https://www.scmp.com/rss/322439/feed Everything you need to know about Hong Kong’s best night spots, from local neighbourhood bars to the latest hipster hangouts. Whether it’s cocktails in Lan Kwai Fong or Soho or craft beers in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, we provide unbiased reviews. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Danielle Busch admits it wasn’t just the failed attempt at making wine at home that encouraged her and her husband to try making mead. “He was watching Vikings on the History Channel at the time, and he’d played Dungeons & Dragons a lot before that,” chuckles the co-founder of California-based Batch Mead. “So, yes, he had heard of mead, but, like many people, he wasn’t quite sure what it was.” Indeed, if The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones thrust mead into the spotlight – “I welcome you to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3273340/blame-game-thrones-mead-could-be-next-big-drinks-trend-gen-z?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3273340/blame-game-thrones-mead-could-be-next-big-drinks-trend-gen-z?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Aug 2024 23:15:08 +0000 When Coa opened in 2017, I was tasked with writing a review for my then-employer. The bar was almost empty when I visited in the first couple of weeks after its opening, which wasn’t uncommon for new bars back then. The drinks were excellent and the staff supremely helpful, guiding me through a menu, loosely bound like a book, of mescals and tequilas that was almost encyclopedic in its detail. We sipped some spirits from a selection of tiny gourd cups. My review contains possibly one of the most... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3224060/savory-project-hong-kongs-next-coa-jay-khan-mastermind-behind-two-time-no-1-asias-50-best-bars-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/100-top-tables/article/3224060/savory-project-hong-kongs-next-coa-jay-khan-mastermind-behind-two-time-no-1-asias-50-best-bars-list?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jun 2023 02:00:17 +0000 If Lemna wasn’t evidence enough, Hong Kong’s cafe/bar trend shows no sign of abating. Another new entry in this genre is In Depth, which occupies the space formerly belonging to tiki bar Honi Honi on Wellington Street. The new venue, which also offers shisha, is unrecognisable. The cosy beach hut vibe has been replaced by a sadly sterile – and what feels like low-effort – brutalism. It’s all bland grey concrete walls and floors. The establishment’s Instagram account spins this as a way to “bring... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3206244/depth-bar-review-ever-fancied-unbalanced-cocktails-amid-drab-grey-concrete-walls-full-lan-kwai-fong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3206244/depth-bar-review-ever-fancied-unbalanced-cocktails-amid-drab-grey-concrete-walls-full-lan-kwai-fong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Mar 2023 02:00:11 +0000 Regulars to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre may have noticed a new addition to the waterfront venue – Lemna of the Alchemist, another in that long line of cafe/bar combos that are increasingly popular in the city. The concept extends the Alchemist group’s niche of pairing cultural events (screenings, talks, exhibitions), food and drinks that started when it opened its original travel-themed cafe on Poplar Street 10 years ago. It’s proven a winning concept as the group now has venues across the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3206245/lemna-alchemist-bar-review-asian-inspired-cocktails-meet-culture-new-cafe/bar-along-tsim-sha-tsui?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3206245/lemna-alchemist-bar-review-asian-inspired-cocktails-meet-culture-new-cafe/bar-along-tsim-sha-tsui?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Feb 2023 02:00:09 +0000 When Central cocktail bar J Boroski quietly shuttered, Dining Concepts’ next move was to expand on arguably its greatest Ashley Sutton success, Iron Fairies. New sister venue The Mixing Room does away with the erstwhile speakeasy’s polarising bespoke cocktail surveys, in exchange for extending Sutton’s aesthetic concept, as laid out by the celebrated interior designer’s children’s book trilogy of the same name. Where Iron Fairies focuses on the figurines that have become that bar’s signature,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3206275/mixing-room-bar-review-iron-fairies-whimsy-continues-new-ashley-sutton-designed-sister-venue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3206275/mixing-room-bar-review-iron-fairies-whimsy-continues-new-ashley-sutton-designed-sister-venue?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jan 2023 02:00:10 +0000 A scroll through cocktail-related Instagram hashtags, the accounts of your favourite mixologists or bars, drinks listicles or even friends’ social media feeds all seem to reveal one fact: every drink worth its price tag packs some garnish. Whether it’s served in a martini glass or a Nick & Nora, with ice or without, garnishing a libation seems essential. Yet, the concept of a garnish – its nature, function and impact as a component of a cocktail – remains loosely defined. What we do is... