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 2025, from savoury and sweet cocktail dens, to sky-high rooftop bars, to unique drinking spaces.
The best bars in Hong Kong
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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: Hanky Panky is an aroma-forward cocktail that whisks you away to a herbal world with additions of Monkey 47 Gin, Mancino Rosso Vermouth, Fernet Hunter, and Fernet Branch.
DarkSide, 2/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3891 8732
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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, G/F, 4 Staunton Street, Soho, Central, 2318 1588
12. 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
13. 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, G/F, 56–58 Hollywood Road, Central, 2851 3223
14. 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
15. 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.
Cardinal Point, 43/F, FORTY-FIVE, Gloucester Tower, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3501 8560, book here
16. 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, G/F, 5–9 Hing Wan Street, Wan Chai, 2572 0055
17. 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, G/F, 32 Boundary Street, Sham Shui Po, 3480 9132
18. 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
19. 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
20. Gokan
Japan’s leading mixologist Shingo Gokan is representing his craft at his first Hong Kong bar Gokan in Central, exploring the strong flavour profiles sweet, sour, spicy, bitter, and savoury expressed in three ways: highball format, on the rocks, or strained and served chilly.
Why you should go: the excellent craft of Shingo Gokan shines through his boisterous mixology team who impart excellent Japanese flavours in the venue.
What to order: Watermelon Koffeezz clashes flavours from Bombay Sapphire and watermelon juice with Koffee Mameya’s light roasted coffee and clarified milk.
Gokan, G/F, 30 Ice House Street, Central, 5500 0399
21. The Opposites
The brilliant forces of Antonio Lai and Samuel Kwok come together at The Opposites, where the elemental skills of Lai clash with the traditionalism of Kwok to create juxtaposing pairs of classic cocktails.
Why you should go: the cocktail bar takes a daring approach to innovate on nostalgic and classic flavours with a great eye for the visual spectacle.
What to order: P.B.J. for a sip of childhood flavours, where peanut butter-redestilled bourbon, strawberry jam vermouth, coffee aperitif, and clarified banana mix together.
The Opposites, LG/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central, 2711 0038
22. Socio
Socio wants to place the flavours of the Asia-Pacific on a pedestal in cocktail form, amplifying eco-loving ingredients sourced from Taiwan, China, Philippines, Hong Kong, and Australia, to name a few.
Why you should go: their ingenious cocktail menu can whisk you away on an adventure across Asia with creative concoctions made with true ingredients.
What to order: Sesame (Hong Kong) brings together a cool mix of rhubarb-infused NIP Gin, jasmine tea distillate, salted plum, local honey, and black sesame.
Socio, G/F, 17 Staunton Street, Central, 9799 3652
23. CURE
Located underground and right beside an MTR exit, CURE holds a mysterious identity, transporting you to a world of nostalgia and emotions within their space. Their drinks are inspired by dream-like experiences and metaphysical feelings.
Why you should go: the bar offers an up-scale drinking experience in a neighbourhood typically not known for its cocktail bars.
What to order: Fire & Harmony is a cocktail that matches spice with sweet, including portions of smoke & chilli-infused tequila, cointreau, cinnamon, and lime.
CURE, B/F, China United Centre, 28 Marble Road, North Point, 9052 1668
24. Blotto
In Kennedy Town, Blotto stands as the one of the neighbourhoods only cocktail-centric watering holes. Their drinks menu centres on the potency of alcohol with four increasing levels of strength and flavour.
Why you should go: the cocktail bar carries a real neighbourhood charm and a team of very friendly bartenders.
What to order: Elevated offers a cool and crisp drink that sees a low ABV-mixture of Widges Gin, elderflower liquor, cucumber, lemon, and soda
Blotto, G/F, 66–68 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town
25. Bad Coffee & Liquor Club
Bad Coffee & Liquor Club hides itself in the middle of an industrial building in Jordan but shines strong with its unique offering to Hong Kong. The cocktail bar hawks back to an old-school time of Hong Kong with its bare-bones interior design.
Why you should go: the bar itself offers a temporary escape from the noise of Kowloon and a place to soak up the 1980s and 90s feel for Hong Kong.
What to order: Negroni for tasting their version of a classic with beefed-up smoky, caramel, and cacao notes from the drink.
