28/F, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay. Tel: 3980 3300
The vibe: this rooftop bar is sleek, stylish and far from understated. Inside it's bright and glitzy, with a circular bar and glass windows on either side, one of which leads to the venue's real gem - a wood-decked terrace with sofas and rattan-look tables and chairs. The area is next to the hotel's pool, which is sometimes opened up for pool parties in warmer weather. Snag a table outside for views across Causeway Bay to the harbour (partly obstructed by Times Square). Downstairs, a whole floor is devoted to alfresco drinking, with stepping stones across pools and a Zen-like atmosphere. The music is laid-back dance, but there are too many distracting television screens inside.
The drinks: if you like your cocktail glowing, this is the right place. A translucent cube changes from red to green to blue inside your glass of the signature J-Cube cocktail, made with vodka and crushed strawberries. The cocktail list features just a few specials (HK$90) from the bar, most great for those with a sweet tooth, but staff whipped up a decent Cosmopolitan and vodka martini on request. There's a standard range of beers, an impressive list of sake and moutai (up to HK$42,680 for a premium 50-year-old) and half a dozen red and white wines by the glass (HK$80 to HK$120).
The verdict: great for chilling on the terrace any night of the week, or for a pre-party warm up at the weekend.
