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Photograph: Courtesy Red Room

The best speakeasy-style and hidden bars in Hong Kong

Where to nurse a drink in 852's 'not-so-secret' secrets

Tatum Ancheta
Edited by
Tatum Ancheta
Written by
Time Out editors
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No one has actually been to a speakeasy, well, unless you're 100 years old and have lived through Prohibition in the 1920s and early 1930s, that is. What we call 'speakeasies' in Hong Kong are themed bars inspired by the vestiges of the Prohibition era, bars that are intentionally hidden from plain sight, lacks signage, discreetly located in obscured entrances, and showcasing cocktails and experiences designed to look like you're going back in time. 

Discovering these bars is already part of the drinking experience, and drinking at these 'hidden' gems can be a magical encounter. And while locating these 'secret' bars is not a daunting task, finding the very best is entirely a different matter. Read on to discover Hong Kong's best-disguised drinking holes and bars-within-bars that serve quality drinks that will keep you coming back for seconds. 

Check out our quick roundup of these venues in the reel below!

RECOMMENDED: Drink your way through our top picks of the 50 best bars in Hong Kong.

Best speakeasy-style and hidden bars in Hong Kong

  • Bars and pubs
  • Central

Artifact Bar is the latest speakeasy-style bar at Basehall 2. The bar's design is inspired by surreal geometry and the serene atmospheres found in underground water reservoirs, creating a transportative atmosphere that evokes dystopian sci-fi movies like the 1997 American film Gattaca. The establishment boasts an all-star F&B team, including Michael Larkin, Beckaly Franks, Ezra Star, and chef Kiyoshi Sato, so patrons can expect offerings that are nothing short of excellent. The menu features seasonal cocktails and bespoke highballs are served tableside for $150 each for those who want to explore different flavours. If you come by without reservation, expect to wait as it tends to get very crowded, especially on weekends. 

For more information, check out this feature

  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Central
  • Recommended

Hong Kong’s very first hidden bar, 001, has reopened inside the historic Tai Kwun. Once you can find the entrance to the bar, you'll be greeted with a blue, green, and gold motif to their interior; soft suede booth seats; and Jazz Age geometric patterns on the ceiling and walls. Their menu features 10 cocktails that change according to the season, as well as their signature Earl Grey Marteani ($158). Additionally, 001 boasts an impressive collection of whiskies, including Pappy Van Winkle, one of the most elusive and sought-after bourbons.

Click the link below for a sneak peek video of the bar.    

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Central

Hidden within the multi-venue space, The Trilogy, Ella is the city's latest jazz haven. The new bar pays homage to the revered 'Queen of Jazz,' Ella Fitzgerald, and is steeped in the essence of New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. Enjoy craft cocktails inspired by American classics, paired with quintessential New Orleans fare, from juicy Rockefeller oysters to savoury Boudin arancini balls. Be serenaded by live performances from Wednesday to Saturday, starting at 8pm, as the space comes alive with the soulful reverberations of live jazz.

Click the link below for a sneak peek video of the new jazz bar.  

  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Causeway Bay

Nestled discreetly on the third floor of the Cubus building in Causeway Bay, Takumi Mixology Salon offers a hidden sanctuary of refined libations, situated alongside its culinary sibling, Teppanyaki Mihara Goten from the Pong Group (proprietors of Jiangsu Club and Trattoria Kagawa). Guided by bartender Rayven Leung, formerly of Carlyle & Co and Mizunara: The Library, this secluded lounge specialises in the art of crafting cocktails, serving up seasonal creations and custom concoctions meticulously crafted to suit the discerning palates of their customers.

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Central

Chef Olivier Elzer's contemporary French restaurant, Clarence, has recently transformed its wine bar into La Suite, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with an outdoor lounge that offers a stunning view of Hong Kong's skyline. Running the show behind the bar is Max Traverse, the brain behind Maka Hiki Tropical Bar & Grill, that tiki joint over in Tai Hang. Get ready to dive into a lineup of classic cocktails and signature tipples jazzed up with French herb and spice combos.

Click the link below for a sneak peek video of the cocktail bar.  