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3195845/are-instagram-baiting-cocktail-garnishes-going-out-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3195845/are-instagram-baiting-cocktail-garnishes-going-out-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:28:53 +0000 The Covid-19 pandemic has been a rough period for Hong Kong’s best bars. Many establishments had to close for periods due to government restrictions and even those with restaurant licenses that could stay open had to contend with restricted opening hours and numbers of customers. Despite these troubles, the local bar scene is arguably in better shape than it has been in some time. COA became the first Hong Kong bar to be top of Asia’s 50 Best Bars two years in a row, and only the second bar in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3181190/10-best-bars-hong-kong-four-seasons-argo-mandarin-orientals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3181190/10-best-bars-hong-kong-four-seasons-argo-mandarin-orientals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jun 2022 06:38:18 +0000 Out with the old, in with the new. Hong Kong’s bar scene hasn’t stood still during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite some strict restrictions for a time. Rather, brave bar owners have been using this period to think of new ideas and gaps in the market. Nor are things slowing down for Christmas. In the run-up to the festive period, a slew of new openings have landed. Here are three of the best to try for when you’re feeling parched. Quality Goods Club B/F, On Lok House, 39-43 Hollywood Road,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3160036/hong-kongs-best-new-bars-try-december-2021-reviewed-wood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3160036/hong-kongs-best-new-bars-try-december-2021-reviewed-wood?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:00:23 +0000 There have been many new bar openings over the summer – and also imaginative drinks appearing on refreshed menus. Sate your thirst with one of these inventive cocktails, available at three of the best bars in Hong Kong. Summer nightcaps: 3 Hong Kong cocktails to try What: The First Quarter Ingredients: Nikka from the Barrel whisky, fig leaf, raspberry, benzoin, UHT egg white Where: DarkSide Potency: 4/5 Which classic Hong Kong hotel just added three new bars? What: Bomba Rosa Ingredients:... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3152229/hong-kongs-best-new-cocktails-quinary-among-asias-50-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3152229/hong-kongs-best-new-cocktails-quinary-among-asias-50-best?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Oct 2021 06:00:08 +0000 Trends in cocktails may come and go, but a select few go on to become classics that never go out of vogue. Perhaps the most enduring cocktail of all is the martini, with a history dating back to the late 1800s. Over the decades, it has continued to evolve, adapted to suit the mixology trends of the time. We spoke to four local experts to learn their takes on this classic drink. Our martini is neither shaken nor stirred, but layered Lorenzo Antinori, Four Seasons “The martini has never gone out... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3152225/hong-kongs-best-martini-bars-argo-four-seasons-darkside?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3152225/hong-kongs-best-martini-bars-argo-four-seasons-darkside?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:18:20 +0000 Despite all the late nights, loud music and alcohol, Hong Kong’s bar scene doesn’t make nearly as much noise as its dining counterpart. New restaurants arrive pre-baked with hype and the wait for a table feels like the wait for the Second Coming. Bars open more quietly – afraid to wake the neighbours – and it can take an excellent establishment years to garner serious attention. Argo An exception to this rule is Argo, which is enjoying immediate success. Demand for seats has been so strong that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3151620/hong-kongs-best-new-bars-reviewed-argo-four-seasons-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3151620/hong-kongs-best-new-bars-reviewed-argo-four-seasons-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Oct 2021 07:00:22 +0000 Hong Kong’s bar scene is the strongest it has ever been. Not only did Coa top “Asia’s 50 Best Bars” list this year, there are nine other bars in the city on the list, too – more than ever before. It’s a far cry from the days when getting a decent drink in Hong Kong necessitated a trip to an overpriced hotel bar for a classic cocktail whose recipe hadn’t changed in 50 years. The city’s drinks revolution can be traced back to the opening of Quinary in 2012. Founder Antonio Lai had dabbled with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3141420/where-try-molecular-mixology-hong-kong-upscale-central-bars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3141420/where-try-molecular-mixology-hong-kong-upscale-central-bars?