Hong Kong loves a good drink. Numbering more than 1,500 bars in our cramped city, locals and tourists raise a glass to celebrate special occasions, commemorate weekend freedom, and record their experiences at bars they’ve been dying to hit.
Preparing you for the inside and out about the drinking and bar landscape in Hong Kong, we share with you our 32 best bar picks in Hong Kong to try in 2024, from savoury and sweet cocktail dens, to sky-high rooftop bars, to unique drinking spaces.
The best bars in Hong Kong
Bar Leone
Crowned as Asia’s Best Bar in Asia’s 50 Best ceremony in July, Lorenzo Antinori leads a Roman renaissance at Bar Leone, exposing Hong Kong to the raw love and cocktail world of his hometown. Cocktail menus and accompanying bar food changing seasonally.
Why you should go: when Lorenzo is in the house, Bar Leone explodes into a party with immaculate vibes and the neighbourhood bursting with love for his cocktails. And it’s our Foodie Forks 2024 Best Bar.
What you should order: Yuzu Negroni is a perfect blend of Lorenzo’s mastery of the traditional earthy, bitter Italian cocktail, with a tinge of Asian flavour from yuzu.
Bar Leone, G/F, 15 Bridges Street, Central
PENICILLIN
PENICILLIN prides itself on its farm-to-table bar concept, delivering a closed-loop model that serves upcycled drink ingredients found locally on Hong Kong’s shores and farms. Cocktails are medicinal and “heal” the soul with eccentric flavours.
Why you should go: to sip on a modern story being told of truly sustainable mixology that has been copied and embraced worldwide, making it one of the city’s best bars.
What you should order: Third Culture Kids brings together miso-cultured in, sesame peppered applejack, green banana sherry, and panda-vermouth for a true Southeast Asian tipple.
PENICILLIN, LG/F, Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Road, Central, 9880 7995
001
001 is Hong Kong’s original and first speakeasy, born alongside a Soho fruit and vegetable market. Now residing inside Tai Kwun, the bar embraces a classic New York feel with a menu packed with both traditional drinks and modern takes.
Why you should go: you can boast that you’ve found the secret entrance and get a feel for a former New York era drinking at this too-cool-for-school speakeasy.
What you should order: Earl Grey Marteani infuses Tanqueray gin with an Earl Grey tea mix alongside sugar, egg white, and lemon to hit with a creamy bite.
011, Block 10 & 13, Superintendent’s House, & Shop 10 & 13–101, C Hall, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central
OZONE
The world’s highest bar at 490 metres up in the sky on the 118th floor of The Ritz-Carlton hotel, OZONE always deserves a mention when it comes to the city’s best bars. The bar is glamorous, complementing a rare skyline view with glitzy cocktails.
Why you should go: you won’t find a better sky-topping view at a rooftop bar in Hong Kong to lust over – OZONE steals the title.
What you should order: Walled City which plays on a French negroni with a strong infusion of Hong Kong’s yuenyeung coffee-tea mix.
OZONE, 118/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2263 2270, book here
Ping Pong Gintonería
A real hidden spot in Sai Ying Pun, it’s hard to find the entrance to Ping Pong, but follow the stairs downwards and you’ll find a vibey space basking in coolness. Gin is the medium at this Spanish-founded bar, with more than two dozen brands available.
Why you should go: few bars in Hong Kong have been established with a greater focus on gin and its tonic buddies than Ping Pong.
What you should order: Master’s London G&T pairs juniper berries and orange zest for a zingy sip, along with Q Indian tonic.
Ping Pong Gintonéria, LG/F, Nam Cheong House, 129 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun, 9835 5061
Mostly Harmless
Expanding to two floors in early 2024, Mostly Harmless is split between its first floor offering a unique three-course sipping menu and the ground floor pouring frothy beer, cool wine, and custom cocktails.
Why you should go: head bartender Ezra Star is the bar’s overlord, knowledgeable of what customers desire based on her precise reading of faces.
What you should order: make sure to catch their revolving menu’s that explore a multitude of Asian-origin fruits and their vibrant flavours.
