Happy hour is a sure hit for Hong Kong, where drinking hotspots are always packed. With bars fully open and social distancing restrictions scrapped, there’s cause for celebration! Hongkongers love a fun night out to unwind after work or catch up with friends. So, for us, nothing beats an excellent happy hour deal!

Getting a good drink shouldn’t hurt your wallet, especially when dining out can be expensive. Luckily in Hong Kong, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to bars and restaurants. Just head over to Lan Kwai Fong, and you’ll likely be unsure where to even begin bar hopping.

Whether you love an outdoor terrace setting or a quiet space for the night, there’s plenty to choose from. We scour Hong Kong to give you the best happy hour deals, so you don’t have to pay big bucks for a tipple or two.

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – December 2023

Veda

Contemporary vegetarian Indian restaurant, Veda, is introducing its Social Hour offer. For just HKD 180, guests can enjoy two drinks of their choice and a snack curated by the executive chef. The offer allows diners (and drinkers) to sample Veda’s signature dish while savouring expertly crafted drinks at great value. Choose from a selection of pours or a special cocktail of the day. The menu is also available by the glass and cocktail lovers can enjoy a 25 per cent discount on their drink.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: 2 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3755 3067

Anju

Unwind at Anju and take advantage of its happy hour promotion. Guests can have three hours of discounted beverages daily and a free drink when ordering multiple flavoured soju drinks! You can also enjoy a 30 per cent off on selected cocktails such as Kimchi Mary, Yuzu Soju Mojito, or Soju Colada. The discount also applies to house wine, soft drinks, and juices. But that’s not all! If you buy five flavoured soju at any time of the day, you get one free. Choose from a range of flavours from three different brands including the popular Jinro Fresh Chamisul or the Chum Churum in original.

When: Daily from 4 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Shop R004, R/F, Civic Square, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, West Kowloon, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2196 7833

Morton’s The Steakhouse

Morton’s The Steakhouse offers signature cocktails and martinis for as low as HKD 60! This includes the very famous Gin Martini with blue cheese olive. There are plenty of other options like Moscow Mule and Old Fashion. And of course, no drink is complete without food. So, bar bites are also available starting at HKD 50. For instance, the Short Rib Steak Tacos, usually HKD 180, are only HKD 65 during happy hour!

When: Weekdays from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: Above HKD 800
Address: The Sheraton Hotel Hong Kong, 4/F, 20 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2732 2343

Two Ediots Hong Kong

It’s free-flow wings and fries on top of discounted drinks during happy hour at Two Ediots Hong Kong. The burger joint is charging just HKD 50 per person to enjoy this deal! If that’s not enough to delight, a bottle of beer only costs HKD 10 while a full pint is just HKD 30! In addition to this, you can order regular burgers from the a la carte menu. But if you ask us, this is already a great deal.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 50-100
Address: Shop B, G/F, Kam Sing Mansion, 151-161 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9843 2121

Bistro La Baie

The party is on in Tseung Kwan O! Bistro La Baie is offering a happy hour promotion with discounted drinks from Monday to Thursday. This includes handcrafted cocktails and other speciality drinks. For every order of two glasses of wine every Tuesday, guests can enjoy Twosday Treat, a complimentary snack on the house! But the fun doesn’t stop there. Every Friday to Sunday, take advantage of the cocktails priced at just HKD 50 starting as early as noon!

When: Monday to Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm, Friday to Sunday from 12 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Shop G02, G/F, Monterey Place, 23 Tong Chun Street, O’South Coast, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2360 0801

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – November 2023

Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour

Gin aficionados, cocktail enthusiasts, and mixology connoisseurs, this deal is for you! Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour, the hidden laboratory-inspired gem in Central, has the ‘Gin O’Clock’ happy hour offer! Experience a variety of speciality gin and tonics starting from HKD 80! This themed speakeasy also hosts events such as masterclasses and workshops so who knows, you might get lucky!