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:40:29 +0000 Daniel Langer Daniel Langer This article is part of STYLE’s Inside Luxury column In an Inside Luxury column from earlier this year, I looked into the reasons why alcohol-free mocktails often cost more than their alcoholic counterparts, and why they have become a Gen Z favourite. One reason was that many of these drinks “provide a spice-induced energy kick instead of the numbing tiredness so many people feel when they have an alcoholic drink.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3107457/alcohol-out-fashion-and-mocktails-are-having-moment-heres?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3107457/alcohol-out-fashion-and-mocktails-are-having-moment-heres?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Oct 2020 00:00:18 +0000 In the second round of the Hong Kong government’s Anti-epidemic Fund measures, it was announced that companies could avail of the Employment Support Scheme or cash assistance. The support scheme works if a company has revenue, as the government assistance covers up to 50 per cent of employee wages, with the subsidy capped at HK$9,000 per month. But where does the other 50 per cent come from when the government has decided to close your business? In the food and beverage sector, the government... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3106757/why-covid-19-cash-has-hong-kong-bar-owners-caught-between-rock-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3106757/why-covid-19-cash-has-hong-kong-bar-owners-caught-between-rock-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Oct 2020 23:00:09 +0000 Slake your thirst with one of these inventive drinks, available at three of the best bars in Hong Kong. Full Moon Ritual at Room 309 What’s in it: Two Moon’s gin, ginger liqueur, black walnut bitters, pine liqueur, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, orange bitters, simple syrup and a butterfly pea tea ice ball. Where: Room 309, 3/F, The Pottinger Hong Kong, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Central Potency: 3/5 Hong Kong’s first “sustainable bar” Penicillin – from the team behind The Old Man La Brosse... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3106490/hong-kongs-best-cocktails-starring-creative-concoctions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3106490/hong-kongs-best-cocktails-starring-creative-concoctions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Oct 2020 11:00:20 +0000 When The Old Man opened three years ago, it arrived at the perfect time to crest the second wave of molecular mixology cocktail bars in Hong Kong. The first wave was driven almost single-handedly by Antonio Lai. His early concepts at Quinary, Origin and The Envoy pioneered the trend in this city, and all featured in the inaugural Asia’s 50 Best Bars Awards in 2016. With a focus on innovative recipes and techniques, these venues provided a counterpoint to the more traditional hotel bars that were... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3106081/hong-kongs-first-sustainable-bar-penicillin-second-hand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3106081/hong-kongs-first-sustainable-bar-penicillin-second-hand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Oct 2020 10:00:10 +0000 Agung Prabowo, the Hong Kong-based Indonesian bartender who won the Industry Icon Award 2020 from Asia’s 50 Best Bars, leaves his award-winning bar The Old Man today (September 30). The Soho speakeasy, inspired by the works of Ernest Hemingway, was named best bar in Asia by Asia’s 50 Best in 2019, but rather than rest on his laurels, Prabowo is hard at work on two new concepts set to open by early November. The first is The Penicillin, a sustainable bar set to take over the former Buddha Lounge... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3103659/noma-nightlife-hong-kongs-first-sustainable-bar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3103659/noma-nightlife-hong-kongs-first-sustainable-bar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2020 10:00:15 +0000 When Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, the world’s most-awarded bartender, launched his Time Capsules bespoke cocktail service, he set himself no easy task: to encapsulate a person’s life in liquid form. He likens it to modern-day portraiture – capturing the essence of who someone really is, but distilling it through flavour rather than paint. “It’s an exploration of what luxury is: it’s not about bling, although the cocktails may include some incredibly rare and frankly outrageously delicious... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3098757/would-you-pay-worlds-most-awarded-bartender-us130000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3098757/would-you-pay-worlds-most-awarded-bartender-us130000?