3 Hong Kong bar crawls for elegance, edginess and eclectic patrons, with Asia’s 50 Best Bar awards ceremony being held in the city
- Hong Kong’s hosting of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards in July 2023 for the first time puts the city’s premier drinking holes and bartenders in the spotlight
- We’ve come up with 3 contrasting bar crawls – taking in places with a Japanese vibe, hidden and underground bars, and ones distinctly lacking the snob factor
On July 18 you can expect to see Hong Kong on a high as bartenders and bar industry veterans converge at the Rosewood hotel, in the city’s Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood, to celebrate the latest release of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list – a collection of what expert imbibers consider to be venues at the top of their game across the region.
It’s the first time the awards have come to Hong Kong, after years of being held in Singapore and Bangkok.
And if there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the city will be celebrating from dusk till dawn.
If you want to join in the action, then check out our bar itineraries in three centres of nightlife.
A Japanese odyssey from Causeway Bay to Wan Chai
Takumi
Helmed by bartender Rayven Leung, this discreet bar has no menu, instead offering bespoke and personalised cocktails.
3/F, Cubus, 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay
Executive Bar
A classic for a reason, serving high-quality fresh fruit cocktails and top-shelf whiskies with a view over Happy Valley racecourse.
27/F, Bartlock Centre, 3 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay
Mizunara
4/F, Kiu Yin Commercial Building, 361-363 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai
Kuromaru
1/F, Maison Meiji, 7 Mallory Street, Wan Chai
The Central newcomers
Central is the locus of bartending in Hong Kong, with many of the city’s top rated bars within a stone’s throw of each other.
But for the freshest openings, don’t miss the following – from underground speakeasies to soaring rooftop bars.
Artifact
A hidden bar situated in the belly of BaseHall 2, a buzzing food court in Jardine House, majoring in futuristic decor and brown spirits: brandy, rum and whisky.
No 1 & 2, Shop 5 & 7, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central
Cardinal Point
45/F, Forty-Five, Gloucester Tower, Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central
The Savory Project
4 Staunton Street, SoHo, Central
The Green Door
LG/F, Welley Building, 97 Wellington Street, Central
Bar Leone
15 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan
The heart of Kowloon
Of course, you shouldn’t miss the host venue’s signature modernist bar, DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong, but for more local flair, cast a wider net and head to these solid Kowloon haunts.
Slash
The name refers to this Sham Shui Po venue pulling double duty as coffee bar by day and natural wine/cocktail bar by night. High ceilings and low lighting add a dreamy quality to the proceedings.
107 Ki Lung Street, Sham Shui Po
Bound
A favourite of artists, designers and other creatives, this friendly neighbourhood bar has a cult following but none of the snobbiness. Craft beer or cocktails? Take your pick.
32 Boundary Street, Sham Shui Po
Terrible Baby
The most “unhotel” bar of hotel bars, Terrible Baby has a lot going for it – a spacious terrace, eclectic tunes and a creative cocktail line-up that champions local ingredients.
4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan
