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 🙏🏽
I’ll continue adding bars and photos to this list 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
Tell Camellia
This beautifully designed bar serves delicious and innovative cocktails made with artisanal tea 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 the world, so unless you get in line before they open for the first seating, you will need to put your name down on the wait list and return back a few hours later. My go-to order is to start with the olive oil sour, smoked olives, mascarpone dip with chips, and anchovy toast, then pair the filthy martini with the mortadella focaccia.
Kinsman
If you’re in the mood for love cocktails and want a taste of the true Hong Kong spirit, check out this Cantonese cocktail bar inspired by Wong Kar Wai films with drinks inspired by Chinatowns from around the world.
The Green Door
This cavernous speakeasy is hidden behind a green door in the middle of the vegetable stands of the Central Wet Market. Serving a wide range of inventive savory and sweet cocktails so you can find something to suit every taste, including 4 mocktails. Don’t miss their massive apple pie a la mode that needs to be reserved ahead of time. They BLAST hip hop late at night so be aware that it gets very loud.
The Old Man
Another Asia’s 50 Best Bar, The Old Man is inspired by Ernest Hemingway with an older, retro vibe and old school tunes hidden in an alleyway. You can watch your bartenders tinker from the open, central bar and communal table before sipping on a variety of sophisticated cocktails.
Tai Kwun
Grab a drink at any of the bars surrounding 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.
YUME
This cocktail lounge hidden down an alley in Central serves up delicious yuzu and Japanese-inspired drinks (the F.Yu is my fave) and bar bites with cool LED lighting perfect for photos. On Friday nights it turns into a bumping hip hop lounge and Saturdays they have resident house music DJs for a fun night out. Great space for private events too (I had my Sailor Moon-themed baby shower here)
Penicillin – another 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. Grab a gingery Hobnail and get ready to have a blast with their female bartending staff
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 Diplomat – grab reimagined classic cocktails alongside one of Hong Kong’s best burgers in this cozy space next to Tell Camellia. Don’t miss the free freshly baked cookies at midnight
Bourke’s – formerly The Shady Acres, head to this Melbourne-inspired bar on Peel St. for a range of wines and cocktails alongside delicious bar snacks and Sunday Roast
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
Whiskey and Words – a cozy whiskey speakeasy just across the steps from COA, with an extensive selection of whiskey to choose from
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
Dead Poets – barbershop by day, and industry-favorite drinking den by night, serving cocktails inspired by famous artists of the past in an industrial, artsy space
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
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