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2020 09:00:11 +0000 Hong Kong’s love affair with all things Japanese is well-known. At the city’s best sushi restaurants customers pay dearly to eat fish flown in daily from Tokyo, and whether it is soufflé pancakes or kakigori, Japanese desserts routinely trend on social media. Japanese-style highballs have been enjoying a resurgence of late and the country’s whisky and, increasingly, its gin are favourites of connoisseurs, too. STYLE EDIT: Why daring chefs pair Johnnie Walker whisky with Asian flavours Less... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3091048/hong-kongs-best-japanese-bars-exclusive-hidden-hangs-mixing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/good-eating/article/3091048/hong-kongs-best-japanese-bars-exclusive-hidden-hangs-mixing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:20 +0000 Many people still associate whisky (or whiskey for Americans) with men in old films, who usually drink the liquor straight up. Today's top whisky experts, however, are a far cry from that stereotype, and are working to make whisky drinking less intimidating and more accessible for beginners. “I would love to tell you there are hard, fast rules, but there aren't any more. There's no 'all Scotch tastes like this' any more,” says whiskey expert Heather Greene. “If I had to make one big... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3088825/beyond-jack-daniels-and-johnnie-walker-10-best-whisky?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3088825/beyond-jack-daniels-and-johnnie-walker-10-best-whisky?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jun 2020 03:00:14 +0000 Keen for a cocktail? You’re in luck as Asia’s 50 Best Bars has just revealed its 2020 list of the region’s best watering holes. Singapore hotspot Jigger & Pony was ranked number one, displacing Hong Kong’s The Old Man from first place after a year at the top. Despite that blow to our civic pride, and despite a relatively quiet 2019 with few people keen to open new bars because of the months of civil unrest in the city, Hong Kong continues to be well represented in Asia’s 50 Best Bars. Coa rose... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3085291/forget-asias-50-best-bars-these-are-hong-kongs-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3085291/forget-asias-50-best-bars-these-are-hong-kongs-top?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2020 05:00:21 +0000 Sacrifices have to be made to curb infection rates of the coronavirus – and one of them has been limiting those social activities like happy hour, while bar hopping seems like a distant memory. But if you’re down to socialising with a few friends at home or have started Zooming friends and family with a drink in hand, here are nine simple cocktail recipes, courtesy of Hong Kong’s best bartenders, that you can easily make at home. Why low-calorie cocktails are catching on in Hong Kong Bee’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3082169/plum-old-fashioned-sake-bloody-mary-or-green-tea-spritz-9?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3082169/plum-old-fashioned-sake-bloody-mary-or-green-tea-spritz-9?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2020 18:00:17 +0000 When British tabloid newspaper The Sun wrote about Lan Kwai Fong in 2015, it reported on pools of vomit, drunken fights at the taxi rank and a woman stripping in the street. It was an exaggerated portrait of the neighbourhood; nonetheless, Hong Kong’s ground zero for partying is one of the last places you’d expect to find a high-end whisky bar. Yet, above the fray – and the cheap shots and chasers – sits Club Qing, a haven of calm and home to some of the rarest whiskies on the planet. Founder... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3043641/why-aaron-chans-club-qing-lan-kwai-fong-perfect-blend-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3043641/why-aaron-chans-club-qing-lan-kwai-fong-perfect-blend-high?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Dec 2019 02:00:20 +0000 Gucci’s bold new Art Wall concept has landed in Hong Kong’s D'Aguilar Street, with one particularly famous face giving us the eye-confectionery we deserve on a night out in Lan Kwai Fong: none other than British singer and actor Harry Styles, rendered on the building-sized mural by the photography of Glen Luchford for the Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur fragrance campaign. The campaign, developed by creative director Alessandro Michele with Luchford, a British fashion photographer and film director,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3042221/style-edit-whos-harry-styles-guccis-art-wall-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3042221/style-edit-whos-harry-styles-guccis-art-wall-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Dec 2019 01:00:11 +0000 There’s more to spirits and wine than finding the right bottle for the right occasion. Keep your wine cabinet, bar or both ready for guests at all times with the right accessories. Quench Home Bars There’s more to a home bar than a corkscrew and juicer – no bar would be complete without a cocktail set for some home mixology. British bespoke home bar designer Quench Home Bars offers its luxury Quench Cocktail Collection, a complete cocktail tool set of nearly 20 items, including a Yukiwa Baron... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3032327/cocktail-shakers-wine-coolers-everything-you-need-be-master?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3032327/cocktail-shakers-wine-coolers-everything-you-need-be-master?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Oct 2019 18:00:11 +0000 The vibe: For this new bar in the restored Tai Kwun complex, bar design guru Ashley Sutton has come up with the idea of paying tribute to the location’s heyday – the Art Nouveau era. The main bar is a sea of rich shades of turquoise with a gorgeous array of Tiffany stained glass lamps, tables and candle holders, while the back wall is dominated by a sculpture of a Mucha-style lady riding on a huge metal dragonfly (a classic Art Nouveau motif). The concept is carried through in meticulous detail,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2167651/dragonfly-tai-kwun-arts-centre-stunning-decor-and-quality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2167651/dragonfly-tai-kwun-arts-centre-stunning-decor-and-quality?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Oct 2018 04:32:02 +0000 The vibe: Room 309 is a new speakeasy-style bar in the boutique Pottinger Hotel, and is run by one of the city’s best-known mixologists, Antonio Lai. They’ve taken the speakeasy concept seriously – to get in, you need to ask for a key card at Lai’s other third-floor bar, The Envoy, and use it as you would for a normal room. An intimate, dimly lit interior seats around 20 – there’s a long bar with barstools plus a couple of high bar tables, music (too loud for a place where people sit and chat)... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2164472/mixology-king-antonio-lais-new-hong-kong-speakeasy-room-309?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2164472/mixology-king-antonio-lais-new-hong-kong-speakeasy-room-309?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Sep 2018 05:16:29 +0000 The vibe: The Wise King is named after King Alfonso X of Castile – a 13th century monarch who reigned for 32 years and is said to have invented tapas when health problems meant he could only eat small portions of food (which he insisted should be consumed with wine). An independent venture founded by two celebrated mixologists, Joe Villanueva and Sandeep Kumar, the bar was still in soft opening when we visited but already showing its pedigree in the excellence of the service – professional yet... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2161776/wise-king-soho-excellent-service-and-tasty-cocktails-promise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2161776/wise-king-soho-excellent-service-and-tasty-cocktails-promise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Aug 2018 05:00:35 +0000 The vibe: The Artist is a brand, not of art supplies but of artisanal beer from Belgium, and the generous space occupied by The Artist House has a mock-medieval look in tribute to the 14th century brewery where it’s made. According to the website, the concept is an “experimental venue … designed to embody a wide range of experiences around the world of craft beer.” Beer pong comes to ritzy Hong Kong mall, and it’s a smash hit Online, the space is marketed for private events (there was a beer... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2159493/artist-house-causeway-bay-lots-potential-limited-craft-beer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2159493/artist-house-causeway-bay-lots-potential-limited-craft-beer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:01:04 +0000 The vibe: Pong is the latest newcomer to the row of bars on the IFC Mall rooftop and yes, it’s “Pong” as in beer pong. If the ping pong ball drinking game seems an unlikely choice for the ritzy IFC, the hi-tech electronic pong table had the corporate high-flyer patrons sending ping pong balls flying with more enthusiasm than accuracy as they knocked back shots and let down their hair. Once darkness falls, the illuminated game table and sports video screens indoors echo the coloured lights of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2157557/pong-ifc-beer-pong-instagram-ready-drinks-and-suits-galore-roof?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2157557/pong-ifc-beer-pong-instagram-ready-drinks-and-suits-galore-roof?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Jul 2018 07:31:45 +0000 The vibe: Big enough for comfort, small enough to feel intimate, Murray Lane, just off the lobby area of the new Murray Hotel in Central, is designed to cater to hotel guests, ladies who lunch and patrons from the nearby financial district. In keeping with the rest of the hotel, the style of the bar is sleek and cool. Key colours are black and gold; a ceiling scattered with tiny lights like a starlit sky is reflected in the black marble floor. How architect of iconic Murray Building made his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2155742/murray-lane-bar-review-sleek-stellar-cocktails-and-service?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2155742/murray-lane-bar-review-sleek-stellar-cocktails-and-service?