Mostly Harmless, 2/F, 110 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Terrible Baby
Led by Axel González, Terrible Baby is a unique Kowloon bar housed in the funky Eaton HK hotel, with most other Jordan bars catering only to locals. Fruity cocktails are on show at Terrible Baby, where hot weather beckons guests to enjoy alcohol in the bar’s garden.
Why you should go: the garden is adorned with tropical flowers and plants, donating concrete Jordan with a green spot to breathe and sip.
What you should order: Lonely Apple is nutty and tart, with a mix of rich bourbon, green apple liqueur, apple juice, yuzu, and shiso liqueur.
Terrible Baby, 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan, 2710 1866
The Aubrey
Mix classic British style with Japanese flair and flavour and you get The Aubrey, a posh izakaya sitting atop the Mandarin Oriental hotel that was named our Foodie Forks 2024 Readers’ Choice – Best Bar. The cocktail bar centres around promoting the raw essence and strength of shochu liquor.
Why you should go: The Aubrey’s interior design is regal and brash, framing the Japanese cocktails and local liquor producers in a rich light.
What you should order: Sea & Son is a soothing and herbal cocktail that pairs together Strangers & Son gin, Campari, and touches of pineapple, citrus, honey, and curry leaf,
The Aubrey, 25/F, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road, Central, 2825 4001, book here
ARGO
At the Four Seasons, ARGO is a leading bar concept in Hong Kong, famous for creating cocktails driven by innovation and ingredients found in our earth. The bar is led by brilliant Four Seasons Beverage Manager Federico Balzarini.
Why you should go: the hotel bar is luxury incarnate with its top notch service and chandelier dangling from the centre of the bar in a spacious venue.
What you should order: Thief! is a fun punch-like drink that mixes Havana Club 7 rum, melon, hazelnut, goat yoghurt, and Ratafia Rossi cherry wine.
ARGO, G/F, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, 3196 8882, book here
DarkSide
Celebrating the “Dark Side” of Tsim Sha Tsui, the Rosewood hotel cocktail bar promotes great classic mixology in Kowloon with a series of seasonal menus joining liquor with metaphysical concepts and ideas.
Why you should go: DarkSide offers rare aged spirits and cigars alongside live jazz every day to pair your drinking with soothing tunes.
What you should order: Breakfast Martini is a cocktail that’s silky-smooth on the palate, crafted with a mix of Bombay Sapphire gin, Cointreau, and orange marmalade.
DarkSide, 2/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3891 8732
The Pontiac
Hong Kong’s hottest dive bar, The Pontiac has ushered in the good vibes every weekday and weeknight since opening, claiming fame for its inclusivity, banging atmosphere, and wicked cocktails.
Why you should go: every night is a party at The Pontiac, with liquor pouring from the ceiling and dancing commonplace towards the end of service.
What you should order: Hobnail is a Hong Kong classic, with dashes of Averna, ginger, lemon, and rye whisky.
The Pontiac, G/F, 13 Old Bailey Street, Soho, Central, 9454 8323
COA
Topping Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for three years running, Jay Khan’s COA embodies a true passion for mezcal and tequila, crafting both classic and innovative Mexican-style cocktails that have now rendered the bar a tourists’ favourite for drinks.
Why you should go: COA holds Hong Kong’s largest agave collection, allowing guests to sip through each corner and road of Mexico.
What you should order: La Paloma de Oaxaca is COA’s twist on the classic cocktail, bringing grapefruit, worm salt, and Montelobos mezcal to the table.
COA, LG/F, Wah Shin House, 6–10 Shin Hing Street, Soho, Central, 2813 5787, WhatsApp 5610 4695
The Wise King
This hard-to-locate speakeasy is a treasure to experience once found. The Wise King is strikingly Spanish at heart, offering a menu of 10 curated cocktails reminiscent of the salty and sweet flavours found on the Iberian coast.
Why you should go: hidden in a nondescript alley, The Wise King is a secret to many mainstream cocktail-goers. Once you find it, you’ll know how great the bar is.
What you should order: Kiss the Queen blends apple-pear brandy and Mancino Chinato vermouth with pours of Bénédictine, clear coffee, and apple.