  • Bars and pubs
  • Tsim Sha Tsui

Another addition to the ever-growing collection of Prohibition-era-inspired hangouts in Hong Kong is the newly opened Red Room within K11 Musea. This bar is concealed behind a wall of lockers, featuring an oriental-themed decor complete with plush velvet sofas and a striking red interior. Here, guests can savour a wide array of spirits, including vintage whiskies, Cognac wines, handcrafted cocktails, and gourmet bar snacks. The breezy balcony offers an escape for those looking to enjoy a fine cigar while taking in the stunning city skyline. Guests can sip on classic favourites with a Hong Kong-inspired twist, such as the Tea Fist, a whisky sour made with whisky-aged tangerine puer tea, lemon, honey, and egg white, and the Hong Kong Island Iced Tea with vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and umeshu. 

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Wan Chai

Tucked away inside a nondescript commercial building in Wan Chai, Mizunara is not the easiest bar to spot. But if you do, you'll find over 600 bottles of whiskies from Japanese, Scottish, American, and Irish distilleries, and you can enjoy various whisky cocktails on the menu. The bar can create a custom cocktail for you with your preferred whisky. The drinks here aren't exactly on the wallet-friendly end of the scale, but they are crafted with care, and you're unlikely to find similar drinks elsewhere in town. Their head mixologist Masahiko Endo recently left Hong Kong, but he occasionally visits for bar shifts. 

  • Bars and pubs
  • Central

25:00 (Twenty Fifth Hour) is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar tucked above one of Hong Kong's oldest restaurants, Luk Yu Tea House on Stanley Street. Headed by passionate mixologist Kenzo Lee (formerly of W Hotel's Woobar and East Hong Kong's Sugar), the bar serves well-thought-of cocktails inspired by the concept of time. Twenty Fifth Hour is a perfect place if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience or a place to bring someone for a first romantic date. Along with an inventive drink selection, the bar presents a seasonal cocktail-tasting menu that is unlike anything you'll try in the city. Lee's creations apply cooking techniques that you'd usually see in progressive restaurant menus, so expect garnishes that act as a complementing snack.

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Central

The place is located on the second floor of the Welley Building, and if you are not 'in the know', it's likely that you will not have even seen the place on your usual bar crawl. Created by three whisky lovers, Vincent Leung, Eric Ho, and Jason Ngai, the trio aims to give whisky the attention it deserves. House Welley has an excellent collection of whiskies from Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and other world whiskies. Veering away from the usual gentleman's club style, this bar exudes a more modern vibe that appeals to both whisky noobs and enthusiasts. Browse their collection of 350 bottles which includes regular labels, single cask, limited edition, hard-to-find independent bottlings (IB), and distillery exclusive original bottlings (OB) from the likes of Yamazaki, Macallan, and vintage expressions from Bunnahabhain, Clynelish, Bowmore, and more.

  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Central

Presented as an imaginary space within The Pottinger – every floor in the hotel has a maximum of six rooms, so 309 shouldn't exist – Room 309 sits next to another of Lai's establishments, The Envoy. Expect a menu of classic cocktails with new spins – quite literally, in a centrifuge – to produce a range of transparent cocktails. Try their Deep Sea Martini, a savoury treat made with re-distilled Oolong tea blended Scotch whisky, Cinzano Bianco, and homemade kombu tincture, served with Japanese soy sauce rice crackers and seaweed. They occasionally hold mixology pop-ups in collaboration with various spirit brands, so make sure to ask about these seasonal menus when you drop by.  

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Causeway Bay

A.P.E. (A Perfect Escape) is an intimate whisky bar hidden inside Esc coffeeshop in Tin Hau. The venue is brought to you by the same people behind InterContinental Grand Stanford's 1920s-style Tiffany's New York Bar, so you can expect the same quality curation of whiskies with a focus on Scotch from independent whisky bottlers. But compared to its older sibling, A.P.E.'s atmosphere is more relaxed, plus the price point is on the affordable side. Discover various bottles of Scotch from Speyside, Highland, Islay, and Lowland regions from independent bottlers Douglas Laing, Thompson Bros, Elixir Distillers, and Asta Morris, among others, as well as original bottling from Ardbeg, Clynelish, Lagavulin, and Bruichladdich distilleries. 

