Vertigo
The engraved glass walls and purple tones of this upstairs club in New Wan Chai make it sexy and sumptuous, while the plush, velvety couches and soft lighting make it ultra-comfy. On the whole, it feels like a vast, chic living room, all 3,000 square feet of it. It’s so homey, it even has Wi-Fi, a pool table and private karaoke rooms for you to channel your inner Pussycat Doll. Sample an icy mojito or their signature cocktail, the Mango Rula.
26/F, QRE Plaza, 202 Queen’s Rd. East, 2575-8980.
Antique Bar
This elegant lair is hidden away inside a nondescript business hotel. Dimly lit and ornately furnished with Chinese furniture and hanging lanterns, it’s perfect for private functions—make everyone dress up 1920s- or 50s-style and pretend you’re having a soirée at a mysterious opium den from yesteryear. Sample old-school drinks like a mint julep or an absinthe and sugar drip, or vintage cocktails from their period-coded menu such as a Pearl Diver from 1930 or a Grasshopper from the 1980s.
1/F, Walden Hotel, 353 Hennessy Rd., 3678-3978.
The Pawn
Ah, what more can we say about this awesome space that faithfully retains the original layout of an 1888 heritage building? Its three bars—Whiskey, Pawn and Cocktail—are decked out with mix-and-match vintage furniture from the UK and Thailand, all sitting underneath airy, vaulted ceilings for an effect that is at once authentic and modern. While it gets crowded during happy hour and dinnertime, The Pawn’s balcony and new rooftop are perfect lounging spots for early afternoons. Come for a cider, Black Sheep beer, fine wine or the signature martini, The Pawn Star.
1/F, 62 Johnston St., 2866-3444.