The Wise King, B/F, Tsung Wing Lane, 25 Staunton Street, Soho, Central, 9805 3165, book here
Dead Poets
A new entry to Soho’s drinking scene, Dead Poets is a daring bar that packs a menu with sweet and sharp cocktails at an affordable price point of HKD80, without service charge! The bar team welcome you as family, whether a stranger or not.
Why you should go: Dead Poets’ menu offers a quirky collection of cocktails inspired by the 27 Club of late musicians and artists, allowing you to sip a bit of history.
What you should order: Ob La Di pairs a smoky and spiced Bloody Mary mix with a tinge of sweetness, mezcal, and tequila that elevates the classic cocktail.
Dead Poets, G/F, 41–49 Aberdeen Street, Soho, Central
Tiffany’s New York Bar
Reminiscent of New York’s whisky hang-outs, Tiffany’s New York Bar at InterContinental Grand Stanford is a Tsim Sha Tsui East haunt for luxurious sipping of the finest bottles imported to Hong Kong. The bar’s cocktails harness the great depth and maturity of American whisky.
Why you should go: Tiffany’s New York Bar is an atypical hotel bar that embraces an authentic image of America’s former roaring 1920s.
What you should order: Whisky Sour features a blend of Ardbeg Ten and Michter’s Sour Mash with additions of rosemary, lime, egg white, and bitters.
Tiffany’s New York Bar, G/F, InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, 70 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, 2721 5161
The Savory Project
Founded by COA legends Jay Khan and Ajit Gurung, The Savory Project is Hong Kong’s first cocktail bar spotlighting savoury alcoholic tones, from umami to spicy. The menu is designed to play with your palate, tempting each taste (barring sweet).
Why you should go: The Savory Project is an extension of Jay and Ajit’s playground at COA, where they craft magical cocktails that aim to wow and make statements.
What you should order: Thai Beef Salad powers a mix of pickled salt and nutty elements with beef, peanut, coconut, chilli, kaffir lime, and white rum.
The Savory Project, 4 Staunton Street, Soho, Central, 2318 1588
Bar Q88
JW Marriott’s shy hotel drinks venue Bar Q88 is a swanky space for relaxing. Tune into the rolling rhythm of the in-house soul band and kick back your feet in a space comfortable for travelling guests, away from the noise of cocktail-heavy Central.
Why you should go: open daily till midnight, Bar Q88 is one of the few spots open late near Admiralty’s Pacific Place mall to catch a drink.
What you should order: Black Diamond mixes Avión espresso tequila with soothing black truffle honey, Carpano, and Campari for a nutty-sweet blend.
Bar Q88, G/F, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2810 8366
The Iron Fairies
Any trip to Soho to drink and let loose would not be complete without a trip through the doors of The Iron Fairies, a mystical arena where spirits and fairies come to play. Drinks are crafted in tune with the theme of a fictional faraway land.
Why you should go: The Iron Fairies is a hotspot for party vibes in Soho, paired with cocktails so addictive you’ll want to stay the whole night.
What you should order: Iron Negroni is a classic twisted with Iron balls gin, pineapple-infused sweet vermouth, Campari, and finished with pineapple juice.
The Iron Fairies, LG/F, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1 Hollywood Road, Central, 6202 0000
The Old Man
Developed with storytelling in mind, The Old Man is an ode to Ernest Hemingway’s literature and life career. Each cocktail served is inspired in some facet by the American author’s books and philosophy.
Why you should go: The Old Man team have mastered their craft to create out-of-the-box cocktails with ingredients not typically applied to mixology.
What you should order: Moveable Feast pairs Absolut vodka distilled with fresh clams with a meeting of clear cherry tomato purée, salted coconut, and oyster.
The Old Man, LG/F, 37–39 Aberdeen Street, Soho, Central
Quinary
Opened in 2012, Quinary claims fame as Hong Kong’s first modern cocktail bar, powered by industry legend Antonio Lai, our Foodie Forks 2024 Bartender of the Year. Molecular mixology is deftly presented at the watering hole, with all senses shocked and surprised by Lai’s cocktail creations.
