Drinking and nightlife in Hong Kong

Top ChoiceNightlife in Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

Tall windows wrap around a magisterial sweep of wooden bar at this Tai Hang neighbourhood gastropub, the sort of civilised joint where everybody knows everybody. A curated line-up of local beers favours the faultless Young Master brewery (450ml pours around HK$80), or go for an organic wine, paired with creative nibbles such as edamame with crispy chicken skin.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Central District

Consistently voted one of the world's top 50 bars, Quinary is a sleek, moodily lit cocktail bar that attracts a well-dressed crowd. Its gifted mixologists create homemade infusions of spirits and the Asian-inspired cocktails are delicious, theatrical marvels. Signature creations include the Quinary Sour (whisky, homemade liquorice syrup and bonito flakes) and the Instagram-killing Earl Grey Caviar Martini with whipped air.

Top ChoiceNightlife in The Peak & Northwest Hong Kong Island

If Ernest Hemingway was still alive today, the chances are he’d love this tiny no-sign speakeasy named after his novel The Old Man and the Sea with a neo-cubist portrait of Papa himself looking down approvingly from behind the bar. The atmosphere is friendly rather than pretentious and the mixology is exceptionally creative, with elements like gruyere, sous-vide pandan leaves and nori dust (cocktails HK$100).

Nightlife in Central District

Hard-to-find Stockton evokes the ambience of a private club in Victorian London with Chesterfield sofas and wood panelling cleverly arranged to form dark, intimate corners. Its signature cocktails (from HK$130) are inspired by famous writers and quirkily served in vessels such as ceramic pots with rosemary fronds to garnish. Make a reservation if you're coming after 9pm on a weekend.

Nightlife in The Peak & Northwest Hong Kong Island

Behind a closed red door, stairs lead down into a cavernous former ping-pong hall, now one of Hong Kong's coolest bars. The drink here is gin – the neon-illuminated bar stocks more than 50 types from across the globe, served in a variety of cocktails both classic and creative (G&Ts from HK$110). The crowd is arty, and the decor is even artier.

Nightlife in Central District

Everything you need to know about Hong Kong's craft-beer scene is on page one of 65 Peel's beer menu, dedicated to local taps from breweries like Young Master, Lion Rock and Moonzen. Beers are listed from 1 to 12 by strength, and bitterness is indicated by the IBU ranking; try a beer flight of four 200ml serves for HK$140.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

On the 1st floor of gorgeous heritage pile the Pawn, Botanicals draws after-work imbibers to its stylish twin bars and colonial-chic veranda for wines by the glass, craft beers and playful cocktails (after 5pm) including 10-cask negronis (HK$100 to HK$140) concocted from a variety of gin infusions, boutique vermouths and herbal additions.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Kowloon

What's that sound? No, it's not the chink of cup and saucer, it's your jaw hitting the marble floor as you gaze, enraptured, at Hong Kong's most fabulous harbour views through a wall of glass. It's enough to make anybody feel like a somebody, and all you have to do is order a (very expensive) drink.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

There are just 20 seats at this discrete gem of a bar overlooking the racecourse, which means Japanese owner and bartender Ichiro (it's a one-man operation) can give you his undivided attention. Perfectionist spins on classic cocktails employ fresh fruits imported from Japan, hand-chipped ice and house-infused bitters that change with the seasons. Ichiro has a terrific whiskey selection too.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

Enviable East Island views are the drawcard at this stylish terrace bar atop designer business hotel East. With signature peach mojito in hand, take in the prosperity: the glass towers of Taikoo Pl to the west, the Kai Tak cruise terminal (formerly the old airport runway) in the bay in front. Reserve a table for Thursday to Saturday evenings.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Central District

Australian Ashley Sutton is a master of theatre and his bar is unlike anything else in Hong Kong. Ten thousand butterflies flutter from copper threads attached to the ceiling in an underground cave designed to mimic a blacksmith's foundry where tables are piled with fairies forged from iron. It's beautifully surreal, and the mixology ain't bad either.

Nightlife in The Peak & Northwest Hong Kong Island

This Australian import has the most visitor-friendly microbrewery set-up in Hong Kong. It occupies a vast space (for Hong Kong) just back from the waterfront; a cathedral of reclaimed wood and hoppy aromas. You'll find all the classic brews here, plus an increasing selection of local experiments like mangosteen ale. The western-style pub grub and brunch is top-notch.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Central District

There's something indescribably comfortable about the Pontiac, which rocks to a different tune from most of the cheesy bars in LKF. It's a skinny, open-fronted, graffiti-covered dive that's wholly run by women, with a string of bras hanging behind the bar to let you know who's in charge. Alternative music, friendly vibe and HK$30 happy-hour beers: what's not to love?

Nightlife in Central District

This friendly, unassuming bar with a bohemian vibe is named after a protest march on 1 July 2003. It's a favourite haunt of local artists and activists who come for cheap beer and jamming sessions. In the public garden out front, revolutionaries plotted to overthrow the Qing dynasty a hundred years ago. Enter from the alley next to 69 Hollywood.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Kowloon

You could squish a dozen Hong Kong bars together and they still wouldn't have as much personality as this boho hang-out with its art-adorned walls, flashes of pink neon, indie playlist and craft-beer fridge. Bound could almost be the HQ of a hip marketing agency, but don't be put off – staff are really nice, and the coffee is fabulous.

Top ChoiceNightlife in Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

The views are to die for at this open-air rooftop gem jutting out from the corner of the Park Lane Hotel. Treat yourself to a glass of Perrier-Jouët champers (HK$170) at the curvaceously sociable bar as you drink in one of the most magnificent harbour panoramas in the city. Ah, Hong Kong.

Nightlife in Central District

If there was a million-dollar view in Hong Kong, it'd be the one from the balcony of flashy Sevva – skyscrapers so close you can see their arteries of steel, with the harbour and Kowloon in the distance. At night it takes your breath away, but the prices will too – expect to pay a minimum HK$160 for a glass of wine.

Nightlife in Kowloon

A discreetly upscale drinking den hidden in the residential part of Tsim Sha Tsui, this Japanese bar is split over two floors, with whisky on top and cocktails beneath. Flip through whisky magazines as you watch the unfailingly polite bartenders mix up potent concoctions with precision.

Nightlife in Tsuen Wan

Tea connoisseurs may like this eccentric store that whips up lattes with Iron Buddha leaves and 'yin yeung' with Blue Mountain. The boss Mr Cheng charges hotel prices, but his concoctions are nuanced and unusual. He also makes an Instagram-worthy performance of his labour, talks about tannin and tea-making in the Song dynasty, and serves his drinks in bowls.

Nightlife in Central District

Bargain-hunters and thirsty shoestringers rejoice: happy hour runs from 4.30pm to 10pm at arty Colette's, which makes it one of the cheapest bars in Central. It's in a lovely corner heritage building (the Fringe Club) that was once a dairy farm, and has a hidden balcony with alfresco seating. It packs out for its weekday vegetarian lunch buffet (HK$118 with drink).