

Articles (117)

Hong Kongâs coolest hidden alleyways
Hong Kong is blessed with amazing secret islands, gorgeous beaches and brilliant hiking trails that are the envy of Time Out cities worldwide. Oddly enough, Hong Kongâs many alleways arenât held in quite such high esteem. But if you think all alleyways are dank, dark and dangerous, then think again. The intrepid staff of Time Out have jumped oily puddles, dodged noxious bin bags and sidestepped unknown drips to locate the best secret spots in alleyways actually worth lingering in. In fact, these streets are so secret they donât even have names... Â

The best bars in Lan Kwai Fong
Love it or hate it, Lan Kwai Fong is increasingly home to a number of great bars as well as clubs. In recent years thereâs been a concerted effort to raise standards in the neighbourhood â places like the departed Hong Kong Brewhouse, its floor littered with peanut shells and sticky with spilt beer, clearly represent the past. Ignore the mob out on the street or the teenagers hanging outside âClub 7-Elevenâ, and find out for yourself by visiting one of these best bars in Lan Kwai Fong.RECOMMENDED: If you want more great drinks, check out our guide to Hong Kongâs 50 best bars. Or in case you need to sober up, try one of Centralâs best coffeeshops.

The best late night Hong Kong bars
Thereâs no shortage of good places to get a drink in Hong Kong. The city is home to some of the best bars and bartenders in the world, after all. But what to do if itâs reaching midnight and youâre still going strong? Fear not. Hongkongers work hard and play hard, and many excellent establishments stay open for discerning customers seeking a quality drink in the wee hours before the sun comes up. Here are the best of them.RECOMMENDED: Prefer your drinks with a view, try one of Hong Kongâs best rooftop bars.

Free things to do in Hong Kong
We all know that Hong Kong isnât a cheap place to live in. And with exorbitant cemetery plots, this city isnât even an affordable place to be dead. But cheer up! Thereâs no need to panic when payday far away and youâre down to your last cents, as thereâs a wealth of free things to do in our SAR. From free gigs at Hong Kong's best music venues to free galleries and free comedy nights, there's plenty to keep you going out every day of the week, without having to spend a cent!

The best bars in Central
Deciding on the best bar in Central is a contentious issue. While we canât scientifically prove it, thereâs probably nowhere on Earth with as many quality drinking dens just around the corner from one another as our cramped CBD. Sure, the âhood might not have the underground kudos belonging to Hong Kongâs 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 youâre 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. Thatâs why weâve rounded up 28 of the best bars from the neighbourhood that provide Centralâs finest libations. You need never go thirsty again.

The best places to surf in Hong Kong
With more than one beach called Big Wave Bay, Hong Kong sounds like it was made for surfing. In truth, the waves here arenât as colossal as at more exotic locations like Hawaii or Tahiti. Still, the origins of the sport date back at least 40 years to 1978, the year the Hong Kong Surf Club was established. Although it only lasted four years, members of the club were pioneers of a pastime thatâs been gaining increasing popularity of late.If youâve ever wanted to join the surfers youâve seen at local beaches, or if youâre just the worldâs biggest Point Break fan, nowâs your chance to get involved. Winter is arguably the best time of year to surf in Hong Kong, and these are some of the best spots to ride the waves.And if surfing doesnât strike your fancy, why not get active on one of Hong Kongâs best hikes or cycling routes?Â

The best shops in Hong Kong
With a complete lack of sales tax â except on alcohol and tobacco â Hong Kong has long been famous as a shopping destination. Weâve got both great malls and fantastic street markets that are well worth shoppersâ time. But thatâs not all. Thereâs a fantastic range of small, independent shops that are perennially interesting to browse and which fly under the radar. They deserve not to be missed and thatâs why weâre featuring them here. And if all this shopping makes you hungry, remember to check out our guide to Hong Kongâs best restaurants.

