The 50 absolute best bars in Hong Kong

Award-winning fine French dining kingpin Caprice, housed in the suave Four Seasons hotel, has transformed the small private waiting area, adjacent to the dining room, into Caprice Bar – a tasteful, intimate and comforting fine wine and cheese room perfect for winding down in after a busy day at the office. We suggest those who want the ultimate Caprice Bar experience to order the wine and cheese pairings and those in the mood for cocktails to enjoy the seasonal serves crafted by the bar's talented bartenders headed by beverage manager Lorenzo Antinori. Our favourite is Truffle Negroni ($220), made with gin infused with fresh Australian black winter truffle, which elevates this classic aperitif to sophisticated heights.   

Mezcal is certainly a big thing in Hong Kong these days, and Coa is the agave spirit’s best evangelist – the extensive mezcal, tequila and raicilla menu here is the best of its kind in the city. Owner and founder Jay Khan is hugely affable and incredibly knowledgeable about mixology and agave spirits, he can help you choose the perfect drink, even if you’re not familiar with Mexico’s native liquors. 

Launched by a trio of Hong Kong’s finest local talent, The Old Man is the most talked about bar in the city. In early 2019, it was crowned Asia's best bar at the Asia's 50 Best awards in Singapore, a title it certainly earned during its two-and-a-half-year existence. It’s cheek-by-jowl here these days, but don’t let that dissuade you: the drinks are always innovative – the distillation machine gets heavy use – but it’s the appreciably attentive service that keeps us all coming back.

The bar is temporarily closed but The Old Man is currently on tour. Head over to French restaurant Épure at Harbour City and join the team of The Old Man as they head over to the other side of the city. The Old Man's Nikita Matveev teams up with executive chef Nicolas Boutin's for an afternoon of great food and drinks. Until the end of February, from 3pm to 10pm, guests can enjoy French hors d'oeuvres, along with Matveev's cocktails. Book a seat at 3185 8338, or email at reservations@epure.hk.

Buried inside The Pottinger, Room 309 is an Aladdin’s cave of delights. With his first new concept in nearly three years, Antonio Lai showed that he still has his golden touch. Almost everything from the bar’s ‘invisible menu’ is worth ordering – and for the flavours too, not just the gimmick of their transparent appearance. 

This cosy, burgundy-and-gold-hued lounge was inspired by Alfonso X of Castile, a.k.a. the dude who ‘invented’ tapas. Ergo, expect some small bites as well as Iberian-leaning drinks. Of these, the barrel-aged Manhattan made with Amontillado and PX sherries is a winner, but you can’t go wrong with any of the bold choices on the menu. This is the kind of place where you can settle in for a long night over good conversation and great drinks.

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Headed by the award-winning ‘bartender-in-chief’ Masahiko Endo, Mizunara is a Japanese-style bar hidden away on the fourth floor of a commercial building on Lockhart Road. Yes, the atmosphere is often restrained, so this is no place to go large, but if it’s exquisite cocktails and attentive service you’re after, you can’t do much better.

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The finest of Antonio Lai’s various excellent cocktail bars and ground zero of molecular mixology in Hong Kong, Quinary provides a multisensory experience for its customers unmatched anywhere in the city. Not just about excellent taste, but attention to detail in aesthetics, feel, smell – all the receptors are stimulated within stylish, usually buzzing surrounds.

Long established as one of the best bars in Hong Kong, if not Asia, the cocktails at Lobster Bar are measured perfectly and the beers come in frosted pewter mugs to add an exceptionally classy touch. No staid hotel spot, Lobster Bar is constantly evolving, ensuring it stays among the best of the best.

Long overlooked as a drinking destination – not a surprise when your bar is part of the only Italian restaurant outside of Italy to have three Michelin stars – 8½ is finally getting credit for its drinks as well as its food. In large part that’s thanks to the excellent Devender Kumar, bar manager and a Barcardi Legacy winner, whose signatures, The Optimist and Pocket Square, threaten to overshadow the food.

A brainchild of accolade-heavy bar team Sandeep Hathiramani and Gagan Gurung, Tell Camellia's mission is to fuse tea and cocktail culture. The cocktail menu 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. A must-try on the menu is one of our favourite tea Negronis in town, the Darjeeling Negroni which is also available for takeaway in 200ml ($250) and 500ml ($500) bottles.

