap those toes while chomping down some of their tasty bites, like the slow-cooked pork ribs, or soft shell crab toast, while sipping on Japanese craft beer.

Chef Esdras Ochoa works wonders at this hidden Kennedy Town ode to cool. The Mexican food here is on point, with an array of mouth-watering bites from quesadillas to chips and salsa, to their famous tacos. To complement the amazing food, the restaurant has an incredible playlist of tracks that make us want to stay here for hours on end. As the eatery’s name suggests, the tracks are heavily West Coast-influenced, with hip hop from acts like Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar bumping out of the speakers. Not to discriminate, however, they do also occasionally play artists from other parts of the US – think Biggie, Jay-Z, and Kanye – to make this place a must for taco and hip hop lovers.

The required credentials for getting a job at Fineprint must be based on musical taste as well as coffee-making prowess, as the playlist here is eclectic and full of great tunes. Stick around long enough and you'll find yourself sipping your coffee whilst nodding your head to everything from classic rock, to 90s boybands, to Phil Collins. Almost as much a musical adventure as a caffeinated one, Fineprint is where it's at for lovers of all types of music. 

This Sri Lankan street food-inspired restaurant on Elgin Street has a playlist that is as infinitely interesting as the food. As well as Calypso, Hotel Colombo also plays Baila in the afternoons. What is Baila? It’s an upbeat, percussion-heavy form of music with African roots that is very popular in Sri Lanka. We’re sure that the beat will help get you in the mood to party while enjoying dishes from the menu like the prawn curry or lamb kothu. If you’re looking for tunes you can sing along to, then we suggest dropping by at night, when 90s RnB, soul, and hip hop dominate the speakers.