60 Best Bars in Hong Kong, China

Head to Rosewood's DarkSide for aged spirits, cigars, and cocktails, complemented by live jazz every night. Drinks are enjoyed in a dark and velvet-adorned space, perfect for a cozy date.

Inside an impressive curvaceous skyscraper, this very cool bar sits on the mezzanine level of the top floor. The high ceilings and glass walls offer up unrivaled views of Hong Kong and the surrounding harbor filled with ferries and ships. Tables are placed in front of the windows so you never have to crane your neck to see the skyline.

Regularly ranked in the top 10 of Asia’s best bars, Argo in the Four Seasons is known for its highly creative and environmentally conscious approach to mixology, celebrating sustainable ingredients such as cacao husks, bamboo, and coffee flowers. The design scheme features sweeping architectural curves and warm brass accents, best appreciated by taking a seat at the bar.

Awarded first place in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, this Italian-run, casual-cool bar is known for its signature "filthy martini," pepped up with a smoked olive and brine for extra oomph. More genteel is the small but perfectly formed mezcal negroni, which goes beautifully with bar snacks like Leone’s best-selling mortadella sandwich—stacked layers of thinly sliced Italian garlic sausage squeezed between crisp home-baked focaccia.

High up in the Peninsula Hong Kong, this bar is immensely popular with visitors. It not only has a brilliant view of the island, but the dramatic interiors are by the visionary designer Philippe Starck. Another memorable feature: tthe women’s bathroom overlooks the harbor, while the men’s has great city views.

A hit with the happy hour crowd (5–7 pm, all night long on Wednesday), Honky Tonks is a highly polished SoHo watering hole posing as an American-style dive bar. Classic and signature cocktails, Hong Kong craft beers, and a wide choice of bourbon can be paired with elevated bar snacks like crisp fried chicken and "big ass" pizzas—available by the slice for a steal during happy hour.

Hidden behind an unmarked red door is one of the coolest bars in Sai Ying Pun. Converted from an old table-tennis parlor, the basement space serves gin and tonic cocktails and features works by local artists on the walls. It also offers an array of Spanish tapas.

One of Hong Kong's favorite after-work watering hole, 208 sits in the middle of trendy Sheung Wan, The place serves up spot-on classic cocktails alongside authentic antipasti. Sit outside and enjoy a cocktail or three with a mostly local crowd.

This Knutsford Terrace staple hosts a talented Filipino cover band that mainly works hits from the ’80s and ’90s. Drinks are a little overpriced, but there's an impressive sound system that prompts a loud sing-along from the crowd. Spanish-style artwork adorns the red-and-yellow walls.

The Armani brand has made its mark on Chater House, bringing a taste of Milan to Hong Kong. The big draw here is a wide, gorgeous deck with skyscraper views, chic outdoor seating, and an impressive—if pricey—list of cocktails. Go into the bar and turn right up the stairs.

Mondrian Hotel's cocktail bar offers creative, Hong Kong--inspired tipples such as lap yuk (Chinese cured pork belly) old fashioned and mango pomelo colada. Snag a seat by the window for a gorgeous sea view.

On Wan Chai's trendy Ship Street, the dimly lit Back Bar is the place for top-of-the-line cocktails and delicious Spanish-influenced bar snacks. It gets very crowded, so come early.

This Japanese-style cocktail and whiskey bar offers some of the classiest drinks in Tsim Sha Tsui. They have an extensive whiskey-based cocktail menu, as well as highballs and tea-forward drinks. 

This New York–style pub has a loyal following thanks to its excellent cocktails, a good selection of beers, and friendly service. It's a no-frills place, located across from the Sheung Wan MTR station.

This whisky bar (pronounced "blackbird") has become the go-to watering hole for a more creative crowd. The design is bachelor-pad chic, with exposed brick walls, Chesterfield sofas on gray, tiled floors, and an outdoor terrace with long wood tables and potted palm trees. Take the elevator up to the sixth floor of 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, a building worth noting for its variety of bars and restaurants.