The St. Regis Hong Kong opened its doors in the early part of 2019, and St. Regis Bar has since become a go-to hangout for people looking for an after-work drink in intimate surroundings. Expect a carefully crafted cocktail menu inspired by New York’s subway and Hong Kong’s tramline. Our favourite sip is the cocktail inspired by the God of the Sea, Hung Shing Ye ($148), a coconut-milk washed cocktail featuring Beluga caviar-infused vodka, St Regis Vetiver Essence, oyster leaf, and spices. And since The St Regis is said to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, do not leave the bar without trying their Bloody Mary flight which includes the local rendition, Canto Mary, made with dried tangerine peel, spices, and soy sauce.

A diamond among the tourist tat of Upper Lascar Row, Blue Supreme is Hong Kong’s classiest craft beer bar. The space is decorated with dark teal walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and wooden furniture offset by green plants. When it comes to beer, the focus is on the wide range of funky, wild and live brews born out of Belgian traditions: farmhouse ales, saisons, spontaneously fermented lambics, sour brown ales and more. Owner Ted Lai really knows his stuff. Talk to him a bit, and he can help ease you into a style that suits your palate. Be sure to order something to eat, too – Blue Supreme pays equal care and attention to its food menu.

With Stockton having been around for a while now, it seems a little redundant to claim it's 'hidden' anymore, but for the uninitiated, it's still easy to miss. Found at the top of a dark passage near the end of Wyndham Street, Stockton is decorated like an Edwardian gentlemen's club, all leather sofas and stuffed dodo birds. One of Stockton’s best attributes is its experimental streak, as demonstrated in the introduction of three entirely new cocktail menus since opening back in 2014. Their Evolution of the Species menu has been pleasing crowds with the standout Sin Tax (Time Out Hong Kong Bar Awards 2019 Best Cocktail winner), a gem of a cocktail made with Young Coconut, Kaffir Lime Liquor, Citric Solution, and Pandan Tanqueray Gin.

With its grunge aesthetic and free-wheeling ethos, The Pontiac is unique within Hong Kong’s upscale cocktail scene. But it’s not just the dive bar vibes and rock heavy playlist that make this spot on Old Bailey Street such a popular destination. The drinks are spot on, especially the classics, and the staff are among the most fun and engaging in the city. 

One of the most lowkey of Hong Kong’s hidden cocktail bars, 001 is easy to miss unless you know it’s there. A recessed black door set behind the market stalls on Graham Street, a dim spotlight and doorbell are the only signs that you’re at the right place. Fortunately, 001 doesn’t rely on its gimmick as a hidden bar to pull in punters. The cocktails here are excellent and there’s a strong selection of spirits too. At times you can even find the elusive Pappy Van Winkle bourbon in stock, provided you’re willing to pay the high price, of course.

Located at the steps of Shing Hing Street, you'll find the bar's narrow wooden door with bold brass lettering of Whisky & Words at the front entrance. The area is intimate, and the interior is decked out in muted greys and faux wood decals. You will have an option of 300 whiskies (starting from $130 to $340 per dram) from their bottle collection coming from Scotland, Japan, and Ireland. Aside from whisky, the bar also offers a selection of cocktails that uses gin and vodka as base. 

Tucked away at the back of Mexican restaurant 11 Westside – beyond the restaurant’s own bar and two large, frosted glass doors – The Wilshire is another of Hong Kong’s ‘hidden’ gems, with charming bar staff and a focused menu of classic cocktails given intriguing spins. Not sure what to order? Chat up the bar team. They’re always willing to whip something up according to your tastes. If you’re in Kennedy Town seeking a drink, this should be your first call. And then your last call, too, when you inevitably come back for a nightcap. 

Open on Fridays and Saturdays 6pm-10pm

PDT’s official opening in Hong Kong in early 2018 may not have generated quite the same buzz as when the bar popped up in the Landmark MO two years prior, but the cocktails are still of exceptional quality. As exciting as the drinks may be, the bar snacks, created by Richard Ekkebus, culinary director of Michelin-starred Amber, are also top drawer. 

The Globe is a proper local, headed up by the good old-fashioned publican and beer-encyclopedia Toby Cooper. With a dizzying and ever-changing selection of brews from Hong Kong and abroad, this is the beer institution of our city.

Established by master mixologist Masayuki Uchida, Butler is the best place for a quality cocktail in all Kowloon. Uchida has the techniques down perfectly and the spot-lit bar is filled with more than 200 different spirits for all manner of concoctions. The fruit cocktails, made from fresh produce that’s sliced and juiced on the spot, are exceptional.

It’s a common complaint that PMQ is used for all the wrong things. Sake Central is another odd fit in the arts / shopping / entertainment venue – but what an odd fit. Offering the best selection of sake in the city, this is the palce to go to indulge your taste for the Japanese drink or to start learning about it. The accompanying ‘otsumami’ small bites are divine, too.

When this attractive spot opened in Central in mid-2016, it really accented Hong Kong’s increasingly serious approach to gin, demonstrating that there was real intent from the city’s mixologists to shine a spotlight on the spirit following the groundwork laid by others on the list. With infused gins prepared in-house complimenting its first-rate selection of artisanal gins and an expertly curated cocktail menu, this is high-level stuff worth sipping.

The bar opened in early 2020, with an extensive collection of whiskies from Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and other world whiskies. Veering away from the usual gentleman's leather den, House Welley Bar exudes a modern vibe that appeals to both whisky noobs and enthusiasts. Expect to find single cask, limited edition, and distillery exclusive original bottlings (OB) and hard to find independent bottlings (IB) from the likes of Yamazaki, Macallan, to rare Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS).  

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DarkSide is the flagship bar of Rosewood Hong Kong that 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. 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 and Armagnac, cocktail classics with twists and its own Rosewood-branded pilsner and IPA.

VEA stands for Vicky Et Antonio – Vicky and Antonio in French. Vicky is Vicky Cheng, the visionary chef formerly of Liberty Private Works, and Antonio is Antonio Lai, the legendary bartender behind Origin, The Envoy and Quinary. With a tour de force such as Lai behind the drinks menu, expect well-executed classics and house signatures using playful flavours.  

Sake Samurai Elliot Faber (Ronin, Sake Central, Yardbird) leads the team behind this intimate sake sanctuary in Central. You might get drawn in by the striking interiors – stone pebbles on the walls evoke the grains of rice used to brew sake – but most likely you will be going here to sample some of the dozens of bottles of sake imported from 10 different Japanese producers. Throw in tremendous service from the affable and supremely knowledgeable staff, and you have a winner with this bar.

Foxglove is a 1950s-style bar disguised as an umbrella shop on Duddell Street, a concept based on the travels of fictional Englishman Frank Minza. Entering the bar will transport you back to the fabulous 50s with an interior reminiscent of the luxurious first-class aeroplane cabins of that era. The drink menu offers classic cocktails with house signature twists and a selection of rare cognac and spirits – some bottled in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. This spot hosts live events that run a gamut of genres, including Latino and world music, but it’s the jazz nights that they’re renowned for and is always top quality. 

Boasting sweeping views over Victoria Harbour, Red Sugar is a great place to grab a tipple or two. With a robust whisky selection and other spirits, as well as cocktails divided into sections such as barrel-aged cocktails, modern classics, light alcohol cocktails and mocktails. 

Translated from the French phrase 'L’Enfant Terrible', an expression often used in the world of creative arts to describe the clever yet unconventional, passionate yet egotistical, Terrible Baby shakes up a selection of sustainable cocktails and offers an impressive collection of rosés and gins – plus it opens at 11am, so you can sneak in an afternoon drink that’s a hell of a lot tastier than anything else you can get during the day in Kowloon (try the Tepaching, a sweet, funky blend of mezcal, fresh lime and tepache). The bar is also linked to an outdoor terrace and music room, where you can even record or mix your own tracks. The concept is cool, the décor is cool, the aesthetic is cool. You get the picture.  