The best specialist bars in Hong Kong
Thereâs a bar in Hong Kong whatever your particular poison. Mad for mezcal? Start at Coa. Thirsty for tequila? Thereâs Agave for all your needs. Giddy for gin? Try John Anthony. The cityâs fantastic bar scene has something for just about everyone. In years past, if you wanted a tipple, your options were limited. But as Hong Kongâs bar scene has grown and matured, so have the options available to curious drinkers. Nowadays, Hong Kongâs many fine bars cater to all sorts of different tastes, whether you prefer bourbon or saké â itâs not all just posh whisky bars and rumbunctious beer joints here. From gin palaces with hundreds of bottles of  âblue ruinâ to the cityâs only vermouth bar, whatever your drink of choice is, weâve found a place for you.

Volunteering in Hong Kong: local charities to support
Hong Kong might well be one of the richest cities in the world but life here isnât all about quirky cocktails and flashy dim sum. There are still many in need of assistance here. Thatâs not because Hongkongers are tight, in fact, we have an excellent record of philanthropy. Indeed, itâs not fundraising thatâs difficult in our city but finding the time to help the individuals and charities that need it most. If you can spare time to volunteer, here are 20 small local charities that could dearly do with your assistance.

The best Hong Kong action movies
Some of Hong Kongâs most famous movies â at least abroad â belong to the action genre. Traditionally, local audiences, weaned on a diet of wuxia novels, preferred to see their heroes dispatch villains with their fists or swords. But for a decade between the mid-80s and mid-90s, guns were king. So iconic were Hong Kongâs action flicks that they became a subgenre unto themselves, sometimes called âheroic bloodshedâ or âbullet balletâ. In case you donât know what all the fuss is about, here are 11 of the best Hong Kong action movies you need to see.RECOMMENDED:Â Looking for more great local movies? Try Hong Kongâs best wuxia films or romcoms.

10 things every Hongkonger has Googled at least once
Hongkongers pride themselves on their local knowledge, especially anything that involves getting the best value out of a situation. But our multifarious city still presents plenty of riddles. Fortunately, Google is now a thing (what impoverished lives our 20th century descendents must have lived), so whether youâre looking into real estate or figuring out a new commute, youâre not the only one taping into your smartphone to solve your problems. Here are some things weâve all searched for at least once. And in case you need more Hong Kong life hacks, check our guide to all the free things to do in town here.Â

The best mocktails in Hong Kong
It may not seem it in Lan Kwai Fong or Knutsford Terrace come Saturday night but low- or no-alcohol drinking is a trend gaining traction. Dry January is officially a thing and last year Heineken became the latest brewer, after the likes of Budweiser, to unveil an alcohol-free version of its beer. Even Diageo, home to Smirnoff, Guinness and Johnnie Walker, is investing in the sector, having bought a stake in Seedlip, a start-up producing a non-alcoholic spirit designed to replace gin in cocktails. Some Hong Kong bars are way ahead of the trend with excellent mocktails every bit as creative as their alcoholic offerings. Hereâs where to head if youâre getting on the wagon. RECOMMENDED: Changed your mind and fancy some alcohol instead? Why not check out the best whisky, best beer bars and best gin bars in Hong Kong.
Listings and reviews (26)

The ThirtySix Bar & Co
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The ThirtySix Bar & Co
One of the most popular cocktail breeds in Japan, the highball is a mix of a spirit and a larger portion of a nonalcoholic mixer. While plenty of drinks fit this classification â a G&T and yes, even a Jack and coke, technically belong to this family â the highball is enjoying a new spot in the limelight, fuelled in part by the new-found popularity of the whisky highball in the United States. It started in 2017 when Williamsburg hipster hotspot Kinfolk 90 became the first bar in New York to have a highball-making machine (supplied by whisky distiller Suntory, no less). That kick-started a surge of interest in the cocktail in America and within a year, the New York Times was declaring the summer âhighball seasonâ. The highball trend is slowing picking up here in Hong Kong too and The ThirtySix is the newest space to jump on train, after Black Sheepâs take on an izakaya, Fukuro, beat it to the punch last year. Sitting above Hollywood Road, this new concept occupies the spot formerly belonging to whisky and cocktail bar Angelâs Share. The physical layout is nearly identical, though the dĂ©cor has changed substantially. Where Angelâs Share had a uniform gentlemenâs-club vibe, The ThirtySix is a somewhat incoherent mishmash of styles. The place takes its drinks seriously but serves them on light-up coasters that look like they belong at Levels or Drop. The furniture, also, is a mix of clubby tables and stools and deep leather chairs that look like they were left behind by the previo

