50 Best bars in Hong Kong

What is it? An omakase cocktail bar headed by mixologist Ezra Star. The bar takes up the second floor of the now closed izakaya Okra. 

Why we love it: Unlike other omakase-style cocktail bars that serve over the top or intricate concoctions with a ceremonial presentation, Mostly Harmless is informal and not intimidating. It's a relaxed bar with a fun atmosphere that serves well-crafted cocktails.  

Time out tip: Cocktails on the menu are constantly changing depending on seasonal produce and Ezra's latest market haul, so best to try what is on the current offerings because once it's gone, it may never come back again. But an off the menu order, based on your preference, will certainly not disappoint. 

What is it? The finest of Antonio Lai's various excellent cocktail bars and ground zero of molecular mixology in Hong Kong. 

Why we love it: Quinary provides a multisensory experience for its customers unmatched anywhere in the city. Not just about excellent taste, but attention to detail in aesthetics, feel, and smell – all the receptors are stimulated within stylish, usually buzzing surrounds. 

Time out tip: This month, taste new cocktails from The Timeless Imagination menu and catch the bar's 10th anniversary celebrations, including special guest shifts every Tuesday featuring former Quinary bartenders.

What is it? Winner of the 2021 Time Out Bar Awards' Best Bar, DarkSide is the flagship bar of Rosewood Hong Kong, helmed by the hotel's director of bars, Arcadius Rybak. 

Why we love it: The food and drink menus are filled to the brim with options, including port or cognac from the barrel and a wide selection of premium spirits such as whisky and Armagnac.

Time out tip: Try the DarkSide's new modern forgotten classics cocktail menu, which includes a new iteration of their Sidecar cocktail and other bygone era libations like tiki-style cocktail Jungle Bird and spirit-forward La Louisiane. Catch their daily Cocktail Class ($1,388 per head) and learn how to make stirred or shaken cocktails from Darkside's award-winning mixologists. 

What is it? Winner of the 2021 Time Out Bar Awards' Best New Bar, Argo is Four Seasons' innovative bar that aims to challenge the way we think about drinks. 

Why we love it: Led by Four Seasons beverage manager Lorenzo Antinori, Argo has been making waves since it opened in the city, even grabbing the top spot at Time Out's 2021 Coolest Bar in the world. Along with a great cocktail programme, Argo's atmosphere, design, and service stand out from the rest of the new kids on the block. 

Time out tip: Catch the second edition of the 'Friends of Argo' series featuring Korean-inspired cocktails and small bites on July 20. Guests will be able to access an exclusive music playlist from the menu. Watch out for their new cocktail menu coming out in September. 

What is it? Mandarin Oriental's Japanese izakaya with three different bar experiences in which guests can enjoy Japanese craft cocktails, Japanese whiskies, sake and Champagne. 

Why we love it: Time Out Bar Awards 2021 Bartender of the Year Devender Sehgal (formerly of 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana) has brought his expertise to the hotel's drink programme. His passion, knowledge, and execution make him the reason we keep coming back to the bar.  

Time out tip: Every couple of months, the bar offers cocktails using one seasonal ingredient. This month, sip on cocktails with Japanese melon flavours.

What is it? LQV Group’s newly opened wine bar located above Lyndhurst Terrace. 

Why we love it: The bar offers more than 2,000 wine selections from a range of varietals and rare vintages, as well as vintage liquors from the owner's personal collection. The venue's access to the LQV's cheese shops, butchers, and bakers allow them to serve quality French dishes with the finest ingredients. 

Time out tip: With 2,000sq ft of space, including two al fresco terraces, there are a lot of seats to choose from, but make sure not to take the table located at the centre of the dining room as you won’t be spared by the noise coming from all corners of the venue.

What is it? An Ernest Hemingway-themed bar in Central that earned a spot at The World's 50 Best Bars in 2018 and took the top place at Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2019.  

Why we love it: It is an essential part of Asia's cocktail scene. Now managed by Time Out Bar Awards 2021 Rising Star Art Fatkullin, who adds his signature take on the bar's Ernest Hemingway-themed menu. 