Why you should go: Quinary is a testing lab for Hong Kong’s top cocktail-makers to innovate using technology and new techniques to create mixology magic.
What you should order: Little Miss Anko mixes coconut-oil fat-washed gin and sweet potato shochu with hojicha, red bean foam, and matcha-shochu chocolate.
Quinary, 56–58 Hollywood Road, Central, 2851 3223
Maggie Choo’s
The bewitching Maggie Choo’s became Hong Kong’s hottest party place to frequent from the summer of 2023, embracing a powerful cabaret and old Shanghai theme. Enjoy your cocktails admiring the bar’s antique colonial interior, set in the late 1800s.
Why you should go: Maggie Choo’s elevates the drama of its theme to effectively whisk you away to another romantic and elegant time and place.
What you should order: Visitor from West 170 features smoky and tangy tones with a careful mix of bourbon, ginger, passion fruit, and fino sherry.
Maggie Choo’s, G/F, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1 Hollywood Road, Central, WhatsApp 6250 6000
Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour
Holding one of Hong Kong’s greatest selection of global gins, Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour is a bar that cures you with a team of medicinal mixologists crafting herbal gin cocktails designed to make you feel and look better.
Why you should go: to cure your ailments and wrongdoings at Dr. Fern’s with prescription-like drinks crafted to itch that scratch.
What you should order: 7 Chakra Elixir is a mellow drink that mixes Stranger & Sons gin with spiced pineapple, sour mango yoghurt, jalapeño, and rose petal.
Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour, Shop B31A, B/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2111 9449
Foxglove
A leading live music bar in the city, Foxglove is a dominion on exclusive Duddell Street, treating patrons to exhilarating jazz tunes paired with gin, rum, wine, and cocktail mixes. The dim sum menu at Foxglove is also top notch.
Why you should go: you’re eager for a night of soothing jazz music and zesty cocktails bursting with lively and fresh ingredients.
What you should order: Big Apple is an intoxicating drink that sees Pierre Ferrand 1840 Cognac, bourbon, and mulled apple cider mixed together with additions of lemon, green apple, and hibiscus.
Foxglove, 2/F, Printing House, 6 Duddell Street, Central, 2116 8949, book here
Stockton
Stockton bar in Soho is an elusive speakeasy that harbours a grand 19th-century London theme. The whisky haven embraces the spirit of Hunter S Thompson with strong, smoky drinks and a daring ethos to get creative with alcohol.
Why you should go: down a dark alleyway lies Stockton, promising a secret mixology experience that many have yet to try.
What you should order: Prince Jellyfish begins the narrative of Mr Thompson with a mix of camomile tea, N.I.P gin, Fernet Hunter, and absinthe.
Stockton, 32 Wyndham Street, Central, 2565 5268, book here
Red Sugar
Promising classy Asian flavours and fabulous views, Red Sugar at Kerry Hotel is a rare bar east of Tsim Sha Tsui in Hung Hom that’s worth the trek to the depths of Kowloon. The outdoor section of the mixology palace oozes coolness beyond the epic Hong Kong skyline.
Why you should go: whilst not towering high in the sky, Red Sugar’s rooftop views are ones to marvel at, offering an alternative skyline stance to Tsim Sha Tsui.
What you should order: Raspberry for a refreshing sip that sees cachaca, white chocolate, raspberry cordial, lime, and tonka tincture sooth the palate.
Red Sugar, 7/F, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom, 2252 5281
Cardinal Point
Opened in late 2023, Cardinal Point is the latest dreamy rooftop bar to grace Hong Kong, standing at 45 floors high. The Sky Terrace showcases superb views and a soothing atmosphere to sip as the sun sets.
Why you should go: Cardinal Point is luxury incarnate with a brush of modernity to serve you the classics with cheeky and warm hospitality.
What you should order: West Face Killa is a delicately tropical drink that sees Absolut Vodka, bitter aperitizo, poblano, Peychaud’s come to play with special touches of passion fruit and pineapple.
