Bars
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.
Angel's Share
2/F Amber Lodge, 23 Hollywood Rd, Central. Tel: 2805 8388. Whisky is a drink that transcends all notions of class and the people behind this classy bar and restaurant have put this lovely drop back in its rightful place, with more than 100 varieties on offer. Recommended: the 20-year-old Macallan.
Aqua Spirit
29-30/F, 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 3427 2288. Too many turn their noses up at Kowloon, but there's one thing you need to come here for: an unmatched view of Hong Kong. Recommended: the signature 'Aquatini' is the icing on the cake while enjoying the famous view.
Bahce Turkish Restaurant
Shop 19, Mui Wo Centre, Mui Wo, Lantau Island. Tel: 2984 0221. A relaxed bar as much as a restaurant, this is as good a place to take the children in the day as it is to go for a relaxed drinking session later. And they serve kebabs. Recommended: the aniseed-based Turkish raki (HK$45 a glass).
Berliner German Bar and Restaurant
Shop G01B, D Deck, Discovery Bay. Tel: 2987 8203. This relaxed spot with a seaview and spacious outdoor seating has a welcoming atmosphere. Recommended: the Guinness-like Fischer's Hell (half a litre, HK$60).
Butler
5/F Mody House, 30 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2724 3828. A Tokyo-style drinking den favoured by Japanese customers, the bar is intimate and staffed by bartenders who can make cocktails to match your mood. Recommended: the 10-year original cask-aged Laphroaig whisky (HK$80).
Casa Lounge
1/F Wo On Building, 8-12 Wo On Lane, Central. Tel: 2525 3599. An atmospheric, whimsical place with eccentric touches. Some cocktails hit the spot but others were a little sickly sweet and there are interesting aged spirits. Recommended: the G6 (HK$90), a blend of raspberries, vodka, Chambord and pineapple puree.
The Chapel
27 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley. Tel: 2834 6565. Whether for a pre-race warm-up or post-win celebration, The Chapel's broad range of beers will satisfy anyone in Happy Valley. Recommended: its curries are well known in Hong Kong.
Club @28
28/F Crowne Plaza Hotel, 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay. Tel: 3980 3300. This rooftop bar is sleek and far from understated. Outside is the venue's real gem: its wood-decked terrace. Recommended: the J-Cube cocktail, made with vodka and crushed strawberries.
Envie
G/F, 48 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 2522 8318. A breezy, inviting space in neutral and beige tones that feels intimate. The bar has a wine-heavy, cocktail-dominated list balanced by a few heavy-duty drinks. Recommended: Lambloch Estate's South Australian Shiraz (HK$52).
Eyebar
30/F iSquare, 63 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 2487 3988. This impressively expansive space so rare with Kowloon bars takes advantage of the 30th-floor locale, turning the stunning harbour view into the bar's backdrop. Recommended: the more than 100 international wines or Chinese spirits such as Wuliangye.
Hard Rock Cafe
LG/F LKF Tower, 55 D'Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong. Tel: 2111 3777. The Hard Rock Cafe's return to Hong Kong is music to the ears of rock fans. Recommended: the Hurricane, with Bacardi Superior rum, Captain Morgan dark rum and Disaronno Amaretto plus grenadine, orange, mango and pineapple juice.
Inn Side Out
Sunning Plaza, 10 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2895 2900. The peanut husk-strewn floor and throngs of regulars make for a relaxed atmosphere in a crowded beer hall with an extensive outdoor seating area. Recommended: Trappist Westmalle Tripel Belgian beer (HK$42).
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).
La Piola
G/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. Tel: 2851 2281. This Italian restaurant and bar brings the taste of the Piedmont region to Lyndhurst Terrace. Recommended: the Mint Breath (HK$82) is a refreshing mixture of kiwi, green apple schnapps, vodka, pineapple juice and apple juice with a mint garnish.
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. Recommended: the Unconventional martini (HK$95), blending gin, lemon juice, mint and kaffir lime syrup.
Le Jardin
1/F, 10 Wing Wah Lane, Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Tel: 2877 1100. At Le Jardin you can gather friends round a table and enjoy the atmosphere rather than just stand and be bombarded by pop music, as is the norm elsewhere in LKF. Recommended: Hoegaarden.
Medusa
Basement, 49 Staunton Street, Central. Tel: 2858 3129. Bring your own party to possibly Hong Kong's smallest bar with its decor theme of severed heads. Standard and signature cocktails are all well-made. Recommended: the soup bowl-sized lemon daiquiri (HK$78).
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. 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.
The Pawn
62 Johnston Road, Wan Chai. Tel: 2866 3444. Relax at the beautifully restored historic building with natural light, low leather couches and a beautifully calm atmosphere. Recommended: Leffe Brune, a beer not often available elsewhere and a good one at that.
Shore
3-4/F L Place, 139 Queen's Road Central. Tel: 2915 1638. Spread over two floors, this high-concept space features fine dining upstairs (Onshore), and a warm and relaxed bar with an 1,800 sq ft terrace downstairs (Offshore). Recommended: put your choice in the hands of mixologists with the Surprise Me! (HK$90) cocktail.
Vida Rica
2/F Mandarin Oriental Macau, Avenida Dr Sun Yat Sen, Outer Harbour, Macau. Tel: (853) 8805 8928. A chic, sophisticated bar with views over the Macau Tower and Nam Van Lake, the bar serves cocktails designed by a New York mixologist. Recommended: the Lagavulin 25-year cask-strength single malt whisky (HK$490 per shot).
Volume Beat
LG/F, 62 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan. Tel: 2857 7683. This nightclub has a loyal following for its eclectic music. Stiff cocktails are a strong feature, although the chrysanthemum martini tasted a little too much like medicine. Recommended: Strawberry Mini Boom champagne cocktail (HK$120).
W52
G/F, 52 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 6768 5252. Our favourite bar on Wyndham is as chic and sophisticated as ever, as long as you stick to spirits and cocktails. Recommended: W Spice, a buttery concoction of butterscotch schnapps, vanilla vodka, pineapple juice and freshly ground black pepper (HK$98).
Zinc
G/F, 35 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Tel: 2868 3448. A busy bar packed with a crowd that spills onto the street. The extensive drinks menu offers something for everyone and with all the people watching this makes a good weekend choice. Recommended: the frozen daiquiris (HK$85).
Zuma
Levels 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. Recommended: summer cocktails blending classic Western liquors with Japanese drinks such as sake and shochu.