Bitpoint
This bric-à-brac tavern with German curios and kitsch paintings of the European countryside features comfortable, egalitarian couches on the raised platform at the back. With its informal atmosphere, the place is über-popular with the Eastern European and German crowd, ideal for a bit of philosophizing, Bitburger and Löwenbräu. If you prefer draught, they have Wernesgrüner or Hoegaarden on tap. Order an awesome cracklin’ roasted pork knuckle with mashed potatoes, a Frikadellen (German-style hamburger), a bowl of good ol’ ghoulash and you’re good to go. OK, they have chicken satay too if you’re a special Asian friend of that distinguished German gentleman over there, ja?
31 D’Aguilar St., Central, 2523-7436.
Schnurrbart
Don’t you love saying the name of this place? This geometrically arresting Schnapps bar is known for their, well, Schnapps. Beats doing tequila shots that make you go Dummköpfe. Grab a cozy, inviting banquette at the back and sort out a round of the über-popular Kirschwasser (cherry) with a plate of Kaesewuerfel (cheese cubes) or Schmalz (pork drippings with onion and bacon—mmm, fat). Or try other flavors like raspberry, sour apple or blackcurrant. If you think you’re too hardcore for fruit, order a “Kurzen” (short one), which is a shot of Korn (a German spirit less rigorously filtered than vodka, leaving more of a cereal taste) together with your big-ass stein of beer, as they always do in Northern Germany.
29 D’Aguilar St., Central, 2523-4700
Tiffany’s New York Bar
Just off the lobby of the InterContinental Grand Stanford, Tiffany’s sounds very New York (hm, it is the “New York Bar” after all), and is reminiscent of a lush bar from the Big Apple in the Roaring 20s, but it’s quite well-loved by the local German expat community as well as traveling guests. No surprise, since 1981, all their wundervoll general managers have been from Deutschland. Besides their fine band that plays six weeks a night, they sometimes host German comedy nights (whatever German comedy may be...); the Quatsch Comedy show is coming back on Sept 9 and 11. There’s Warsteiner and Erdinger, both draught and bottled, from their large island bar. Don’t miss their buy-one-get-one-free offer everyday from 5pm to 8:30pm. Er ist fantastisch!
InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, 70 Mody Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui East, 2721-5161