The Envoy is another one of Antonio Lai's bars tucked away in The Pottinger hotel. The drinks are decidedly futuristic-retro, offering avant-garde millilitres of meticulously measured, shaken and stirred concoctions. There's a separate full menu for food, offering bites and heartier game-heavy dishes, but we find the drinks alone provide adequate sustenance. Although regular imbibers wouldn't choose this place for a standard tipple, guests would definitely return for its charming surprises.  

Little Bao's chef May Chow joined forces with the guys from TAP: The Ale Project to create a gastropub, the aptly named Second Draft, located in Tai Hang. Apart from serving some cracking locally brewed beers on tap, the gastropub is also heavily influenced by local flavours when it comes to the grub with dishes like nuts with spicy Mala seasoning and dried oyster croquettes on the menu. 

The Daily Tot is a Caribbean-inspired bar named after the centuries-old ritual of handing out a daily rum ration to royal navy sailors from 1850 to the 1970s. The bar focuses on niche rum bottles from Barbados and Trinidad that showcase the true flavours of this versatile spirit. The bar is managed by Gerry Olino, formerly the head bartender of Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour. Look forward to tasting 12 signature cocktails that highlight rum's versatility with the classics, including twists using light flavours.   

Doubleshot is a cafe and cocktail bar created by the team of specialty coffee roastery, Cupping Room. Located in Hollywood Road, the place makes specialty brews, serves alcoholic beverages, and offers a full dining service every time of the day. Their signature cocktails are specially designed by consultant Chanel Adams (formerly of PDT) and maintained by head bartender Jade Lau. Drop by here for some breakfast and coffee in the morning or come by with your friends for some drinks at night.  

Founded by world-famous wine critic James Suckling, the bar stands out amongst the wine bars in Hong Kong. Here oenophiles can indulge in a wine list covering James' 100-point rated wines during his decades-long career as a wine critic. Taste over 400 wines by the glass with an emphasis on Italian wines from Tuscany, Piedmont, and Veneto regions, as well as Bordeaux wines, and Port. Make sure to catch their Happy Hour – which offers $60 per glass every Monday to Saturday, 3pm to 5.30pm – so you can try some labels that would typically be available at $600 to $950 per bottle. 

The opening of this place, in the early part of 2020, was almost as mysterious as the venue itself with news of it only spreading predominantly via word of mouth, and making an appointment by phone or the bar's Facebook page was the only way to enjoy the experience. Now, accepting walk-ins, patrons can freely enter the curious-looking door on Staunton Street with a small window that shows only darkness behind it. The menu is extensive, with selections of whiskies and gins (averaging around $118 per serving), and wines by the bottle. Most of the bar staff came from 001, so you can expect quality classic cocktails and interesting house twists.  

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This free-spirited bar aims to shake things up on Peel Street. Two happy hours (including a very welcome 11pm-1am late-night deal), killer cocktails, crushable beers at affordable prices and a range of wines from across the world – including biodynamic and natural wines – give Shady Acres an edge over some of the other players on the scene. It doesn't hurt that Hong Kong nightlife veterans Ryan Nightingale (Back Bar, Aberdeen Street Social) and Mike Watt (208 Duecento Otto) are involed in the project.

If you can’t get a seat at Sushi Zo – or if you want to memorable nightcap after your omakase feast – head to Gishiki Lounge. The bar features no shortage of Japanese touches, from flavoured ice blocks shaped like Hannya masks and small-batch sakes to geisha-influenced performances and cocktails named after characters from traditional Noh theatre. 

65 Peel is all about showcasing the local craft beer scene, especially harder-to-find brews from Citibrew, Moonzen and more. In fact, you have to turn a good six pages through the menu before seeing anything brewed outside of the SAR. And the interior is just as important here. ‘Industrial chic’ is taken to the next level in a cavernous room where exposed concrete and beams set the tone for features like a bright neon sign, colourful murals and a few Bearbricks that serve as unofficial mascots. 

Sporting a 1960s-inspired aesthetic and a bold new menu to match, Lee Lo Mei emanates 'real' Hong Kong better than anywhere else in the city. Featuring an array of innovative Cantonese dishes combined with nostalgic flavours, we particularly like the whiskey-infused take on Hong Kong-style milk tea. 