  • Bars and pubs
  • Wan Chai

For a no-fuss sake drinking experience, make your way to Wan Chai and knock on the hidden bar Heya. Heya, which means room in Japanese, is a cosy little nook tucked on the fourth floor of Winner Commercial Building on Lockhart Road. This 18-seater sake bar serves over 30 labels of sake – which you can order per glass (around $50 to $100 per glass; $230/flight of three) or bottle for dine-in or takeaway. Light bites and their ever-changing Cantonese-style soup are available on the menu, but you can also bring your own food at no extra fee. Owner Billy Au will even help you pair your food with the right bottle of sake.  

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Central

The Green Door is a cocktail bar in Central co-owned by F&B industry veterans Arlene Wong (formerly of Awamori bar Awa-Awa) and Dabi Chin (from OBP). The bar is located on Graham Street, hidden amongst the busy wet market stalls, and has taken over the former location of hidden bar 001. Inside, the dimly lit decor, designed by Design Eight Five Two design studio, evokes the feeling of an underground cistern, with arches and pillars complete with booth seats and dining tables featuring custom leather armchairs that can accommodate up to 36 guests. The cocktail programme offers playful twists on classic cocktails and guests can also enjoy American bar snacks curated by executive chef Gavin Chin (owner of House of Culture), including dishes like threadfin ($180), prawn cutlets ($120), and their moreish American Pie ($90) for dessert. 

Click the link below for a sneak peek video of the bar.  

  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Sheung Wan

Located down an alley off Aberdeen Street, The Old Man Hong Kong has become an essential part of Asia’s cocktail scene since it opened in 2017. Just one year after its opening, it earned a spot in The World’s 50 Best Bars and took the top spot at Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2019. Expect new takes on the bar’s Ernest Hemingway-themed menu and catch seasonal cocktails that run for a limited time. 

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Soho

When you see the striking blue wall with a golden elevator-looking door on Staunton Street, you'll know you are in the right place. Flick the small switch next to the door to gain entry into The Poet – a hidden cocktail haven serious about its tipples. Inside, the interior has a look and feel of a classic cocktail bar with backlit mirrors on cerulean walls, marble tables, gold finishes, and cosy corners. The drink menu is extensive, with selections of whiskies, gins, wines by the bottle, and signature cocktails inspired by the classics.  

  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Central

If you're new to the city and have not been to Dr Fern's, you'll easily miss the bar hiding behind a door dressed as a doctor's clinic. But an appointment with the doctor is not required; just open the door and walk in. Dr Fern's Gin Parlour came from the same team behind Foxglove. The bar houses over 200 gins showcasing premium bottles from all around the world which you can enjoy neat or as a G&T. They also shake up an array of creative cocktails depending on the season, so be sure to ask the bartender what's on the chalkboard. 

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Central

Located on the second floor of Amber Lodge on Hollywood Road is a hidden oasis called Zzura. Inspired by the Sahara desert, the bar's design features clean, minimal, and polished earthy hues with contrasting pops of green and orange on the furnishings – a far cry from the intimate and dimly lit speakeasy-style bars in the city. The bar serves signature cocktails with Middle-Eastern flavours crafted by Tell Camellia's Gagan Gurung.

  • Bars and pubs
  • Sai Ying Pun

Turning an old ping pong hall on the unassuming streets of Sai Ying Pun into a stylish Spanish gin bar has proven to be a stroke of genius. There's nothing more appealing to a crowd of hipsters and creatives than a reprocessed space that still features touches of the original and adequately combines grit with taste. The bar does a decent job of giving a stage to Spain's excellent gin scene by featuring some of the country's best variations of the spirit and cocktails that appropriately complement the unique characteristics of each gin.

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  • Bars and pubs
  • Central

Hidden at the back of MO Bar in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, accessed through a mock phone booth, PDT has established itself as one of the best bars in the city – let alone one of the best' hidden' bars. The cocktail menu is well-thought-out and serves a wonderful marriage of classics from PDT's original home in New York and new creations that are sensitive to local tastes and ingredients here in Asia.

  • Bars and pubs
  • Cocktail bars
  • Central

Situated in the bustling H Code, The Diplomat is the perfect watering hole for people hankering for after-work drinks. Though its location is not so hidden, the bar does have a secret pink V.I.P. room that you can only enter through a referral from regular patrons. Inside you can order the same cocktail menu from the main bar, but press a special button on the table, and servers will instantly serve you a glass of Champagne. If you're able to get into the back room, make sure to stay until midnight to catch the complimentary cookies served hot from the oven.  

How about some drinks with a view?

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