The Pontiac
Itâs not everyday you come across a jukebox in Hong Kong that includes the Gorilla Biscuitsâ early hardcore anthem Start Today. But the Pontiac is that rare breed in this city â a grungy, down-at-heel American-style bar that looks like it would fit in just as well in downtown NYC as it does on the steep slope of Old Bailey Street. When it strikes midnight and a couple of bartenders hop on the counter to begin pouring Becherovka into patronsâ mouths, the Coyote Ugly comparisons are even harder to resist. The bar is helmed by Beckaly Franks, a lady whoâs mixed it with the best. She was formerly lead bartender at Portlandâs Clyde Common, the highly respected tavern led by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, the mixologist credited with inventing barrel-aged cocktails. Beckaly is an affable hostess, one who belts out the lyrics to Livinâ on a Prayer (her and half the bar) when the track comes on and tells us âtalk to meâ when we grab a seat at the counter. Eager to please, we ask for a Death Row ($88), an interesting sounding mix of Plantation Original Dark rum, Cynar, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth and lemon juice. Unfortunately, the drink is rather sticky and its disparate elements donât combine well â the vermouth is overly sweet and while the Cynar leaves behind an excessively bitter aftertaste. Stung by our experiment with one of the house signatures, we opt for a classic Old Fashioned ($108). Franks checks what bourbon weâd like, but we run with her suggestion of Rowanâs Creek. Itâs a mu

The Dispensary
Contrasting details are a deliberate feature of Tai Kwun. Itâs why the Victorian era Barrack Block sits a stoneâs throw from the 21st-century JC Contemporary building and stark colour schemes are employed to help guests navigate the different sections of the site. Itâs a theme that extends to the various bars and restaurants operating there, too. Nowhere is this more apparent than at The Dispensary. Not only is it resolutely traditional in comparison to Behind Bars and Dragonfly, but it sits in-between Aqua Groupâs Sino-centric concept The Chinese Library and Statement, its western-focused restaurant.Thankfully, unlike Hugger Mugger, The Dispensary feels like its own space rather than a holding pen for either restaurant. The design is gorgeous. Occupying a spot that was formerly part of the police officersâ mess, the black and white flooring is similar to the messâs original, and the rich blue colouring the walls is apparently inspired by old police uniforms. These are just some of the thoughtful touches that have gone into the design.Fittingly for a bar bridging an eastern and a western restaurant, the cocktail menu here is separated into a Chinese and a British collection. Flavours like mango and egg tart are present in the former while rhubarb and chestnuts feature in the latter. Starting close to home, we order a Dan Tat ($98), which takes pineapple rum and shakes it with the aforementioned egg tart, cream soda cordial and elements of lemon and nutmeg. Probably best serve

