Best Bars to Enjoy in Hong Kong

Explore Hong Kong’s bar culture with our curated guide to the city’s latest gems. From chic hotel destinations to covert speakeasies, lively party venues, and concealed basements, each promises an extraordinary drinking odyssey that transcends the ordinary. Cheers to discovering the best new bars in town!

1. Barcode

Discover the revamped Barcode, introducing a fresh lunch menu, delectable afternoon pastries, and an array of signature cocktails. This multifaceted establishment seamlessly integrates bar, coffee, and dessert experiences. From daytime espresso delights to inventive nighttime concoctions like the Peanut Butter Whiskey Sour and Ying & Yang Martini, Barcode is the ultimate destination. Pair these libations with irresistible treats such as the classic opera cake or pistachio chocolate mousse.

Barcode, UG/F, 45 Cochrane St, Central, Hong Kong

2. 001

Dark, rich interior of 001 Bar. With emerald green seating.

Embrace the return of this New York-inspired speakeasy as 001 has recently reopened in Tai Kwun. Its discreet charm is maintained with distinct spaces: the semi-private Blue Room and the Green Room, a homage to its original Wellington Street location. Revel in the secluded elegance of the Green Room, complete with a bar area. Indulge in signature drinks like the Early Grey Martini, alongside new creations that honour 001’s legacy as Hong Kong’s ‘first’ speakeasy bar.

001, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong

3. Informal Affairs

Hand holding a gin bottle in front of a red neon sign that says "Made in Hong Kong"

Elevating Southside’s scene, Ovolo Southside partners with N.I.P Gin to unveil Informal Affairs, the area’s inaugural rooftop gin bar. Nodding to the iconic rooftop scenes of Hong Kong cinema, it channels the vibe of the 1990s and 2000s, reminiscent of dai pai dong-style settings. Inspired by the era when gin cocktails were the craze, the menu, crafted by The Wise King’s Sandeep Kumar and Ovolo’s bar manager, Issac Lim, fuses traditional botanicals with local flavors like kumquat, creating cocktails with a distinct Hong Kong flair. The libations are aptly complemented by Hong Kong-style vegetarian snacks.

Informal Affairs, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong

4. Blotto

Entrance outside Blotto with a crowd of people standing outside having a good time.

From Blotto’s motto of “If it ain’t fun, don’t do it”, you can already conjure up images of what this bar might be like. Blotto takes inspiration from house parties, parlour games, and kitchen table conversations. It bills itself as a reinterpretation of a modern-day dive bar, situated in the ever-expanding Kennedy Town neighbourhood. Evoking a sense of nostalgia akin to your favourite house party or college night out, expect a diverse menu of cocktails complete with drinking and broad games. Blotto is the brainchild of mixologist Austen Lendrum and serves as an extension of his eclectic, fun, and vibrant approach to crafting cocktails. In fact, the names of the drinks take on synonyms of Blotto, which was a popular British slang among soldiers during WWI.

Blotto, 66-68 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong

5. Lockdown

Interior of Lockdown, with comfy booths and a long bar adjacent.

From the visionary minds behind The Old Man, Penicillin, and Dead&, emerges Lockdown, a novel cocktail haven on Hollywood Road. Helmed by industry stalwarts Agung and Laura Prabowo, with over 50 years of combined expertise, this venture pays homage to the city’s pandemic lockdown era. Drawing inspiration from the Prohibition Era in the US, Lockdown seamlessly blends classic American aesthetics with modern Asian touches. The intimate space, limited to 30 guests, boasts the world’s first rotating bar station designed by Agung. The meticulously curated menu features 25 handcrafted concoctions, categorised as Experimental, Vintage, and Remastered Classics. Get ready for a journey through time and taste.

Lockdown, G/F, 27 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong