Black Sheep
Located in sleepy Shek O and overlooked by a temple oozing calm and tranquil vibes, Black Sheep, with its bamboo furniture, zebra-striped couch and floral decorations of roses and lavender, might seem laidback and almost bucolic. But a couple of drinks from the “Paradiso” Bar” and you’ll be channeling the swinging 60s, dancing the night away beneath a planetary mobile, a flickering candle, and ultraviolet lamps reflected off the mirrored interior. And who says you have to put up with crappy food at bars? The jungle pizza, with prosciutto di San Daniele, is superb, and they make a downright mean tiramisu.
G/F, 330 Shek O Village, Shek O, 2809-2021
Zenses Cristal Bar
Exploiting film and printing technology, every available surface is covered with illustrations of abstract languid flowers, menacing-looking trees and surreal mythical creatures. And with the background lighting’s changing hues, it could cause disillusion and disorientation, even before imbibing some wine and bubbly at their sparkly glitzy bar countertop. That itself is encrusted with more than 300,000 Swarovski crystals and illuminated from above by a ripple projector and below by multicolored LEDs. Serious bling bling. With a drink in your hand, slowly sink and melt into this dreamy foggy fantasy forest around you, and you just might start seeing pink elephants.
9/F, The Loop, 33 Wellington St., Central, 2521-8999
Cafe Nirvana
It looks like just another cafe, and for most of the day it is. But come nighttime, Nirvana transforms into a strange beast, a cross between a pub and a club—a plub, if you will. Pumping loud funky drum’n’bass straight out of a late-90s disco, the place is strewn with trippy Christmas lights and red Chinese paper lanterns, all adding to a vibe that is strictly out of this world. OK, it’s cramped and packed, so make sure you don’t smack someone in the face, but chug down a couple of beers, move to the beat, and you’ll get your groove on in no time.
G/F, 65 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan, 2545-2588