Time out tip: This month, the bar is celebrating their fifth anniversary from July 20 to 24, with special guest shifts from various bars and friends from the drink industry. 

What is it? An outstanding Japanese sake bar and shop in PMQ headed by Hong Kong's resident Sake Samurai Elliot Faber. 

Why we love it: The venue offers the best selection of sake in the city paired with excellent small bites. 

Time out tip: This month, don't miss their Tempura Nights in partnership with Tommy's Kitchen. Feast on a selection of tempura and seasonal dishes from their a la carte and omakase menu on July 18, 26, 29, and 30. 

What is it? The Baker and The Bottleman is Simon Rogan's newly opened venue at Lee Tung Avenue. The new shop is a bakery by day and a wine bar by night. 

Why we love it: The bar offers natural wines curated by Roganic and master sommelier Pierre Brunelli (one of only over 200 master sommeliers in the world), featuring organic and biodynamic wines from sustainable and ethical winegrowers around the world. 

Time out tip: Sip on aromatic and herbal style Johannes Zillinger Revolution White Solera ($458/bottle) and pair it with flatbread, roasted cashew and chickpea cream sorrel emulsion ($68), or try the Dufaitre Beaujolais Villages Premices Le Millesime Rouge 2020 ($460/bottle), which goes well with the buttery Sainte-Maure de Touraine (French goat cheese) from the mixed cured meat and artisan cheese platter ($208). 

What is it? Crowned the best bar in Asia at the 2022 Asia's 50 Best Bars, Coa is an Oaxacan-inspired cocktail bar helmed by Jay Khan. 

Why we love it: The extensive mezcal, tequila, and raicilla menu here is the best of its kind in the city. Owner and founder Jay Khan is hugely affable and incredibly knowledgeable about mixology and agave spirits.

Time out tip: If you feel intimidated by agave spirits, don't hesitate to ask the bartenders for recommendations. If Jay is around, he will guide you on your orders, and if he can't convince you to sip on cocktails with Mexican liquors, they have other spirits to satiate your palate. 

What is it? 25:00 (Twenty Fifth Hour) is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar tucked above Luk Yu Tea House on Stanley Street. Headed by passionate mixologist Kenzo Lee (formerly of W Hotel's Woobar and East Hong Kong's Sugar), the bar serves well-thought-of cocktails inspired by the concept of time.  

Why we love it: It is a perfect place if you're looking for a one-of-a-kind cocktail experience or a place to bring someone for a first romantic date. The bar's unique six cocktail tasting menu, 'The Journey to 25:00' ($588) – which will occasionally change – is unlike anything you'll try in the city and is definitely a conversation starter.  

Time out tip: While finishing six boozy drinks in one seating may seem daunting, most of the servings will not necessarily be served in liquid form, so expect some savoury and sweet treats in between. Standout servings from the menu include the delicious homemade milk tea ice cream made with Ardbeg and Ballantine's, topped with truffle caviar – a sweet treat we don't mind having any time of the day.  

What is it? One of Antonio Lai's bars buried inside The Pottinger hotel. 

Why we love it: Almost everything from the bar's 'invisible menu' is worth ordering – and for the flavours too, not just the gimmick of their transparent appearance. 

Time out tip: This month, taste the new Five Flowers Tea Gin that Room 309 launched in collaboration with Two Moons Distillery, which is available in their limited-time crystal-themed cocktails. 

What is it? One of the latest openings on Wyndham Street. Apothecary is, well, an apothecary-themed bar aimed at curing whatever ails you with their botanical-inspired concoctions.

Why we love it: The menu, called The Herbalist's Notebook, offers 12 cocktails focused on using herbs and spices, but if you think it might be too strong, too bitter or spicy, it's quite the contrary. The cocktails are well balanced and use a lot of infusion and clarification methods, so most of the cocktails are delicate, smooth, and easy to drink. 

Time out tip: Don't let their easy-to-drink cocktail fool you. Most of the drink packs quite the punch. This month, taste new cocktails from their Awakening Journey menu, featuring 10 new tipples, including milk punch, sours, and highballs.