Bad Coffee & Liquor Club, Shop 19, G/F, Alhambra Building, 385 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei
26. Orchard
Orchard is a non-so-secret secret bar stationed right next to Soho’s fruit and vegetable stalls, of which inspires the cocktail bar’s menu to use premium fruit to craft its cocktails. Every cocktail at this venue promotes the power of fruit found across Asia.
Why you should go: for those who prefer more fruity and lighter cocktails, this bar has it all.
What to order: Normandy Highball offers a toasty apple-strong drink with its mix of calvados, applejack, pimento dram, apple & pear soda, and cinnamon.
Orchard, G/F, 28 Gage Street, Central, 9881 1984
27. Bourke’s
If there is one bar to visit on Peel Street, a definition of the area’s drinking culture, it is Bourke’s. Taking on its former spirit of Shady Acres, the bar has redefined itself with a wine- and wine-bar-forward ethos with creative grapey cocktails.
Why you should go: the culture surrounding the bar – quite literally with the weekly crowds – makes this place stand out as more than just a place for drinking.
What to order: Green Light, a floral and apple-forward drink that evokes a strong aftertaste with a mix of lemon myrtle vodka, apple, quinquina, cedro, and soda.
Bourke’s, G/F, 46 Peel Street, Central
28. Bar Q88
When Bar Q88 reopened in early 2025 with a new look, the hotel bar inside the JW Marriott took on a new identity with comfort and class at the forefront. Gone was the shiny interior, now, the cocktail bar is now loungey, comforting, and confident.
Why you should go: the cocktail bar doubles up as a space to conduct serious business but also play after work hours when a drink is needed.
What to order: Crystal Bar, for a refreshing Bees’ Knees variant that hits a good sour and sweet note with additions of plum sauce and lemon.
Bar Q88, Lobby, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2810 8366
29. Avoca
Inside the Mondrian Hong Kong hotel, Avoca can be found sky-high above Tsim Sha Tsui with enviable views and cocktails that make Hong Kong proud. True street flavours, both sweet, salty, sour, and spicy, are interpreted in cocktail form on their menu.
Why you should go: the cocktail bar stands in line with the hotel’s mission of existing as a space for Hong Kongers made by Hong Kongers.
What to order: Mango Pomelo Colada is a drinkable version of Hong Kong’s beloved mango pomelo sago dessert with pandan-infused white rum.
Avoca, 38/F, Mondrian Hong Kong, 8A Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3550 0338, book here
30. Jack’s Racquet Room
Within the monolithic The Magistracy dining complex, Jack’s Racquet Room is where drinkers in Hong Kong can go for a piece of luxury for an affordable price. Their short menu makes it easy to pick what you’re sipping, with unbeatable service to compliment.
Why you should go: their pieces for wine, beer, mules, long drinks, and rocks drinks cannot be beaten around other bars in the area.
What to order: Racquet Room Pimms Cup, a spin on the summery and fruity Pimms concoction with a touch of sour.
Jack’s Racquet Room, 2/F, Central Magistracy, Tai Kwun, 1 Arbuthnot Rd, Central, 2154 6104
31. RightSideUp
RightSideUp is one of Peel Street’s strongest bars for sipping al fresco street-side, made great with affordable and refreshing cocktails to match when the weather gets too hot. The retro American feel to the cocktail bar is funky and a great reason to visit.
Why you should go: the service plus amicable staff make for a party atmosphere every weekend with alcohol flowing all night.
What to order: Lychee Highball features a cool blend of vodka, lychee, basil, and soda for a perfect summer drink.
RightSideUp, G/F, 53 Peel Street, Central, 3480 3019
32. Sake Bar CHU CHU
Head upstairs from Causeway Bay’s busy-body Tang Lung Street and you’ll find Sake Bar CHU CHU, a literal heaven for sake-lovers here. The bar features dozens of sake sourced across Japan available to savour in glass form or buy a bottle for the night.
Why you should go: the extreme variety and professional knowledge of sake from the staff make this a perfect place for drinkers wanting to improve their sake know-how.
What to order: Yoghurt sake for a complex yet funky drink that fuses together milky and creamy yoghurt flavours with the strong hit of sake.
Sake Bar CHU CHU, 25/F, Circle Tower, 28 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, 5589 4466