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jul 2018 04:49:03 +0000 The vibe: Dear Lilly is the latest of Ashley Sutton’s fantasy extravaganza bars, following the likes of Ophelia and Iron Fairies. Located in the space formerly occupied by Isola Bar on the IFC roof terrace, this time the concept revolves around a flower shop in “Romantic Paris”. It’s all very pretty and girlie, with curlicue-laden decor, a 19th century style handwriting motif and masses of dried flowers arranged in perfume bottles and hanging from the ceiling (while fresh flowers would have been... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2139916/dear-lilly-central-review-floral-cocktails-are-well-made-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2139916/dear-lilly-central-review-floral-cocktails-are-well-made-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Apr 2018 05:00:30 +0000 Wan Chai is known as a late-night party location. It used to be mainly a red light district, but has long since diversified, and most of the old girlie bars have been replaced by conventional bars and restaurants. New areas such as Ship Street are full of funky places to eat and drink. Here are five bars we recently visited: Loyal Dining Bar Loyal Bar is part of Tonnochy Road’s The Tonno entertainment complex, which also includes a nightclub and karaoke rooms along with the Loyal Dining... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2137456/five-wan-chai-bars-great-thai-chinese-local-and-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2137456/five-wan-chai-bars-great-thai-chinese-local-and-japanese?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:32:13 +0000 Wyndham Street in Central is one of Hong Kong’s oldest colonial streets. Previously known as Pedder Hill and once nicknamed Flower Street, it is a few minutes walk from the well-known entertainment area Lan Kwai Fong, and has a healthy food and drink scene of its own. There’s a wealth of nightlife options along the street. We’ve picked three you’ll want to wander into, and two more you may want to ponder over. Lilya Moroccan Lounge and Bar Coming out of the lift feels like stepping into a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2136156/wyndham-street-bars-three-savour-plus-two-you-might-waver-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2136156/wyndham-street-bars-three-savour-plus-two-you-might-waver-over?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Mar 2018 10:03:20 +0000 The vibe: PDT (Please Don’t Tell), a pioneer of New York’s “secret” speakeasy-style bars and frequently ranked as one of the world’s best bars, has opened its first permanent overseas branch in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong. Like the original, it’s accessed through a phone booth (up a flight of stairs inside the MO Bar) and there’s a weird Man From Uncle feel about it, especially when you find yourself stuck inside a curtained cubicle waiting for the door to open. Once inside... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2135884/pdt-central-review-one-worlds-best-bars-first-overseas-outlet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2135884/pdt-central-review-one-worlds-best-bars-first-overseas-outlet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Mar 2018 10:01:17 +0000 The vibe: Part of Causeway Bay’s ever-expanding Fashion Walk complex of shopping, dining and entertainment, Strokes offers a unique concept: restaurant, bar and crazy golf. There are two golf courses, one easier, the other more challenging, and you can take your drinks with you while you play (tables are provided to set down your bevvy while you’re putting). The bar is bright and utilitarian, with exposed overhead pipes and cheerful coloured lighting and furniture in shades of pink and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134855/buy-your-friends-round-crazy-golf-hong-kong-bar-difference-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134855/buy-your-friends-round-crazy-golf-hong-kong-bar-difference-you?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Feb 2018 04:51:01 +0000 So you’ve just arrived in Hong Kong and you’re looking for a drink. You’re in luck as that is one thing the city does well. But new arrivals often find it hard to know where to start, due to the sheer variety of venues on offer. Hong Kong’s biggest craft brewery Gweilo Beer to start production at the end of this month There’s a lot more to Hong Kong nightlife than the Lan Kwai Fong strip – from underground clubs to craft breweries, dive bars to live music joints. All you have to do is show up... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134261/hong-kong-nightlife-beginners-guide-16-best-bars-clubs-and-pubs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134261/hong-kong-nightlife-beginners-guide-16-best-bars-clubs-and-pubs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Feb 2018 04:45:00 +0000 The vibe: Le Boudoir recently underwent what was touted as a major revamp by well-known street artist Szabotage, who is originally from Shoreditch in London and is now based in Hong Kong. Curiously, instead of changing the decor completely, the bar’s trademark baroque-style flock wallpaper, chandeliers and framed pictures are still there – only now they’re covered with splashes of paint, scrawled graffiti and bands of tape. Gweilo Beer to open Hong Kong’s biggest craft brewery this month This is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134062/le-boudoir-central-bar-review-bland-cocktails-poor-service-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2134062/le-boudoir-central-bar-review-bland-cocktails-poor-service-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Feb 2018 10:02:58 +0000 The vibe: Dockyard is a food court in the Kerry Hotel, but you could just drop in for a drink at The Bar without eating. The food outlets are all set up to respond to orders via a mobile communications app – otherwise they have to be placed at a cashier counter – but you can pay for your drinks the old-fashioned way and either take them to a table or occupy a bar stool and consume them on the spot. Wherever you are, the food vendors will deliver. Loosely speaking this is a sports bar, with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2132509/bar-dockyard-review-best-food-court-bar-hong-kong-hung-hom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2132509/bar-dockyard-review-best-food-court-bar-hong-kong-hung-hom?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Feb 2018 09:49:00 +0000 The vibe: Located in the NoHo basement formerly occupied by Neo Bar halfway down the Shin Hing Street stone steps, Coa is a notable addition to the growing number of bars specialising in tequila and mezcal. (“Coa” is the name of a tool used for harvesting the agave plant). Bare concrete walls and simple wooden tables and chairs evoke a rustic Mexican cantina. The theme is delightfully enhanced as you sip spirits that have been served in traditional pottery vessels. Coa’s co-founder, mixologist... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2131397/bar-review-coa-central-great-selection-tequila-and-mezcal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2131397/bar-review-coa-central-great-selection-tequila-and-mezcal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Feb 2018 10:03:04 +0000 The vibe: Porterhouse is a steak restaurant and bar that takes its name from America’s porterhouse steak. It’s a big place, with a striking sculpted metallic ceiling and a large, promisingly well-stocked bar near the entrance. Muted colours and soft lighting are designed to give a more intimate feel to the somewhat cavernous space. The service, like the ambience, is professional if a little impersonal. The drinks: in keeping with the concept, house cocktails are based on American classics. One... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2130176/bar-review-porterhouse-lan-kwai-fong-good-spot-carnivores-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2130176/bar-review-porterhouse-lan-kwai-fong-good-spot-carnivores-who?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:02:14 +0000 The vibe: classic pool hall, with a few modern twists in the form of video screens and beer pong tables. If you have fantasies of being Paul Newman in The Hustler or The Color of Money, this is certainly the best place in Causeway Bay to play them out. It was quiet in the early evening when I dropped in, but it is probably schooling with pool sharks later on. I was told by a friendly patron that a tournament was scheduled, and offered a preliminary game. Staff are friendly and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2128489/bar-review-breeze-causeway-bay-be-paul-newman-pool-hall-good?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2128489/bar-review-breeze-causeway-bay-be-paul-newman-pool-hall-good?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:04:24 +0000 The vibe: Modern American restaurant/beer and tequila bar, notably spacious for this part of town. Decor is uncluttered, and a light, airy feeling evoking the stretch of California coastline from which Big Sur takes its name is clearly the aim. It’s designed for all-day dining, and starts serving breakfast at 8am. A long bar should allow plenty of session beer drinkers to stay close to the taps, but a large outdoor area – with exterior space heaters for this relatively chilly season – was more... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2127471/bar-review-big-sur-soho-california-vibe-and-satisfying-drinks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2127471/bar-review-big-sur-soho-california-vibe-and-satisfying-drinks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jan 2018 10:15:23 +0000 The vibe: occupying a large space on the second floor of The Royal Garden hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui East, J’s Bar Bistro combines a retro, speakeasy-style look with an eclectic collection of colourful paintings reminiscent of Italian restaurants in London circa 1970. Seating is comfortable and the place is intelligently laid out to offer both cosy booths around the sides for those who want to chat quietly and sofas and tables in the middle of the room for larger groups. Service is attentive and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2126607/bar-review-js-bar-bistro-tsim-sha-tsui-east-relive-casablanca?