What is it? Located on the corner of Hollywood Road and Peel Street, The Daily Tot is a Caribbean-inspired bar named after the centuries-old ritual of handing out a daily rum ration to royal navy sailors from 1850 to the 1970s.  

Why we love it: The bar focuses on niche rum bottles from Barbados and Trinidad and showcases signature cocktails that highlight the true flavours of this versatile spirit. 

Time out tip: This month, the bar is celebrating its second anniversary with a limited-edition rum cocktail menu featuring drinks in collaboration with London's Trailer Happiness, Shenzen's Hope & Sesame, New Dehli's Sidecar, and Hong Kong's innovative bar Argo.

What is it? Inspired by the tiki culture but with a modern approach, The Social Den is the latest bar to open on Wellington Street in Central.

Why we love it: Behind the bar are industry veterans, Filipino mixologists, Joe Villanueva (formerly of Lobster Bar and The Wise King) and Bryson Rivera (formerly of JW Marriott's Bar Q88). With two seasoned mixologists shaking up cocktails behind the stick, expect a menu of well-made signature drinks. 

Time out tip: Our favourites on the menu include Coco Piña, their version of piña colada with a kaffir twist, the rich but refreshing gin-based Mangosteen, and their margarita twist called Papaya. 

What is it? A tea-focused cocktail bar helmed by mixologist Gagan Gurung. The cocktail menu is split between signature Teatails – all of which are infused with exotic teas and local spices from particular world regions – and house gins that have been lovingly redistilled with different flavoured, you guessed it, tea. 

Why we love it: The bar is located in the hip and happening H Code so expect to be around a trendy drinking crowd. Cocktail servings here aren't the biggest, but considering the location and quality of experience offered, the drinks are far from overpriced. 

Time out tip: This summer, try the fizzy gin-based Tall Pine ($120) with cold brew sencha tea or the Bees Knees ($120) twits called Bees & Flower. For spirited drinks, go for the earthy bourbon-based Smoky Hunter ($120). Catch the bar's regular workshops and explore everything about tea, spirits, and cocktail making.

What is it? Located on the mezzanine floor of European brasserie Margo, Kyle and Bain is Hong Kong's first Martini-centric bar led by The Diplomat's co-founder John Nugent. 

Why we love it: Kyle & Bain only serve their martini stirred, not shaken, and the same goes for other drinks. Taste a rotating list of martini classics and exciting twists that focuses on spirits, ice, and vermouth. 

Time out tip: Explore their new menu inspired by famous American institutions that gave birth to classic libations. Taste classic cocktails with Kyle & Bain twists from Old Fashioned to Paloma, Manhattan to Lychee Martini. 

What is it? Headed by the award-winning 'bartender-in-chief' Masahiko Endo, Mizunara is a Japanese-style bar hidden away on the fourth floor of a commercial building on Lockhart Road. 

Why we love it: The bar serves well-crafted tipples and more than 600 whiskies from its collection.  

Time out tip: Sit by the bar and chat with Endo san while sipping on their signature cocktails. You can ask him to mix up a bespoke cocktail and choose your preferred whisky from their collection. 

What is it? Located just above Butler Bar, Japanese-style Bar Buonasera is the Hong Kong branch of the famous Osaka bar by the same name. The bar offers classic handcrafted cocktails and a great selection of whisky. 

Why we love it: The bar features precise Japanese style bartending led by Nick Tse and Ayako Miyake. The menu is filled to the brim with signature tipples and classic handcrafted cocktails and over 100 whisky bottlings from around the world, with a large selection coming from Scotland and Japan. 

Time out tip: The bar area is the best seat in the house. Order the Yuzu Collins for a light and refreshing starter drink before moving to spirit-forward Smokey Martinez. If you're craving something savoury, try their signature rendition of Bloody Mary called Bloody Caesar.

What is it? Located in Eaton HK, Terrible Baby, headed by bar manager Axel Gonzalez, shakes up a selection of fun, creative cocktails and offers a varied selection of spirits. 

Why we love it: It's one of the best bars to visit in Jordan. The concept, decor, and aesthetic are hip and cool, and they even have an al fresco space which is perfect for sundowners.  

Time out tip: Catch Terrible Baby's seasonal drinks in collaboration with Eaton HK's art space, Tomorrow Maybe. Axel will be crafting special cocktails complementing the gallery's rotating exhibits. 

What is it? Hong Kong's first eco-conscious bar and the latest concept from The Old Man Hong Kong founders Agung Prabowo and Roman Ghale. It also made it to Time Out's list of coolest bars in the world, representing establishments that go above and beyond the call of duty and push the boundaries of today's drinking culture, one drink at a time.  

Why we love it: The bar creates drinks with an eco-friendly twist that does not only cure any cocktail fix but hopefully the bar industry's quandaries on sustainability.  

Time out tip: Order their One Penicillin, One Tree cocktail and get to drink for a cause. For every order of this cocktail, one tree is planted in the endangered Kalimantan rainforest in Borneo, Indonesia. 

What is it? A new tiki-inspired bar in Tai Hang headed by restaurateur Maxence Traverse, the French mixologist who opened the city's first tiki cocktail lounge, Honi Honi. 

Why we love it: Maka Hiki is the contemporary cousin of Honi Honi, perfect for casual meetups with friends where you can enjoy thoughtful drinks and delicious food inspired by flavours from the Caribbean, Polynesia, Indian Ocean, and Southeast Asia. 

Time out tip: Book a seat at one of the two lush outdoor terraces, a hidden oasis that will transport you away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Catch Wine Not Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm, and get some complimentary welcome oysters on the house. 

What is it? Wine bar by world-famous wine critic James Suckling located on Staunton Street. 

Why we love it: The bar presents a well-curated wine list covering James' 100-point rated wines during his decades-long career as a wine critic. 

Time out tip: Thirty of the top wines from the recently held Great Wines of Italy Grand Tasting are now available at the bar through a special tasting menu available at $488 per person. For 90 minutes, you can sip on wines from the top wine-producing regions in Italy, including bottles from winemakers Valdicava, Pio Cesare, Fuligni, Banfi, and Siro Pacenti, among others. 

What is it? The bar inside award-winning fine French restaurant Caprice, housed in the suave Four Seasons Hotel. 

Why we love it: Caprice Bar is a tasteful, intimate, and comforting fine wine and cheese room perfect for winding down after a busy day at the office. 

Time out tip: If you want the ultimate Caprice Bar experience, order the wine and cheese pairings. Those in the mood for cocktails can enjoy the seasonal serves crafted by the bar's talented bartenders. Order the Truffle Negroni, made with gin infused with fresh Australian black winter truffle, an elevated riff on the classic aperitif. 

What is it? The St. Regis Bar is the flagship bar of The St. Regis Hong Kong, and it honours the hotel's rich lineage by serving signature drinks such as the Bloody Mary, first created at the St. Regis New York in 1934.

Why we love it: Along with a well-crafted cocktail menu inspired by New York's subway and Hong Kong's tramline, St. Regis Bar is a great hangout place for after-work drinks in intimate surroundings.   

Time out tip: Try our favourite cocktail from the menu, Hung Shing Ye, a coconut-milk washed cocktail featuring Beluga caviar-infused vodka, St Regis Vetiver Essence, oyster leaf, and spices. And since St. Regis is said to be the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, do not leave the bar without trying their Bloody Mary flight, which includes the local rendition, Canto Mary, made with dried tangerine peel, spices, and soy sauce.

What is it? Named after Dionysus, the god of wine in Greek mythology, the venue serves artisan cuppa by day and curated wines and cocktails at night.

Why we love it: The place is intimate but the bar slings well-made spirit-forward drinks crafted by their new resident bartender Bone Cheng. 

Time out tip: Come here at night for pre-game before heading out to your long bar crawl. Follow their Instagram page to catch seasonal guest shifts from various mixologists and spirit ambassadors.

What is it? Zzura is a Sahara desert-inspired bar hidden on the second floor of Amber Lodge on Hollywood Road, where now-defunct whisky joint ThirtySix Bar & Co used to reside. 

Why we love it: Familiar faces behind the bar include Tell Camellia co-owner Gagan Gurung. The bar's design features clean, minimal, and polished desert hues with contrasting pops of green and orange on the furnishings – a far cry from the intimate and dimly lit speakeasy-style bars in the city.  

Time out tip: Their new seasonal menu highlights Mediterranean fruit flavours. Try the refreshing gimlet called Oly Moly or sip on boulevardier twist Musk Wheel with muskmelon flavours. 

What is it? Hong Kong beer brand Carbon Brews' taproom in Central. 

Why we love it: The bar features a 28 tap system and is set in a contemporary interior design – which feels like you're stepping into a club more than a regular taproom – reflecting the funky and modern look that the brand is known for. They're also serving delicious gastropub fare to elevate your beer drinking experience. 

Time out tip: Watch out for the reveal of their new cocktail menu featuring signature drinks crafted by mixologist Tom Egerton. 

What is it? Helmed by Beckaly Franks, The Pontiac is a grungy, American-style bar that looks like it would fit in just as well in downtown NYC as it does on the steep slope of Old Bailey Street. 

Why we love it: It's not just the dive bar vibes that make this spot a popular destination in Central. The drinks are spot on, especially the classics, and the staff are among the most fun and engaging in the city. 

Time out tip: Try the bar's refreshing libations featuring simple and straightforward cocktails that include the pink drink called The Starting Gun. 

What is it? A free-spirited bar on Peel Street offering quality wines, cocktails, and tapas-style snacks.

Why we love it: The small but cosy space always draws a fun crowd that spills onto the streets, giving the area a cool, vibrant vibe. Its daily hard slushie, crushable beers at affordable prices, and a range of wines from across the world – including biodynamic and natural wines – give Shady Acres an edge over some of the other players in the scene. 

Time out tip: The venue gets really crowded during the weekend, so make sure to drop by early to secure a spot inside the bar. 

What is it? Excellent and understated whisky and cocktail bar on the steps of Shin Hing Street. 

Why we love it: The area is intimate, and the interior is decked out in muted greys and faux wood decals. You will have an option of 300 whiskies from their bottle collection coming from Scotland, Japan, and Ireland. Aside from whisky, the bar also offers a selection of cocktails that uses gin and vodka as a base. 

Time out tip: Start your whisky exploration with the bar’s Whisky Tasting Flights and get to sample five drams from around the globe.

What is it? A sleek whisky bar located on the third floor of Landmark and shares a space with Parisian restaurant Ami.  

Why we love it: Wood Ear's whisky collection spans over 400 labels sourced from auctions and private collectors all over the world. The menu offers whisky-based craft cocktails, and a range of rare whiskies – including Hanyu Ichiro's Malt The Colored Joker, Glen Grant 1955 60 YO La Maison Du Whisky, Martin's 12 YO Circa 1960s, and Langs 1940's Extra Special Old Liqueur Scotch - as well as an extensive list of delicious non-alcoholic drinks.  

Time out tip: You can ask for a custom-made cocktail using any bottle from their whisky collection, but make sure to check the cost so your bill won't take you by surprise. 

What is it? Housed just shy of Minden Avenue's rowdier strip of bars, this quiet, 20-seat cocktail den is the first independent venture by Oriental Sake Bar Yu-Zen's former master mixologist Masayuki Uchida.  

Why we love it:  The bar is one of the best places for a quality cocktail in Kowloon. Aside from slinging perfectly balanced mixed drinks, Uchida also stocks an impressive arsenal of single malts and blended whiskies, which he serves over crystal clear orbs of hand-chipped ice.

Time out tip: Study the leather-bound drinks list, which opens with an expansive selection of cocktails categorised by their base liquor. Fruit cocktails here are exceptional, constructed from fresh produce that are sliced and juiced on the spot.

What is it? Rest Coffee Gin is a coffee shop that turns into a gin bar at night. 

Why we love it: In the morning, coffee is brewed from one of ten different kinds of single-origin coffee beans, and after sunset, you can sample almost a hundred different gins from their collection with an equally interesting and flavourful tonic. 