When: Daily from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Shop B31A, B/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2119 9449

The Dispensary

Don’t skip The Dispensary just because it’s nestled between Cantina and The Chinese Library. We love how the team transformed this former Police Officer’ Mess into a trendy bar. During happy hour, enjoy the buy one, get one free deal on selected cocktails, wine, and beer. Whether you want to relax indoors or admire the view overlooking Tai Kwun, The Dispensary is the place to be.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Shop 1, Block 1, Tai Kwun, Police Headquarters, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2848 3000

Chaska

Chaska is a Delhi-style fusion restaurant in Central and as such, you can expect flavours that represent Delhi’s food. But with an added twist! Other than the aromatic dishes, don’t miss the daily happy hour deal here. Wines, draught and bottled beer as well as house spirits are on offer, starting at just HKD 38! It’s the perfect deal for all the booze lovers out there.

When: Daily from 5 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 58 Caine Road, Mid-Levels, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 6073 4268

Sake Bar Chu Chu

This part izakaya, part sake bar has more than 80 kinds of sake to try so the happy hour deal is just worth it! For just HKD 128, you can enjoy a set of charcoal grill skewers. It’s best paired with booze so take advantage of the buy one get one free offer and choose from 80 selections of sake. You can also opt for Yebisu draft beer, fruit liquor or highball starting at HKD 68.

When: Daily from 4:30 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: 25/F, Circle Tower, 28 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 5589 4466

Ponty Cafe

You know you’re in good hands at Ponty Cafe. After all, it’s led by Beckaly Franks, Asia’s 50 Best Bartender in 2023, Ezra Star of Mostly Harmless, the 33rd place on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023, and general manager Doyel Dawson. The American bistro by day and bar by night has an array of mouth-watering dishes but also award-winning cocktails. Drink to your heart’s content as all cocktails and Aperol Spritz are priced at only HKD 50, wine by the glass at HKD 40 and ice-cold Budweiser cans only HKD 25!

When: Wednesday to Sunday from 3 pm to 6 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 15 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9666 2573

Murray Lane

Murray Lane isn’t just a photogenic bar, it also has Aperitivo Hour for drinkers to enjoy. Choose from a selection of spirits, wines, and beers and get the second pour for free. Of course, a drink (or two) isn’t complete without some nibbles so make sure to get some canapés as well.

When: Monday and Tuesday from 5 pm to 12 am, Wednesday to Friday from 5 pm to 8:30 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: LG, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3141 8888

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – October 2023

Captain’s Bar

Captain’s Bar in Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong boasts as much history as the hotel, opening at the same time in 1963. Operating for over 60 years, the bar is famed for serving draught beer in chilled silver tankards. Regulars even receive their own tankard engraved with their name! During happy hour, guests who purchase one beverage can get the second one for half the price. Choose from a range of classic cocktails, wine, and signature brew Captain’s Bar Beer. Have a bite of Indian specialities alongside your drink and enjoy evening live jazz performances!

When: Daily from 8 to 10 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: G/F, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2825 4006

Lobby Lounge, Conrad

Start your evening with a bang! And by that, we mean a 120-minute free-flowing tipple courtesy of the Lobby Lounge at Conrad. Choose from a list of trusty house pours, prosecco, draught beers, and even juices. This “Chill & Thrill” happy hour package also comes with six snack choices like nachos, spring rolls, and chicken wings.

When: Daily from 4 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2521 3838

Porkcentric

During Porkcentric’s happy hour, you get to try locally brewed beer straight from the restaurant and Moonzen Brewery’s ceiling-mounted tanks—a first for any restaurant in Hong Kong. Enjoy drinks for just HKD 58 including cocktails, house wines, and beers. Among those currently on offer are Rome With a View (Campari), classic Gin & Tonic, and Polish Apple Pie (vodka). A nibbles menu is also available, starting from HKD 58. Alternatively, during Bell Hour, you can drink beer for just HKD 88 every day of the week!

When: Daily from 3 pm to 8 pm (Social Hour), 8 pm to 9 pm (Bell Hour)
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: G/F, 98 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9169 0298

Restoran Saya

This Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee boasts a delicious menu of Thai Isan (Northeastern cuisine). It’s the perfect snack, balanced between spicy and salty, to go with your drink. During happy hour, get a bottle of Singha and house wine for just HKD 48!

When: Daily from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Shop G701, G/F, Square Mile II, 18 Ka Shin Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9555 8452

Bar Q88

JW Marriott’s Bar Q88 launches an exclusive “Social Hour” cocktail menu during happy hour. Expect inventive cocktails, crowd favourites like gin and tonic, and more. Each drink is made by mixologists and costs just HKD 200 for two glasses! Have a sip of The Last Never Last, made with Sencha-infused Monkey 47 Gin or Call Me Lisa, a drink with fruity flavours and strong alcoholic notes. Besides, Bar Q88 also has evening live music daily except Sundays. What more can you ask for?

When: 5 pm to 9 pm (Monday to Thursday), 5 pm to 8 pm (Friday and Saturday)
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Lobby, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2845 5808

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – September 2023

Casa Cucina

Sai Ying Pun’s Casa Cucina is welcoming friends, families, and colleagues to come together for a brand-new happy hour of drinks and light bites! So, make plans to wind down in the comfortable space and enjoy two drinks for just HKD 98. Choose from a selection of beverages, including red, white, and sparkling wines, classic spirits, and ice-cold pints of Stella Artois. Staying true to its Italian roots, the summer-perfect Aperol Spritz is also on offer. Any drink is not complete without some light nibbles to be sure to get some of the small plates and sweets. These include the Tomato and Pesto Crostini, Burrata, and Tofu Pana Cotta.

When: Weekdays from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Shops 8 & 9, 158A Connaught Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2887 9666

Pizzeria Italia

Half-priced drinks and pizza? How could you say no? Pizzeria Italia doesn’t just have happy hour specials, they even have happy pizza hours! On weekdays, all pizzas are 50 per cent off from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.! When it comes to the booze, selected drinks are available for as low as HKD 35 including bottled beer like San Miguel, Aasahi, and Peroni as well as house red and white wines. Sangria and Aperol spritz cost HKD 48! There are also weekday specials to enjoy; for instance, on Mondays, if you order any pizza, you get a free bottle of San Miguel Beer. On Wednesdays, if you spend HKD 400 and above, you can enjoy a free bottle of Italian wine!

When: Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Happy Pizza), daily from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Happy Hour)
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: G/F, 46 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2525 2519

Latitude 22

Raise a glass of wine and say cheers for getting through the day (or week). At Latitude 22, take your pick among the selection of house-pour single mixes, wines, draft beers, and cocktails. The price starts at HKD 70 per glass! Don’t forget to pair your drinks with bite-sized bar snacks set for HKD 88 per person. It includes deep-fried chicken, gyoza, and edamame.

When: Monday to Friday from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 1/F, Le Meridien Hong Kong, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2980 7460

Artesian

Artesian, the award-winning bar concept from The Langham, offers the finest Bourbon creations. But during happy hour, we recommend trying the signature pilsner. It boasts a smooth malt backbone, and complex floral and citrus hop taste. On top of that is the delicate taste of rose petals in each sip. So, whether you’re unwinding after a long day or celebrating a special occasion, the pilsner elevates your beer-drinking experience. Other free-flow drinks are available, along with unlimited snacks.

When: Monday to Thursday from 6 pm to 9 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Lobby Level, The Langham Hong Kong, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2132 7898

Le Garçon Saigon

Before enjoying a delicious Vietnamese feast at Le Garçon Saigon, warm yourselves up with a drink or two during their happy hour. Aptly called L’heure de Saigon, drinks start as low as HKD 48. If you also need a pre-cursor for your dinner, snacks are available for as low as HKD 58.

When: Daily from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: G/F, 12-18 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2455 2499

SOMM

French neo-bistro-themed restaurant and bar, SOMM is inviting you to end your day there—with food wine and good company, of course. During SOMM Hour, guests can enjoy a range of the sommelier’s pre-selected sparkling wine at just HKD 150 per glass. Choose from various wines from different vineyards across the globe, whether it’s from France or New Zealand. It comes with a complimentary cold cut platter upon every order of two glasses. That’s a great deal if you ask us!

When: Daily from 5:30 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: Above HKD 800
Address: 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2132 0055

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – August 2023

The Praya

When: Daily from 3 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 400-800
Address: Level 3, 181 Connaught Road West, Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3181 1666

La Favorita

Cool off with delightful drinks at La Favorita, a flamboyant trattoria inspired by the grandeur of 1960s Italian opera houses. Happy hour drinks start at HKD 58 and include the likes of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut Champagne and prosecco. You can also drink all you want with choices of Italian and French wines, spirits, and classic cocktails. The affordable drinks are the perfect pre-dinner set-up to try the restaurant’s newest four-course summer feast, available from Sunday to Thursday this August only!

When: Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 7:30 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: The Sixteenth, 2/F Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
Phone:+852 2788 1993

Hugger Mugger

It’s hard to miss Hugger Mugger’s signature (yet unassuming) red door on Wyndham Street. The speakeasy draws inspiration from Britain’s eclectic cultural legends such as Pink Floyd and William Shakespeare. Describing itself as a “British salon”, this place serves up beers, bubbly, spirits and wine starting at HKD 48. Meanwhile, cocktails are available for HKD 55. What a catch!

When: Daily from 5 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Basement, No. 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2362 8988

The Pontiac

You can’t go wrong with The Pontiac’s happy hour bargain. Ponty Hour allows drinkers to choose from five different cocktails, or house spirits, wine, beer, and cider. Did we mention that the prices start as low as HKD 40? Treat yourselves to a glass of the Defender Daiquiri or the Hobnail. Just leave it to The Pontiac all-female team to whip up something delightful!

When: Daily from 4 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 13 Old Bailey Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2521 3855

Maka Hiki

Maka Hiki is the perfect place to bask in that afternoon glow with a drink. During Sunset Hour, you can choose from house beers, wines, spirits, and cocktails from the Tiki bar. Prices start from HKD 45 for the house beers, HKD 70 for Aperol Spitz, and HKD 60 for cocktails. For us, we swear by their classic mojito and pina colada. Or you can also try the special cocktail, Bikini Girl, a sexy blend of Casamigos Blanco Blanco, tequila, lychee, cucumber, and cranberry juice.

When: Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: 2/F, Little Tai Hang, The Corner House, 98 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2155 1777

Exit Cafe & Bar

Happy Hour at Hedonic starts as early as 2 p.m. because why not? For those looking for refreshing tipples minus alcohol, the Tea Time Hour is perfect. It comes in two-person or four-person sets with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. Similarly, the happy hour comes in two-person or four-person sets with alcoholic beverages and snacks. The place operates as a cafe during the day, transforming into a bar and shisha lounge at night.

When: Monday to Friday from 2 pm to 5 pm (Tea Time Hour) and 5 pm to 8 pm (Happy Hour)
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 22/F, Aura on Pennington, 66 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9301 6924

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – July 2023

Shady Acres

Before heading to Lan Kwai Fong to spend the night away, why not drop by Peel Street crowd favourite Shady Acres? Happy hour here runs daily from 5 pm to 7 pm for just HKD 50. Full-spread nibbles like olives, meatballs, and popcorn shrimp go as low as HKD 100. It’s hard to pass, right? On the regular, Shady Acres’ wine list spans over 200 names. With its laidback and esoteric vibe, Shady Acres feels like the coolest kid on the block—and it’s no surprise that’s where (almost) everyone wants to be.

When: Daily from 5 to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: 46 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9220 4344

Can Lah

Singapore-Malaysian restaurant Can Lah is calling boozehounds to indulge in its happy hour! Available at both locations, drinks start at just HKD 48 per glass. Choose from cocktails, wines, and beers while snacking on bites like Crispy Salted Egg Yolk Fish Crisps and French Fries with Sambal Mayo. Enjoy drinking time in style!

When: Monday to Friday from 4 to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: various locations including Shop 4101, 4/F, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, 3–27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3618 8138

Longtail

New restaurant Longtail is already snatching up happy hour goers with its buy-one-get-one-free offer every weekday. After chowing down on delicious Thai dishes, enjoy selected cocktails, beers, wine, and more for four hours. Signature cocktails include Purple Yam, Tom Yum Bloody Mary, and Thai-tanium.

When: Monday to Friday from 3 to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Shop C, G/F, Towning Mansion, 50 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2838 0819

Dirty Laundry

Want shisha to go with your drink? Dirty Laundry is the place to be. Just ensure you have the energy because drinkers here know how to party—until 4 am! Wines and beer cost only HKD 68 during happy hour. All-you-can-drink beer is also available for just HKD 198! Drink responsibly, I guess.

When: Sunday to Friday from 5 to 9 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Shop A, 100 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Social media: instagram.com/dirtylaundryhk

Fini’s

With multiple locations across Hong Kong, Fini’s is frequented by many happy hour seekers. After all, for just HKD 109, you can drink as much wine, beer, and house spirit as your heart desires. To ensure the night goes smoothly, pair that with some light bites like chicken tenders for just HKD 30 and fries for HKD 20. Here’s to making it through another week!

When: Monday to Friday from 4 to 6 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: various locations including 69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3182 0128

181 Fortnum & Mason

Think 181 Fortnum & Mason is just for afternoon tea? It is now offering a two-for-one happy hour on selected highball cocktails, mocktails, Fortnum’s wine, and beer. You will be spoiled for choice with the drink menu, which includes Marys, Rockies, beer, and house wines. Now, time to reward yourself after a long day at work!

When: Monday to Friday from 5 to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 400-800
Address: Shop 022, G/F, K11 Atelier, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3916 8181

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – June 2023

Waterfall Bar

Waterfall Bar and Grand Hyatt Steakhouse are joining hands with liquor brand Zunte Mezcal to create limited-edition Mezcal cocktails for an exclusive pairing dinner! Enjoy this refreshing Mexican liquor made from agave in shots or in three different Mezcal cocktails courtesy of head mixologist, Drew Chigorimbo. The cocktails only cost HKD 80 during happy hour! Dance the night away with Latina DJ Ana every Friday as well.

When: Daily from 4 pm to 7 pm and all day Friday
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 11/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2584 7722

Yurakucho

Time to kanpai (cheers) post-work at Yurakucho with their new gado-shita-inspired drinks. ‘Gado-shita’ translates to ‘below the train tracks’ and refers to the trendy underground watering holes in Tokyo. Yurakucho is bringing a piece of that vibe right in Central. Freshen up with highballs on tap including the sought-after Sonic on Tap, made with Ki No Bi gin, kyoho frappe, sencha tea, soda and tonic for just HKD 60. Other flavoured highballs, wines, and prosecco also go for the same price. You can also upgrade to cocktails and house spirits for just HKD 80. So, say sayonara (goodbye) to boring drinks and experience a unique drinking den session right at Yurakucho.

When: Monday to Saturday from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: G/F, Yu Yuet Lai Building, 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2663 0068

Chilli Lime

The food menu at Chilli Lime will leave you begging to come back for a second round because of just how expensive it is. Similarly, the drinks menu also recently got an upgrade. Serving up pan-Asian fusion cuisine with a mix of vegetarian, seafood, and meat dishes, there’s certainly something for everyone here. Pair that up with equally delicious drinks. Take your pick from Asahi Draught to 1664 Kronenbourg Blanc and an array of cocktails and mocktails. Plus given its location in Tseung Kwan O, this is a great excuse to see a different side of post-work Hong Kong.

