4 new Hong Kong bars, from a speakeasy to specialist cocktail bars and reborn craft beer favourite Second Draft, to try right now

After months of social distancing restrictions and operational roadblocks, Hong Kong’s bar scene is showing signs of life with a glut of new openings

Injecting much-needed energy into the scene are specialist cocktail bars Sam Fancy and CNY Bar, Bianco & Rosso – and reborn gastropub Second Draft

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A beer being poured at Second Draft in Causeway Bay. Hong Kong’s bar scene is once again calling the shots with a glut of new bar openings. Photo: Second Draft

Published: 4:15pm, 6 Aug 2022

After months of pandemic-related restrictions and operational roadblocks, Hong Kong’s bar scene is making a comeback, with numerous new openings and the highly anticipated return of an industry favourite. Get your RAT tests ready, because here are four new bars to visit right now.

After closing unexpectedly in February 2022, gastropub Second Draft (H01, Fashion Walk, 9 Kingston Street, Causeway Bay) has re-emerged in its sophomore iteration with a new look and location in Causeway Bay’s Fashion Walk retail and entertainment area.

The second draft of Second Draft recalls many familiar details of the Tai Hang original, with a muted green colour scheme that takes inspiration from the Star Ferry colour palette.

Design agency AKA Officina, also behind the look of previous craft beer projects TAP and Young Master’s Singapore taproom, has reimagined the space with distinctive details such as green glass mosaic tiles on the bar and walls that are reminiscent of Hong Kong’s MTR station interiors, as well as terrazzo flooring and wooden slat booths.

Second Draft has re-emerged in its sophomore iteration with a new look and location in Causeway Bay’s Fashion Walk retail and entertainment area. Photo: Second Draft

It was important for co-founder Rohit Dugar that regulars would immediately feel like they are in Second Draft – a testament to the community that was built when the gastropub was in Tai Hang.