Bar review: Pier 7 Café & Bar in Central

considering what an amazing view it is, Victoria Harbour is sadly lacking in decent waterside drinking spots. (Indeed, the entire treatment of the waterside - which ought to be a World Heritage Site but instead is a concrete mess - is a scandal. But that's a rant for another time.) The Pier 7 Café & Bar, despite its position over the water, isn't the perfect spot to enjoy the harbour and a cool drink because you can't really see the harbour. But it is a pleasant place - modern, airy, and relaxing - and ideal to pop into if you're returning home to one of the islands, or taking the ferry to Kowloon. Out on the public viewing area behind the bar you can get an excellent view of Victoria Peak and the skyscrapers of Central.

the beer selection is poor, with only dull international brands such as Carlsberg, Heineken and Corona, but there's a good selection of cocktails for the financier wanting a relaxer before heading home to Discovery Bay. They are a reasonable HK$75, including the Pier Harbour (vanilla vodka, Midori liqueur and pineapple juice); and the Pier 7 Cooler (Cointreau, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, white wine and soda water). There are also half a dozen champagne cocktails, all HK$160, including the Ferry Boat (champagne, vodka and crème de menthe); and the Pier 7 Cloud (champagne, Cloud 9 and fresh lychee). Wines are HK$65 to HK$85 a glass, including a rosé from Italy, a couple of sauvignon blancs from New Zealand and a merlot from California.

if you're in the area and it's sunny, it's worth a visit. The food, including the carvery lunch, is good, with the thin and crispy pizzas at HK$148 especially recommended.