Like NYC and London, Hong Kong boasts its own SoHo neighborhood, a hip area of bars, restaurants, cultural sites and shopping that lies South of Hollywood Road. Since it neighbors the LKF party district, it’s often the starting point of a night out, though it has such a concentration of incredible drinking spots (including many of Asia’s 50 Best Bars) that it’s my preferred option for enjoying HK’s nightlife.
If you’re visiting Hong Kong, you can easily do a bar crawl to hit many of these spots in one night, as every place in this list is within a 5 minute walk 🙏🏽
This list is a work in progress, so I’ll continue adding bars and photos as soon as I’m able to remember all my nights out and find them on my phone 😂
Where to Drink around SoHo, Hong Kong
The Armoury
For happy hour drinks and crispy fries in the courtyard of Tai Kwun, a historic complex that used to be the police headquarters. This is a great spot for an al fresco aperol spritz on a Friday night, or for a rest in between touring around Tai Kwun if you’re visiting.
Tell Camellia
This beautifully designed bar serves delicious and innovative tea-based cocktails that was previously ranked No. 23 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars. It also has an indoor/outdoor counter that adds to the charm of its location tucked at the end of the alleyway, and the team (including founder Gagan Gurung) is incredibly welcoming and friendly.
Bar Leone
For the best dirty martini ever with smoked olives, an insanely good mortadella sandwich, and classic Italian cocktails. It was recently named the No. 1 bar in Asia and No. 2 in the world, so be prepared to wait!
Kinsman
If you’re in the mood for cocktails and want a taste of the true Hong Kong spirit, check out this Cantonese cocktail bar inspired by Wong Kar Wai films
Barkada
My very own restaurant has a street-facing, dog-friendly bar and semi-outdoor terrace right under the Central-Mid-Levels Escalators, so it’s perfect for people-watching while stopping refreshing Filipino-inspired cocktails, fresh fruit margaritas, and Red Horse beer on tap. Plus we serve happy hour daily from 4-7PM, and a late night happy hour deal that gets you unlimited drinks for 2 hour for HK$198.
Shoot me a message or DM me on Instagram if you have plans to visit to I can meet you for a drink 😉
Penicillin – neighboring Barkada is one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, serving sustainably made cocktails with upcycled ingredients and house fermented liquors in an intimate but lively laboratory-like environment
The Pontiac – the closest thing to a proper dive bar in HK
Quinary – for their famous earl grey martini and other unique cocktails with a deep house soundtrack at one of the World’s 50 Best Bars
The Old Man – another World’s 50 Best Bar, with an older vibe and old school tunes hidden in an alleyway. Ask the bartender to try one of their flaming cocktails
The Daily Tot – for unique rum cocktails in a n upscale tropical bar with a sidewalk patio
Whiskey and Words – a cozy whiskey speakeasy just across the steps from COA, with an extensive selection of whiskey to choose from
COA – for an extensive tequila and mezcal collection alongside delicious cocktails in a laidback, Mexican-inspired setting. Formerly named the No. 1 bar in Asia
Staunton’s – for the ultimate people-watching pub right next to the escalator, so you’ll find the bulk of the crowd hanging out of the stairs just outside of the bar
La Cabane – cozy wine bar with a great selection and a fun little swing to sit on
Stazione Novella – for Aperol spritzes, beer and wine with a crowd that spills onto the street. They offer apertivo (free snacks at the bar to go with your drink) and it’s also dog-friendly
