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SCMP Reporter

208 Duecento Otto 
G/F, 208 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan. Tel: 2549 0208. One of the most talked-about new additions to the Hollywood Road nightlife  is a former meat  warehouse transformed into a slice of New York cool by a team who were named the best young designers of 2004 by Wallpaper. Recommended: the extensive wine and cocktail list.
Aqua Spirit  
29-30/F, 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 3427 2288. Happy hour: none, but regular promotions. 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. Aqua does this better than all other bars, hands down. Recommended: its signature Aquatini is the icing on the cake while enjoying the famous view. 
4 Dada Bar and Lounge
2/F, The Luxe Manor, 39 Kimberly Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tel: 3763 8778. Happy hour: Tue-Sun, 2.30pm-9pm. Bold leather couches and dim lighting make for a swanky and impressive destination in Tsim Sha Tsui. Recommended: the eponymous Dada cocktail includes pomegranate, light rum and lime, with a touch of spearmint.
The Chapel 
27 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley. Tel: 2834 6565. Happy hour: 4.30pm-8.30pm. 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: the Chapel's curries are well-known in Hong Kong, and are also a great way to soak up the booze after the races. 
Dragon-i  
UG/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 3110 1222. Happy hour: 5pm-8pm. Dragon-i has the strongest reputation for late-night clubbing and as a place to see and be seen. Book ahead and sample the high life. Recommended: any of Dragon-i's cocktails or enjoy a bottle of 10-year-old Chinese rice wine, to see if it's any better than the rest.
Fringe Club 
2 Lower Albert Rd, Central. Tel: 2521 7251. The ground-floor bar is a hip hangout for the city's arty crowd, regularly offering great live music, while the roof bar is a bit rough around the edges but offers an casual alternative for those wanting to enjoy the nighttime sky. Recommended: the evening tapas menu offering chorizo, Thai fish cakes and braised wings.
Kila
Upper Basement, 79 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 2522 8118. Hong Kong is not short of Irish bars, thanks to two large chains and a host of independent Irish-themed pubs, but the owners of Kila have taken a different approach: they've done their best to actually feel Irish. Recommended: the Guinness, of course, and the ice-cold Asahi on tap. 
Lei Dou
G/F, 20-22 D'Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Tel: 2525 6628. Happy hour: Mon-Fri, 5pm-8pm. 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.
Le Jardin
1/F, 10 Wing Wah Lane, Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Tel: 2877 1100. Happy hour: Mon-Fri, 4.30pm-8pm, Sat, 5pm-8pm. 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  in LKF. Recommended: Hoegaarden. Le Jardin remains perhaps the best place to enjoy a pint of the luscious Belgian brew.
Phonograph
2 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Tel: 2730 6622. Happy hour: Mon-Sun, 3pm-9pm. Phonograph isn't a music venue but is one frequented by musicians. Staff don't mind plugging your iPod into the sound system while you sip a Yakult cocktail. Recommended: any of the Yakult cocktails - drinking on an empty stomach has never felt so healthy. 
Racks MDB  
M88, 7/F, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central. Tel: 2868 3762. Happy hour: Mon-Fri, 6pm-8pm. An East Village-style pool bar, this members club remains the coolest place in town to shoot a few balls. Recommended: when in a Manhattan-style bar, one must order the Manhattan. A timeless cocktail for this  stylish bar.
Red Bar
4/F, Two IFC, 8 Finance Street, Central. Tel: 8129 8882. Happy hour: 6pm-9pm. With an open rooftop, Red has a consistently good DJ and an atmosphere which suits afternoon coffees or evening cocktails. Recommended: despite priceless views and rooftop cool, the area is also a public space, so crack open a 7-Eleven can of Tsing Tao.
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.  
Sugar 
32/F, East Hotel, 29 Taikoo Shing Road. Tel: 3968 3968. One of the few bars in the area to have an outdoor terrace, the chic Sugar at the boutique East Hotel is a rare escape from the city's Central-Causeway Bay hip-zone. Banquettes and daybeds allow you to relax in luxury,  while its view takes in most of the city's skyline. Recommended: the music, with resident DJs Eric Byron and P. Grant spinning lounge, soul, electro and chill-out. 
Tazmania Ballroom 
1/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: 2801 5009. Sun-Thu, 5pm-2am, Fri-Sat, 5pm-3am. The coolest, sleekest pool hall in Hong Kong, this lounge bar is straight out of Hoxton. Recommended: The F*** Me Up, a cocktail with a serious alcohol kick, including Amaretto, Malibu and vodka.
The Globe 
Garley Building, 45-53 Graham Street, Central. Tel: 2543 1941. Happy hour: until 8pm. The Globe is a smart English pub, with one of the widest and best selections of beers in Hong Kong, as well as excellent pub fare. Recommended: Typhoon T8, which is brewed on Lantau Island.  
Woolloomooloo 
31/F, The Hennessy, 256 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. Tel: 2893 6960. With amazing views over the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and from the breathtaking rooftop bar, Woolloomooloo is bringing a new kind of cool to Wan Chai. Recommended: everything tastes pretty good when you're already on top of the world. 
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  Japanese cuisine. The well-placed terrace offers a smog-free  view of  Queen's Road Central. Recommended: summer cocktails blending classic Western liquors with Japanese drinks such as sake and shochu.




Bars