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2126607/bar-review-js-bar-bistro-tsim-sha-tsui-east-relive-casablanca?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jan 2018 05:16:41 +0000 The vibe: The “est. 1958” in The Picture House’s logo refers to the building, not the bar, which opened only a couple of months ago in the premises formerly occupied by the second incarnation of Steamers. In 1958 it was a cinema, hence the name. The layout is similar to that of its predecessor, and there is also a fair amount of continuity in staff and clientele, but the place is now a good deal smarter, with a gastropub atmosphere and menu. The forecourt sitting out area is particularly... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2125855/bar-review-picture-house-sai-kung-steamers-successor-gastropub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2125855/bar-review-picture-house-sai-kung-steamers-successor-gastropub?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Dec 2017 10:00:28 +0000 The vibe: The latest venture from Victoria Chow of The Woods bar on Hollywood Road, Central, The Woods Annex is an intimate space behind another Chow venture, canned cocktail shop Kwoon, next to the intersection of Staunton and Aberdeen Streets. Described as a “spirits library and tasting room”, its walls are filled with a treasure trove of rare bottles, which glow like jewels on their stylishly lit wooden shelves. Each bottle has its own library card, so you can add your name as endorsement of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2125059/bar-review-woods-annex-spirit-tasting-appointment-only-stylish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2125059/bar-review-woods-annex-spirit-tasting-appointment-only-stylish?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Dec 2017 04:32:07 +0000 The vibe: the downstairs bar of the Ying Jee Club is part of but separate from the Cantonese fine- dining area on the first floor and can be accessed through the restaurant or directly from Queen Victoria Street. Small and intimate, the decor of blue-green velvet seating and warm-toned wood is instantly relaxing. Bartender Cecilia is an attentive and knowledgeable host who does a great job of introducing the drinks and tailoring them to the customer’s taste – we felt like guests at a club, not... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2123956/bar-review-ying-jee-club-bar-central-true-luxury-experience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2123956/bar-review-ying-jee-club-bar-central-true-luxury-experience?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:17:12 +0000 The vibe: located on – you guessed it – Second Street, this is a casual bar and restaurant on the ground floor of the Island Crest residential complex, two minutes from Sai Ying Pun MTR Station. Given its handy location in a popular residential area, it’s no surprise that on a Friday evening the place was packed,mostly with young locals. There’s a small bar near the entrance, and a larger room with tables if you want to eat as well as drink. While there’s nothing fancy about the décor... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2123176/bar-review-second-street-comfort-food-bar-sai-ying-pun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2123176/bar-review-second-street-comfort-food-bar-sai-ying-pun?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Dec 2017 10:47:06 +0000 The vibe: tucked away on the second floor of Hutchison House, Lawry’s has a classic American-style bar and lounge separate from the restaurant. Decorated in soothing deep burgundy tones, it’s cosy and calm, with comfortable seating available at low tables or on stools at the bar. The location is busiest at lunchtime, while in the early evening this is a discreet spot to relax for a quiet chat. The drinks: standard prices per drink are shown below but happy hour packages offer better value – two... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2121938/bar-review-lawrys-prime-rib-central-tucked-away-gem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2121938/bar-review-lawrys-prime-rib-central-tucked-away-gem?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Nov 2017 04:34:19 +0000 The vibe: You enter via a concealed doorway in the shape of a barrel on Wo On Lane. Press the red illuminated button on a skull attached to the barrel, and descend a dark staircase to a Mexican Day of the Dead-themed room, with a striking mural featuring a couple of cheerful looking skeletons. A neon sign proclaims “Tequila Makes My Clothes Come Off” – the name of one of the margaritas – and underlines the tequila and mescal bar theme. It’s a party room. Tequila drinking in Hong Kong moves... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2121064/bar-review-los-sotano-central-cool-taste-mexico-where-you-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/2121064/bar-review-los-sotano-central-cool-taste-mexico-where-you-can?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Nov 2017 10:00:45 +0000