Turning an old ping pong hall on the remote and unassuming streets of Sai Ying Pun into a stylish Spanish gin bar is a stroke of genius. Everything about this place is cool, laid-back and thoughtfully curated. The atmosphere and roominess of the space are easily the main draws. But, thankfully, equal thought has gone into the drinks. There’s a huge range of gins and tonics to choose from, including classic Spanish brand Gin Xoriguer and locally owned Perfume Trees. The bar also offers tapas including a selection of cold cuts, cheese and a grilled cheese toast. 

Taking up 1,520sq ft space of the former Buddha Lounge on Hollywood Road is the latest concept from The Old Man's founders Agung Prabowo and Roman Ghale. A nod to the modern classic cocktail, Penicillin (made with honey, lemon, ginger, a strong dose of Scotch, and a splash of smoky Islay whisky) and the antibiotic in which the cocktail got its name, the bar create drinks with an eco-friendly twist that does not only cure any cocktail fix but hopefully the bar industry's quandaries on sustainability. 

Located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui East's waterfront, Boticario transports cocktail lovers to 1920s Buenos Aires, a time when Argentina was one of the wealthiest countries in the world. This new cocktail den features a two-level cocktail bar and grill with both indoor and alfresco seating. The bar's cocktail menu combines the herbal healing traditions of South America's pharmacies with the timeless heritage of spirit botanicals. Try the Brave Bullfighter ($108), a refreshing tipple with a spicy kick, or the Pear-scription Spritz ($138), a moreish fizzy mix of gin, pear brandy, jasmine kombucha, topped with Prosecco. 

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This buzzing, two-floor bar and Japanese restaurant has outposts in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US, such is its quality. There’s a well-stocked bar of Japanese sakes and whiskies. But it’s Zuma’s knack for visually appealing cocktails that’s landed it in the upper echelons of Hong Kong’s bar scene.

If the many super serious cocktail bars littering Central feel too crusty, Honi Honi is here to help. Specialising in tiki drinks, this Wellington Street hangout is a Polynesian beach bar getaway in the heart of the city. The bar is home to the city’s largest collection of rum and the excellent tiki drinks, served in adorable vessels, have made this spot perpetually popular.

Tai Lung Fung is a fun concept that pays tribute to Hong Kong’s cultural heritage. Like all the other establishments in Wan Chai’s heritage district, this is one gem that definitely deserves to be preserved. The bar offers a selection of suds on tap, and the bartenders here can shake up most cocktails upon request.

When it comes to rooftop spaces in this city, the widely accepted rule is if you've got it, flaunt it. That’s what The Murray hotel does with Popinjays, the crowning gem of its F&B portfolio. Accessible by a private elevator, the penthouse venue has a bar on one side and the restaurant on the other. It's encased in floor-to-ceiling windows with a wraparound terrace that looks out in all directions to surrounding high-rises. The space is a stunner, a cool blend of class and playfulness, with plenty of Kaws artwork to embellish the walls. While most of the cocktails here do not come cheap, you'll quickly find that the prices are surprisingly reasonable for a five-star hotel.

Japanese cocktail hotspot Bar De Luxe has moved from the 30th floor of Asia Pacific Centre to their new H Code location in Pottinger Street. Known for its authentic Ginza flavour and experience, the bar was brought to Hong Kong in 2017 by legendary bartender Hidetsugu Ueno, founder of the famous Tokyo bar Bar High Five. The new venue now sits on a 1700sq ft spot that can fit 120 guests (standing) which is bigger than their old space. The menu, which is the highlight of the bar, still carries cocktails created from the same meticulous Japanese mixology that Bar de Luxe guests have been used to.

Local craft brewery Moonzen have pulled out all the stops for this extremely photogenic bar on Shantung Street. Designed by HEED Studio, the interior is full of vermillion and emerald green to resemble a temple, and the bar serves an impressive 12 beers on tap – nine Moonzen brews and three guest additions. We thoroughly enjoy escaping the bustle of the city and perching at the bar and getting a cold one poured, accompanied by some of the tasty snacks on offer.

Whether you're planning a romantic night under the stars, a festive celebration with your nearest and dearest, or just looking for somewhere to get away from – or above – it all, one of these watering holes in Hong Kong is sure to have you covered.