The Dispensary
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The Chase
If thereâs one thing that the Hong Kong drinks scene suffers from, itâs pretention. It takes many forms: the establishment that masquerades as a dive bar but which charges top shelf prices, the place that claims to be a whisky bar while stocking little more than what you can buy at Wellcome, or the molecular mixology bar thatâs about as inventive as washing your hands with soap.The Chase â which together with Hunter, its sister establishment upstairs, occupies the space formerly belonging to steakhouse The Shore â is a mercifully honest venue. The PR prattle may describe it as a âmulti-faceted dining and mixology destinationâ but there are no gimmicks here and the drinks menu is a straightforward list of wines, cocktails and some half-a-dozen beers. Thereâs plenty of room, making it ideal for groups, and The Shoreâs excellent outdoor terrace remains and itâs still a great space for alfresco drinks come the cooler months in Hong Kong.There are eight cocktails on the menu â the common theme being old classics given a new spin â and we begin with a Deliciousourus ($118), a twist on the sidecar which sees applejack, crĂšme de pĂȘche, lemon and orange juice combined. While the original cocktail may be better, the citrus fruits play nicely together and, light and refreshing, itâs a very comfortable drink. Another Chase original, La Dolce Vita ($98) is served looking like a cross between a negroni and a cosmopolitan. Made up of gin, Aprerol, root syrup, watermelon juice and yellow cha

Distinction
In the entire history of the Hong Kong Film Awards only one individual has directed back-to-back Best Film winners. And itâs not Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark, Ann Hui, Johnnie To or any other of the local industry heavyweights. Rather, itâs Jevons Au, whose previous works â local dystopia Ten Years and triad throwback flick Trivisaâ were king in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Of course, and hereâs the catch, both films were collaborative efforts made with other co-directors, and Trivisa had none other than Johnnie To guiding it as producer. Still, Au was the one constant between those two films and his newest film has been eagerly anticipated since its announcement.For his solo debut, Au has penned Distinction. The film centres on a musical being organised at a special needs school. Around this event orbit a host of characters each with their own cross to bear â the truculent student from a poor background wearied by living with his intellectually disabled brother; the teacher whose father has Alzheimerâs and who needs to move to a smaller flat to help pay for his care; the young girl studying for her DSE exams buckling under the twin pressures of her parentsâ expectations and keeping up appearances alongside her rich classmates; the sunny and genuinely caring Xiao Li, a pupil shunned for her Mainland origins. The list goes on.Mercifully, Distinction never descends into misery porn the way it easily could. Although it feels contrived that no-one has it easy, each characterâs burden i

Whisky & Words
From Mizunara to Butler to Angelâs Share, cocktail and whisky bars are dime a dozen in Hong Kong. From the best to the worst, thereâs often a set template: dark wood interiors, a jazz soundtrack (if any music is tolerated at all) and, in the worst instances, an excessive solemnity thatâs meant to act as a substitute for genuine sophistication. Itâs a relief that Whisky & Words dispenses with these clichĂ©s.Sitting opposite Coa on the steps of Shing Hing Street, the entrance â a simple wooden door â is understated and easy to miss. A narrow bar with a pleasantly high ceiling, the interior is decked out in muted greys and faux wood decals. Pleasant lo-fi hip-hop â the employee in charge of the playlist once worked at Drop â punctuates the atmosphere, engendering a laid-back vibe absent from many bars of this sort. Another striking feature is â gasp! â a decent happy hour. If thereâs anywhere else in Hong Kong we can get an Ardbeg 10 year for $60, we havenât found it yet.Another item on the happy hour list is the Coffee Old Fashioned ($150; $88 during happy hour), which is what we start with. The menuâs description makes no mention of how the coffee flavour enters into the cocktail â it merely mentions Mitchersâs Straight Rye, orange bitters, Angostura bitters, orange peel and cherries â and the bartender is no more forthcoming, but whatever the process, it works. Unlike many coffee cocktails in town, this one is expertly balanced, the main ingredients working perfectly in tandem