This is Hong Kong's only old-school Scottish pub, decked out in timber and red-tartan furnishings. The bar serves an impressive collection of 180 single malts and 28 artisanal beers, alongside a roster of guest ales that changes regularly. In the basement of the nondescript Wharney Guang Dong Hotel, there's a dartboard, pool table, and live sports on the video screens. There's also a full menu that includes delicacies like haggis balls.

Book ahead for an outdoor table to enjoy stunning skyline views from this bar on the 45th-floor roof terrace of The Landmark. Cocktails are expensive and err on the sweet side, so stick to wine, beer, or mixed drinks and savor the city lights to a soundtrack of DJ beats.

This unique bar is set in the reporting room of a former police station, with three cells that used to hold pirates and smugglers now converted into private drinking rooms. The specialty here is whiskey, but they also have an interesting cocktail menu and tasty bar bites.

This bohemian diamond-in-the-rough was named in tribute to July 1, 2003, when half a million Hong Kongers successfully rallied against looming threats to their freedom of speech. Tucked away on a terrace down a side street, the quirky, unpretentious bar is a mainstay of artists, journalists, and left-wing politicians. The outdoor area closes around midnight.

A local institution, Club 97 offers extremely generous pours and some of the best service in the city. Very loud and open late, this is not the place for an early evening.

There can’t be many cocktail bars in the world that have fans queuing at 5 pm to sample their libations, but such is the allure of Coa, crowned Asia’s Best Bar for three consecutive years (2021–23). The meticulously crafted drinks spotlight the spirits and flavors of Mexico, showcasing the smoky depth of artisanal mezcal. Coa boasts a standout collection of over 200 agave-based spirits, while the bar’s name is a reference to coa de jima, a traditional machete-like tool used for harvesting agave plants.

Named after the legendary British tea clipper in homage to Hong Kong's colonial history, this small pub in SoHo is a cozy, reliable spot with a nautical theme. It's a good place for a pint on weekend afternoons too, when locals gather around the streetside tables with their dogs.

This bar in the eccentric Luxe Manor hotel is a tribute to surrealism: a side gallery boasts two original etchings by Salvador Dalí. References to that artist and other greats like Magritte abound. A dark and spacious bar area is anchored by a central counter, from which bottles of absinthe glimmer.

This Irish pub has interiors that were shipped here from the Emerald Isle, and the mood is as authentic as the furnishings. Guinness and Delaney's ale (a specialty microbrew) are on tap, and there's a traditional Irish menu. The crowd includes some Irish regulars, so get ready for spontaneous outbursts of fiddling and other Celtic traditions.

Around since 2002, Dragon-i made its name as a hotspot for the glitterati, hosting globe-trotting celebs like David Beckham and featuring intimate live shows from the likes of Snoop Dogg and Jamiroquai. It remains the domain of the city's young, rich, and beautiful (if not necessarily classy) crowd, and still attracts international acts and DJs. Have a drink on the deck, or step inside the vivid red playroom, which doubles as a Chinese restaurant earlier in the day. 

This pint-size gem is the after-hours party spot in Central. Hidden down an alley beside a late-night food stand, its obscure location only adds to the speakeasy feel. Drop gets crowded on weekends, and it can be hard to get inside, so arrive early and wait for the party to pop off.

Loud, energetic cover bands get the dance floor jumping on Wednesday to Saturday night. Popular with expats, it can get crowded, but patrons are usually having too much fun to care.

So popular you'll need a reservation, this see-and-be-seen bar in the Pottinger Hotel packs them in with expertly mixed cocktails, comfy seating areas, and the exclusive feel of a British gentlemen's club. Head to the outdoor terrace, where you can enjoy a selection of East-meets-West snacks.

Dance anthems fill the floor until the wee hours at this friendly LGBTQ+ club. "Game nights" lure visitors and locals alike with alternating themes such as drag bingo or karaoke. 

This club attracts a younger crowd, making it one of Central's rowdier nightlife spots. The music tends to be more varied than the commercial fare at other clubs, encouraging visits from a lively mix of local and international talent. Get here early for a perch on the low-slung black sofas.