Advertisement
Advertisement

Bars

001

LG/F, 97 Wellington Street, Central. Tel: 2810 6969. So exclusive it's almost secretive, this club's black wooden floors and secluded booths lend themselves to privacy. Recommended: its premium spirits.

Alfie's by Kee

M18-19, M/F Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central. Tel: 2530 4422. With its dark wood, dimmed lights and leather lounges to sink into, Alfie's more than matches the Dunhill boys' club aesthetic. Recommended: Pimm's by Kee and the lemon grass martini.

Armani/Prive

2/F Chater House, 8 Connaught Road, Central. Tel: 3583 2828. The 5,000-sq-ft terrace is the star of the show at the sister bar to Armani/Aqua restaurant; take in the views from cosy, candlelit seating. Recommended: Dom Perignon Oenotheque 1996 (HK$5,200 a bottle).

Biergarten German Bar and Restaurant

G/F, 5 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2721 2302. This convivial, raucous institution has an inviting if kitschy atmosphere. Stick to the German beers and usual cocktails. Recommended: the Thai Sunrise (HK$68), a twist on the tequila sunrise.

The China Bar

G/F Ho Lee Commercial Building, 44 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong. Tel: 2526 5992. Formerly Bar George, the cavernous space goes heavy on the red and dragons for its decorative motif but is comfortable and has a busy dance area. Recommended: the Merry Berry cocktail of Bombay Sapphire gin, fresh mint, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry juice and lime (HK$89).

Envie

G/F, 48 Wyndham St, Central. Tel: 2522 8318. A breezy, inviting space in neutral and beige tones that feels intimate, the bar has a wine-heavy, girly cocktail-dominated drinks list balanced by a few heavy duty drinks such as the Contemporary Fashioned (a new twist on the Old Fashioned with 23-year-old Ron Zacapa rum). Recommended: Lambloch Estate's South Australian Shiraz (HK$52).

Latitude 22

G/F, 40 Staunton Street, Central. Tel: 2522 8329. Unstylish but somehow inviting and cosy in atmosphere, the bar offers a fairly standard mix of cocktails, beers and wines. Recommended: the Brazilian caipirinha, made with real cachaca (HK$58).

Le Boudoir

B/F, 65 Wyndham St, Central Tel: 2530 3870. This atmospheric basement bar modelled on 19th-century Parisian salons is dark and lovely, with one of the best cocktail menus in town. Recommended: the Unconventional martini (HK$95), blending gin, lemon juice, mint and kaffir lime syrup.

Lei Dou

G/F, 20-22 D'Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Tel: 2525 6628. Yes it's in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong but still manages to feel like a hidden gem, with its low lighting and down-tempo jazz. Recommended: the espresso martini cannot be missed.

The Lawn Bar

1/F The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. Tel: 3968 1107. The large, swanky outdoor space with plenty of furniture to sprawl on offers a wide variety of wines to choose from and a few of master mixologist Sam Jeveons' innovative cocktails. Recommended: the Elderflower Collins, made with elderflower syrup, Tanqueray gin, fresh lime juice, fresh grapes and soda (HK$110).

Lily

6/F LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham St, Central. Tel: 2810 6166 This slice of old-school cool comes from the people who brought us Volar and Halo. Recommended: the Elderflower Paloma, combining tequila, lime, grapefruit and soda water infused with elderflower.

The Living Room

6/F W Hotel, Kowloon Station. Tel: 3717 2222. It's easy to kick back and feel right at home in this sprawling, beautifully designed bar complete with board games and bookcases - just help yourself. Recommended: the awesome lychee martinis.

Mamoz

27-28/F Cubus, 1 Hoi Ping Rd, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2890 3182. Occupying about 5,000-sq ft in Cubus, Mamoz offers a panoramic view of the area, as well as glimpses of Victoria Harbour. Recommended: the Southside Fizz (HK$88), a combination of Tanqueray No Ten, fresh lime, mint and soda.

Ozone

118/F Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon. Tel: 2263 2263. The highest bar in the world doesn't disappoint with its bird's-eye view of the city. Prices here are as steep as the venue, but then you're paying for that view. Recommended: wines are the main attraction, with a choice of several by the glass (HK$90-HK$170) and scores of reds and whites by the bottle.

Salon de Ning

B/F The Peninsula, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2315 3355. Hidden away in the basement of the Peninsula is this glamorous slice of 1930s Shanghai, inspiring a feeling of intrigue and mystery. Recommended: the Manhattan (HK$115), using Jim Beam rather than rye whiskey.

Sevva

25/F Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central. Tel: 2537 1388. Indoor and (spacious) outdoor seating gives Sevva a nice edge, particularly given the incredible skyscraper views. Recommended: at Sevva it's the desserts which will steal your heart.

W52

G/F, 52 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 6768 5252. Our favourite bar on Wyndham Street has just undergone a minor revamp and is as chic and sophisticated as ever, as long as you stick to spirits and cocktails and don't bother with the wines and beers. Aside from the signature and Grey Goose-based cocktails, standouts include Patron Anejo tequila and cask-strength vintage rum. Recommended: the W Spice, a buttery concoction of vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps, pineapple juice and black pepper (HK$98).

Zuma

Level 5-6, The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central. Tel: 3657 6388. The local counterpart to the trendy London restaurant, Zuma is as popular for its innovative cocktails as it is for its divine Japanese cuisine. The well-placed terrace offers a smog-free, chic view of busy Queen's Road Central. Recommended: summer cocktails blending classic Western liquors with Japanese drinks such as sake and shochu.

Post