Project Gutenberg
Hong Kong cinema used to be famous for its originality. Nowhere made a comedy like one of Stephen Chowâs mo lei tau movies or produced films with the distinct visual style of Wong Kar-wai. Even those local elements that didnât find favour with international critics, such as the jarring genre hopping or the rapid-fire editing, were nonetheless hallmarks of a particular Hong Kong cinematic style. What makes Project Gutenberg so disappointing is how much it borrows from Hollywood. The filmâs big twist, and even its initial setup is borrowed from a certain movie that shall remain nameless, in order to avoid spoilers. That lack of originality is sad for a Hong Kong film that boasts the talents of Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok and director Felix Chong, the writer of Infernal Affairs.The action begins with Lee Man (Kwok), a counterfeit artist, incarcerated in a Thai jail. Heâs soon hauled out and bundled on a plane to Hong Kong to assist with an investigation looking to nail Painter (Chow), the mysterious head of a counterfeit banknote organisation of which Lee was formerly a member. With no leads and little information on Painter, the police interrogate Lee, who recounts how he met Painter and the illegal activities that followed.All the way through, thereâs a nagging suspicion that this is the kind of movie that Hollywood would do better. The intricacies of crime are never explained as smoothly as, say, American Gangster; the globetrotting is never as lavish as in the Mission Impossibl

Hugger Mugger
Arguably the most notable local F&B trend of the last 12 months has been bars and restaurants doubling down on the drinks side of their operations. Got yourself a popular bar? Well, why not stick another bar in there like The Lodge within The Woods, Frankâs Library within Foxglove or PDT within MO Bar. Restaurants are getting in on the act too â witness The Wilshire within Mexican eatery 11 Westside, and now Hugger Mugger, a vestibule that feeds into Pirata Groupâs new Indian bistro Chaiwala.Fittingly, given a name implying secrecy, Hugger Mugger sits underground, behind an inconspicuous door on Wyndham Street, opposite the likes of Bungalow and Dragon-i. The ornate wooden doors at the far end of the room that lead into Chaiwala are the most interesting design aspect. If we hadnât received a press release detailing the British theme weâd be hard-pressed to describe what kind of concept the bland, if pleasant, dĂ©cor was in aid of.The drinks menu is more explicit, however, with its range of house specialities dedicated to famous Brits like Shakespeare, privateer Francis Drake and naturalist David Attenborough. Desiring to feel like royalty, we plump for the Buckingham Aroma ($120), dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II. A combination of Tanqueray gin, chrysanthemum wine, jasmine cordial and violette [sic] oil, it comes attractively served in a perfume bottle. A pleasant hint of perfume does indeed linger around the glass, though, thankfully, it doesnât impact the flavour which is dom

Hugger Mugger
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Mizunara: The Library
  The steady elevation of Wan Chai continues. While quality watering holes like Le Quinze Vins, Ham & Sherry and Djibouti have established themselves as destination bars, thereâs still room for something a little more debonair, for when you feel the need for somewhere quiet and sophisticated. You know, a place to wear your pretty heels or flaunt that new money clip. Tucked away on the fourth floor of an anonymous Wan Chai commercial building, this Japanese-style bar is headed by âbartender-in-chiefâ Masahiko Endo. Impeccably attired in a white dinner jacket and bow tie, Endo has been winning bartending competitions since 2008. More recently, in May, he was crowned both Hofexâs regional and international classic cocktail champion. The Fukuoka-native heads a pleasant space with the look of a modern membersâ club â all dark wood, sharp lines and sombre upholstery. There are more than 600 whiskies on offer, including an impressive range of Japanese distilleries and lesser-seen bottles out of India and Taiwan. Still, we start with a Smokey Manhattan, one of a number of cocktails Endo has created specifically for Mizunara. A wonderful Makerâs Mark-based take on the classic, the Laphroaig-rinsed glass adds a strong campfire flavour, nicely countered by a sharp fruity edge bleeding off the skewered cherry. We follow up with a Sazerac, a cocktail rarely done well in the city, if itâs available at all. Purists might tut at Endoâs decision to use Canadian Club 12 Year whisky instead
News (131)

New cocktail bar The Wise King to open in Central this July
Following the tremendous success of 2017 newcomer The Old Man â which was named the fourth best bar in the continent by Asiaâs 50 Best Bars â comes The Wise King.The concepts, despite vague similarities in name, are unrelated except for the fact that both are being headed by top local talent. Where Agung Prabowo, James Tamang and Roman Ghale made The Old Man such a success, this new cocktail bar is being headed by head mixologists and co-owners Joe Villanueva and Sandeep Kumar. Villanueva won renown as part of the team at Lobster Bar â a fixture on the Worldâs 50 Best Bars list â and as the first Chivas Master Competition Champion to represent Hong Kong at the global finals. For his part, Kumar is a two-time India Bacardi Grand Prix National Champion and has directed the beverage programmes at establishments like China Tang and Howardâs Gourmet.The name The Wise King comes from Alfonso X, a 13th-century king of Castile, who decreed that alcohol should not be served with food. Hence why, as well as inventive cocktails, the Staunton Street bar is serving tapas â the likes of patatas bravas, pollo kebeb and scarpetta. Speaking of cocktails, the cosy lounge environs of The Wise King will be home to concoctions like The Monti-Tipple ($108) featuring a mix of Xeco Amontillado sherry, Gin Mare, CafĂ© Vermouth and aromatic choco bitters. For something stronger, barrel-aged tipples like the PacharĂĄn Manhattan ($98) with Woodford Rye whiskey, Blackthorn liqueur and Abottâs bitters are a

Sing your heart out at a Grease sing-along screening
These summer nights deserve some summer lovinâ and if regular karaoke isnât cutting it for you anymore, why not try belting out the hits to Grease at two special sing-a-long screenings? The highest-grossing musical of all time, Grease is returning to the big screen in celebration of the filmâs 40th anniversary as part of August and Septemberâs Life is Art film festival. There are set to be two screenings â one in August in Central at the Palace IFC and another in September over in Tai Koo. Gather your friends, dress up as a T-Bird or a Pink Lady, and belt out hits like Youâre the One That I Want and Hopelessly Devoted. Tickets usually go quickly for these sorts of special screenings, so we recommend booking now. But if you want to stick to karaoke booths, remember to check out our guide to Hong Kongâs best places for karaoke.

Mong Kokâs âmagic-themedâ Harry Potter cafĂ© is being sued by Warner Bros
Hold on to your wands, it seems Warner Bros has finally caught word of 9Ÿ CafĂ©. The restaurant opened in 2017, clearly taking inspiration from Harry Potter â if the name doesnât give the game away thereâs also the luggage trolley half-submerged in a wall, music from the HP movies playing over the speakers and Butterbeer on the menu.The venue claimed to be generally âmagic-themedâ, though its legality was suspect from the start, what with issues of copyright infringement. Now it seems Warner Bros is finally saying âexpelliarmusâ to the Mong Kok venue. According to Inside Retail, the movie studio is seeking the removal of offending infringements and multiple injunctions as well as âan unspecified sum of damagesâ. Hong Kong has a number of themed eateries, but none has attracted controversy like 9Ÿ CafĂ©. The venue remains open for business for now but if you still havenât checked it out and want to, youâd better head over soon.

Taipeiâs Room by Le Kief is popping up in Tsim Sha Tsui for one night only this week
In what could well prove to be one of the most exciting guest shifts all year, Seven Yi of Taipeiâs Room by Le Kief is coming to the InterContinental Grand Stanford. Popping-up at the hotelâs popular whisky bar, Tiffanyâs, for just one night, on Friday January 25, Yi has won plaudits in Taiwan for his âdrinking kitchenâ which sees him distil liquids from foodstuffs like toast or grass to use in his concoctions. If that sounds a little suspect or novel for noveltyâs sake, know that Yi worked at the Michelin-starred LâAtelier de JoĂ«l Robuchon Taipei for a number of years, so heâs earned his chops.Here in Hong Kong, Yi will be serving three of his signatures: Cat (pictured, featuring liquids distilled from bread and yoghurt), Makao (which contains an aboriginal spice grown only in Taiwan), Cocoa (a cocktail topped with an orange sugar flake), plus a limited edition creation made just for Hong Kong. Each cocktail will cost $118 (plus 10 percent).