Time out tip: Try one of the signature tea cocktails, too, as the bar offers gin that is infused with teas. 

What is it? Barcode – bar, coffee, dessert – is a hip coffee shop on Glenealy in Central. The shop serves snacks, desserts, and hand drip coffee in the morning, but once the clock strikes six, a hidden room will welcome you for some after-work drinks. 

Why we love it: Helmed by tea-cocktail connoisseur and Tell Camellia's co-founder Gagan Gurung, this intimate after-dark spot serves classic cocktails – Old Fashioned, Bees Knees, Negroni, margarita, daiquiri, and martini – and signature mixes crafted to pair well with desserts. 

Time out tip: Try any of the classic cocktail offerings or order from their new coffee-based menu, which include the yuzu flavoured coffee cocktail Coffee and Yu made with Perfume Trees Pale Ink sugar-free coffee liqueur ($130), fresh yuzu juice, espresso, and tonic water.

What is it? Honky Tonks Tavern is a restaurant, wine and cocktail bar from the group behind Shady Acres with Ryan Nightingale and Mike Watt. 

Why we love it: Honky Tonks Tavern is backed by familiar fixtures from the F&B scene. For easy-breezy, happy hours, the cocktail programme includes long drinks, spritzes, and highballs that people can enjoy at the large u-shaped bar. 

Time out tip: The bar attracts a trendy crowd that spills onto the outdoor space. Come by on busy nights, and you'll most likely meet new people and make new friends. 

What is it? A diamond among the tourist tat of Upper Lascar Row, Blue Supreme is Hong Kong's classiest craft beer bar. 

Why we love it: When it comes to beer, the focus is on the wide range of funky, wild and live brews born out of Belgian traditions: farmhouse ales, Saisons, spontaneously fermented lambics, sour brown ales and more. Owner Ted Lai really knows his stuff. Talk to him a bit, and he can help ease you into a style that suits your palate. 

Time out tip: Be sure to order something to eat, too – Blue Supreme pays equal care and attention to its food menu.

What is it? A contemporary whisky bar offering an extensive collection of whiskies from Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and other world whiskies. 

Why we love it: Veering away from the usual gentleman's leather den, House Welley Bar exudes a modern vibe that appeals to whisky noobs and enthusiasts. Expect to find single cask, limited edition, and distillery exclusive original bottlings (OB) and hard to find independent bottlings (IB) from the likes of Yamazaki, Macallan, to Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), as well as vintage expressions from Bunnahabhain, Clynelish, Bowmore, including a 47-year-old Gordon & Macphail Glen Grant 1966 ($680/dram).  

Time out tip: There's no menu, so if you are new to the place, ask the servers for recommendations, and check on what's new in their collection.  

What is it? Foxglove is a 1950s-style bar disguised as an umbrella shop on Duddell Street, a concept based on the travels of fictional Englishman Frank Minza.

Why we love it: Entering the bar will transport you back to the fabulous 50s with an interior reminiscent of the luxurious first-class aeroplane cabins of that era. The drink menu offers classic cocktails with house signature twists and a selection of rare cognac and spirits – some bottled in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. 

Time out tip: Live music is still not allowed at the moment, but as soon as social distancing eases, make sure to book a table as it's one of the best places to go for live music in the city. Their live events run a gamut of genres, including Latino and world music, but it's the jazz nights that they're renowned for. 

What is it? In partnership with one of Hong Kong's top craft brewers Gweilo, Grain is a restaurant and bar offering gastropub food for weekend brunch (a la carte), lunch, and dinner seven days a week, with beers and drinks to match. 

Why we love it: Grain houses a research and development brewing facility called Gweilo Brewlab, which will allow beer lovers to try out newly developed brews before they're released, as well as an area to host beer workshops and tastings to learn more about brewing beer. 

Time out tip: Drop by on Thursdays and be serenaded with live music while enjoying their brews and bar grub. 

What is it? A beer bar with a relaxed, quirky vibe that makes anyone feel welcome. 

Why we love it: With a well thought out selection of locally brewed beers, esoteric brews fermented from wild yeast, and not forgetting their collection of beer by international breweries from places like Australia and the UK, there's bound to be something hoppy that will suit your taste.