Absolut Vodka, Bitter Aperitivo, Poblano, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Lime, Peychaud’s
Cardinal Point, 43/F, FORTY-FIVE, Gloucester Tower, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3501 8560, book here
Tai Lung Fung
Tai Lung Fung is a Wan Chai bar borne out of a Wong Kar-wai movie, adorned in bodacious pink and red neon and visual relics of pre-2000s Hong Kong. The drink menu employs classic recipes with local twists.
Why you should go: Tai Lung Fun can still be classed as a hidden bar with rich history, located behind a tenement building cluster in southern Wan Chai.
What you should order: Lemongrass-tini is a simple tipple blending Belvedere vodka with lemon, sugar, and a topping of lemongrass.
Tai Lung Fung, 5–9 Hing Wan Street, Wan Chai, 2572 0055
Tell Camellia
Where tea and alcohol collide, Tell Camellia is a novel cocktail bar exploring the power of tea cocktails. The drinks at Tell Camellia are light and approachable, and the staff are well equipped to educate you on the tea-alcohol journey.
Why you should go: to experience a different drinking experience with the subtle and complex flavours of Asian tea fused with traditional mixology.
What you should order: Honey Beauty blends an Oriental black tea pour with local honey, sake, and vodka.
Tell Camellia, LG/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, 9821 5501
BOUND Kowloon
BOUND in Sham Shui Po brings the ruckus to deep Kowloon with a menu of inventive cocktails inspired by local Hong Kong flavours. The neighbourhood bar has attained cult status for its no-nonsense approach to mixology and drinking.
Why you should go: head on an adventure to explore this drinking haunt located up the MTR’s red line, beyond your usual commitments in Soho and Wan Chai.
What you should order: Wah-Lah! with espresso, Irish whisky, whipped cream, and sugar is a rich and bright cocktail spiked with energy.
BOUND Kowloon, 32 Boundary Street, Sham Shui Po, 3480 9132
The Hollywell’s
Upon gliding past the thick yellow door of The Holywell’s, you are welcomed into the quaint old home of an old English family. The speakeasy cocktail bar is hidden behind a British-style cafe that masks the alcoholic and familial goings-on at night.
Why you should go: it is an experience in itself to enjoy the immersive British theme of the bar, inspiring the cocktails to interior.
What to order: The Full English for a hearty British-style Bloody Mary with mezcal, worcestershire sauce, lime juice, and apple cider vinegar.
The Holywell’s, G/F, 140 Hollywood Road, 6848 5291
The Daily Tot
The Daily Tot is Hong Kong’s sole home for rum-based cocktails. Taking note of the rum bottles and history of Cuba, the Caribbean, and the Americas, cocktails here are created with aroma and visuals in mind. The bar itself is dressed in a jungle theme.
Why you should go: the bar team are highly attentive to your tastes and needs, making for a night to sit back and entrust them with your fun.
What to order: Tot Colado ups the sour and sweet touch on rum with lemongrass & bell pepper, Black Tears super dry, galangal, kaffir lime, pineapple juice, and coconut water.
The Daily Tot, Shop E, LG/F, Felicity Building, 58 Hollywood Road, Central, 2366 6836, book here
Chin Chin Bar
Chin Chin Bar is a secret hotel bar that should not be. The Hyatt Regency drinking hole brings about a confident theme with red colour and pizazz. Whiskey is the name of the game here, with over 300 whiskey bottles for classic cocktails and drinks available to sip.
Why you should go: the bar offers both a refined and sleek approach to drinking with the correct amount of comfort required to soak up the cocktails all night.
What to order: the Forrest Gump offers a deluxe pour with additions of Pátron XO Cafe Dark Cocoa, chocolate liquor, and cream
Chin Chin Bar, 3/F, Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3721 7722
Bambino
Bambino is a new space in SoHo that pairs up a summery cocktails, French red and white wine, and food to match. With weekly DJs playing cosy rap tunes on the weekend, it is a bar to relax and kick your feet up in.
Why you should go: it is a comfortable departure from fancy bars with a human and friendly touch to mixology that won’t break your bank.
What to order: Lift Me Up pleases bar goers with an intoxicating mix of ginger-honey liqueur for smooth drinking.
Bambino, 59 Hollywood Road, Central