Win tickets to a preview of Mary Poppins Returns
Nominated for a clutch of Golden Globes and Bafta awards, Mary Poppins Returns is a triumphant, if belated, sequel to the 1964 original. Starring Emily Blunt as the titular British nanny, the film takes place in 1930s London, 25 years after the original film, and sees Mary Poppins returning to her former charges after tragedy strikes the family. The film has received rave reviews and Time Out called it âa big-hearted cinematic highâ.If youâve been dying to see it ever since it was released in the US last November, finally, nowâs your chance. Weâve got 15 pairs of tickets to give away to a special advanced screening on Saturday January 19 â nearly two weeks ahead of the filmâs official Hong Kong release. The screening will take place at 3pm at Movie Movie Cityplaza in Tai Koo, and to grab yourself a pair of tickets, all you need to do is answer this simple question below. The competition will close on Wednesday 16.  Loading...

Sequel to The Old Man, The Sea is scheduled to open next month
Hereâs an early Christmas present for all you cocktail connoisseurs â The Sea, the follow-up to award-winning bar The Old Man (clearly maintaining that Hemingway theme, in name at least) is finally set to open. Promising yet more quality cocktails, rumours about The Sea have existed since the opening of The Old Man back in 2017, with early whispers saying it was to be a restaurant component to sit alongside the bar. Although that never transpired, rumours about The Sea refused to die down, especially given the success of Agung Prabowo, James Tamang and Roman Ghaleâs original concept on Aberdeen Street.The finishing touches are being put to the venue on Po Yan Street, which sits almost across the road from Hollywood Road Park. Weâve been told Monday January 7 is the intended opening date, so mark that in your calendars and look forward to more details nearer the time.

Thereâs a Korean pop-up dining experience coming to Sake Central
Following its tremendously popular Nhau Nhau pop-up last month, Sake Central has organised another tempting gastronomic crossover. This time, on Sunday December 16, coming to the kitchen in the PMQ venue is Jason Oh, a member of the âKimchi Boyzâ group of Korean chefs in Hong Kong. Oh will be crafting a particularly unusual selection of pickles using Korean cooking techniques applied to Japanese ingredients that will be able from 3pm, with Sake Central opening early for the occasion.Then, from 6pm, there will be a special food menu available to order Ă la carte or as a set. The following dishes are included:Beef pyeon-yuk: braising beef brisket (simmered for 24 hours), beef tongue with Korean mustard sauce saladPork belly bossam: steamed pork belly, kimchi salad, and veg ssamBulgogi: stir-fry beef with soy sauce, pea leaves jangajji, and veg ssamSeafood pancake: sea food, dry scallop, and leek pancakeSeaweed chicken soup and rice: seaweed, chicken meatball soup, and multi-grain ricePrices per plate start at $120; the pickle tasting platter will also be available in the evening for $68. If the pop-up is anywhere near as popular as the Nhau Nhau one, reservations are definitely recommended to avoid disappointment.Emailreservations@sake-central.com or call 2656 6552 to save your spot.

A Johnnie Walker pop-up is coming in the New Year
âtis the season for merriment, and anyone who thinks theyâre unlikely to get their fill throughout the holiday period can look forward to a special New Yearâs present come January. An exclusive Johnnie Walker pop-up is coming to the Ritz-Carltonâs bar, Ozone. The pop-up is coming to town to celebrate the release of the whisky giantâs intriguing new release â Blue Label Ghost And Rare Port Ellen. This is a blend of (the rather expensive) Johnnie Walker Blue and Islay âghost distilleryâ Port Ellen, which closed in 1983. Expect ârolling waves of waxy citrus, rich malt and tropical fruit flavours... perfectly balanced by the distinctive maritime smokiness of Port Ellenâ. As well as trying this new product, whisky fans can also try a wide range of JWâs luxury tipples.When Blue Label Ghost And Rare Port Ellen goes on sale here it is expected to cost $2,980 per bottle, so this is a good chance to get a wee dram for a lot less. No exact start date has been announced besides âJanuaryâ but weâll let you know when we get confirmed details.