Time out tip: Pair your beers with dishes from the food menu, including bites such as Mexican street corn smothered with fu yu or fermented bean curd, Chinese cured pork belly paired with mac and cheese, and classic smackable Smash Burger.

What is it? An extremely photogenic beer bar located on Shantung Street in Mong Kok. 

Why we love it: The bar features a temple-inspired interior, making it stand out compared to other beer joints in the area. Guests can enjoy 12 beers on tap featuring local brews and guest additions. 

Time out tip: Escape the bustle of the city and perch at the bar and get a cold one poured, accompanied by some of the tasty snacks on offer. This month, catch the opening of their new branch in SoHo’s latest lifestyle destination, FOCO.

What is it? A cocktail bar tucked away at the back of Mexican restaurant 11 Westside.  

Why we love it:  The Wilshire is another of Hong Kong's 'hidden' gems, with charming bar staff and a focused menu of classic cocktails given intriguing spins. 

Time out tip: Not sure what to order? Chat up the bar team. They're always willing to whip something up according to your tastes. If you're in Kennedy Town seeking a drink, this should be your first call. And then your last call, too, when you inevitably come back for a nightcap. 

What is it? Inspired by Alfonso X of Castile, aka the dude who 'invented' tapas, The Wise King is a hidden bar in Central set up by industry veteran Sandeep Kumar (a two-time Bacardi Grand Prix National Champion). 

Why we love it: This is the kind of place where you can settle in for a long night over good conversation and great drinks. They serve various kinds of Negronis, and Sandeep Kumar regularly revamps the bar's menu with some new seasonal tipples. 

Time out tip: This month, they're serving a special 'Fifth Wave' menu with a twisted sense of humour. Savour drinks called social distance, antigen, booster shot, and other cocktails with pandemic related names.  

What is it? If you miss travelling to Japan, this Peel Street venue brings a taste of the Okinawa Prefecture – the tropical side of Japan located on the southwestern tip of the archipelago – to this bustling strip in Central. 

Why we love it: If you want to learn about the Okinawan distilled spirit awamori – Japan's oldest distilled spirit – it's the best place to hit up in the city. The bar features expressions from various Okinawa awamori distilleries with around 50 bottles in their selection. 

Time out tip: Try the Sex Appeal St cocktail, a twist on the classic Sex On The Beach, for a refreshing starter drink. If you want a more spirit-forward drink, go for their signature awamori-based Negroni. 

What is it? Hidden in a dark alleyway off Wyndham Street, Stockton is a speakeasy-style whisky and cocktail bar. 

Why we love it: It is one of the first speakeasy-style bars in Hong Kong. Stockton's drinks menu is a delightful encyclopaedia of original cocktails, replete with fun facts and tasting notes. 

Time out tip: Try the Cognac based cocktail Where the Buffalo Roams from their Creativity of Sins, which pays homage to the legendary father of Gonzo Journalism, Hunter S. Thompson.

What is it? A hidden bar on Staunton Street now headed by its new bar manager Edward Chung. 

Why we love it: It is cosy and intimate, and the bar team demonstrates expertise behind the bar with a string of well-done tipples. 

Time out tip: Flip the chrome light switch to enter and check out the first chapter of their newly launched thematic cocktail menu called 'Sunshine after the rain'. Drop by for their Chillax Hour every Tuesday and Saturday from 5pm to 8pm, and all day on Sunday to get value for money cocktails, sparkling wines and beers (price starts at $60 - $90).  

What is it? The Last Resort is something between a dive, back alley, or roadside bar – except friendlier. 

Why we love it: Made for those who've had a tough day and need to see a friendly face or drown their sorrows. The bar offers a 'wallet-friendly' menu with 'approachable and straightforward' drinks reminiscent of your college days.  

Time out tip: Enjoy affordable servings of strong cocktails that include whiskey apple, margarita, and Long Island Iced Tea, and indulge in comfort foods such as hot fried chicken made with local (three-yellow) chicken and hot chicken sandwiches with side options of potato wedges, pickles, salad, or fried scamorza.