Time Out Hong Kong Bar Awards â Readersâ Choice winner
A big thank you to everyone who turned up for our Bar Awards party at The Pawn last night. It was a huge success as Time Out Hong Kong readers got to savour the best and brightest of our cityâs bar scene â with drinks made by established names like Antonio Lai and Agung Prabowo as well as rising stars like Amir Javaid â for our first-ever Bar Awards. Magnus Ribbing of The Flying Elk. Photo: Calvin Sit There was also a special announcement on the night â the reveal of who won our Readersâ Choice award. It was a close affair but Stockton was the ultimate winner. Maximal mixologists Suraj Gurung, of Stockton, Amir Javaid from John Anthony and Magnus Ribbing from The Flying Elk celebrated by closing the event with the final guest shift of the evening. Popular newcomer Whisky & Words polling a strong second. Award winners Antonio Lai and Agung Prabowo. Photo: Calvin Sit Congratulations to all our winners and runners-up. You can read the full list here, and weâll see you again at our Bar Awards next year by which time we hope to have recovered.

Get a free Christmas coffee at Pacific Coffee the rest of this week
Christmas is coming and Pacific Coffee clearly got the memo. Thoroughly in the spirit of giving, the local coffeeshop chain is offering guests the chance to get any of its three festive specials for absolutely no charge in a special buy-one-get-one-free deal. Lasting from now until Sunday, to participate all you need to do is show youâre following the companyâs Instagram account (no judging if you unfollow once youâve got your java). The three flavours you can pick from are nougat ruby mocha, ruby matcha latte and nougat ruby latte, so we hope youâve got a sweet tooth. Best of all, if you canât convince anyone to go to Pacific Coffee with you, staff will happily combine two medium Christmas specials into one giant alto cup. Merry Christmas!

Antonio Lai to open Bar 309 this July
Hong Kongâs local mixology hero Antonio Lai â the man behind the highly regarded Quinary and Origin, among others â is set to open his first new bar in almost three years. Located within boutique hotel The Pottinger, Bar 309 is likely the biggest new local bar opening of the year and is Laiâs first venture since partnering with Vicky Cheng on VEA Lounge back in 2015. The establishment will sit on the third floor of The Pottinger hotel and while not a speakeasy, is said to be accessible âby invitation onlyâ. Patrons must check-in at âThe Receptionâ in order to get a key card that will allow them access to the intimate space which will seat no more than 20. Once nestled inside, visitors can look forward to personalised cocktails courtesy of Lai (as executive mixologist) and bar manager Hungie Fong of The Envoy, Laiâs other establishment in the hotel.Scheduled to open in late July, weâll be first in with a reservation and review when Bar 309 opens. Hereâs hoping it lives up to Laiâs typically high standards.

Our new issue is out tomorrow!
Holidays are coming, and that means a new issue of Time Out Hong Kong is on its way too. In our winter issue, we reveal the winners of our Bar Awards 2018, from the number one bar in town to our favourite eco-conscious spot. Get your tickets now to our celebratory party on December 5 where weâll be toasting the winners and sampling custom cocktails courtesy of special guest shifts.Elsewhere in the issue weâll be providing you some Christmas inspiration with a special gift guide for foodies and a look at Hong Kongâs best furniture stores. Thereâs a look at the history of Shaw Brothers, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and we get a professionalâs guide to simple exercises that you can do at home to burn off any excess Chrimbo calories. Thereâs that, plus a look at Hong Kongâs newest music venues, whatâs going on in Macau and the unusual venues doubling up as art spaces.Distribution is being staggered throughout the coming two weeks, so donât fret if youâre out of town this week. Our free magazine will be available throughout Hong Kong at MTR stations, cafĂ©s and restaurants, hotels, residential clubs and airport lounges. Click here for a detailed list of locations so you donât miss out.