When: Daily from 11 am to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Shop G07, G/F, Monterey Place, 23 Tong Chun Street, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2246 0055

Hjem

At Hjem, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to the Nordic countries. Top that with Hygge Hour, the cafe’s very own happy hour selection featuring signature cocktails. There are also house pours as well as lighter thirst quenchers with alcoholic and booze-free options. You can’t miss out on the popular Swedish Mule, a fun Scandinavian take on the classic Moscow mule. The Lingonberry and Chocolate Espresso Martini are also light enough to be enjoyed before dinner. Head here for some leisurely sundown sips!

When: Tuesday to Friday, 3 pm to 6 pm
Regular price range: HKD 51-100
Address: G/F, Shop 2, Kam Ho Mansion, 161 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2362 9193

Dara

Not only does Dara serve up great Filipino food in a contemporary setting, but it also whips up creative drinks, all of which are Filipino-inspired. If you need time to kill before dinner or to cap a night out, this is where you should swing by. Have a sip of drinks like Pandan Negroni and Calamansi Margarita for just HKD 50. All house wine, spirits, and beer also start at the same price. There’s also a bar snack menu that goes perfectly with the drinks. Don’t miss it!

When: Sunday to Thursday from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm and 9 pm to 11:30 pm, Friday to Sunday from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: Shop 6, 1/F, Artisan House, 1 Sai Yuen Lane, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 5107 4474

J’s Bar Bistro

Happy hour is all about drinks but at J’s Bar Bistro, food also takes the spotlight. With the launch of the three new platter combo sets during happy hour, diners can chow down some good food with even greater drinks. The three sets are Kushiyaki Combo, Snacks Combo, and Italian Meat Platter, available for just HKD 328. Other than the value platters, J’s Bar Bistro also offers a selected bottle of sparkling wine or red or white wine just for an extra dollar when ordering any of the sets.

When: Tuesday to Sunday from 4 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 2/F, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2733 2088

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – May 2023

Alibi

Get into the weekend mood with Alibi’s happy hour promotion! Fill your glass to the brim with the selection of 10-themed cocktails, beers, and wine for just HKD 70 per glass. Highlights include Plantation 3 Stars White Rum, Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum, and more. Pair your drink with oysters, courtesy of the ‘Around the World Oyster Tasting’ promotion for just HKD 388 for two. It includes two types of refreshing oysters from Ireland and France, in addition to four glasses of Rosé pairing.

When: Daily, 4 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Level 5, Cordis, 555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2552 3232

ADD+

ADD+’s happy hour is known as the Sip n’ Snack hour. Not only do you get two hours of free-flow drinks and snacks, but also views of Art Park and Hong Kong’s skyline. The menu has a selection of international cuisine including skewers, crepes, Japanese dumplings and more. This is the place to cap off the week!

When: Thursday and Friday, 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: B1/F, M+, 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2656 4108

Barkada

When it comes to drinking, Filipinos know best! Barkada’s Tagay Time (‘tagay’ meaning ‘cheers’) has a range of Filipino-inspired drinks for a perfect post-work treat. Try their signature drinks including Ube Highball, Barkada Spritz, and Carapino Margarita for just HKD 70. Or you can always opt for a draught beer, wine, or any of the house spirits. Drinking isn’t complete without pulutan, or small snacks served over drinks so be sure to get the Lumpiang Shanghai or Salmon Kinilaw.

When: Tuesday to Sunday, 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: UG/F, 46-48 Cochrane Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2663 0238

Danji

With Danji’s happy hour, you’ll be spoiled for choice on what drink to choose for as low as HKD 50. Whether you fancy soju, cocktail, makgeolli (rice wine), Korean sake, or wine, they have it all. Those not looking for anything boozy can also get soft drinks, Korean traditional tea, and coffee. Be sure to also try the Hangover Remedy Shot.

When: Daily from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: G/F, New Sun House, 6-7 Sun Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2623 9983

Ghisiki Lounge

At Ghisiki Lounge, you feel like you’ve been transported to the realm of Japanese Noh theatre. This is all thanks to the contemporary cocktails inspired by the masks and figures of traditional Japanese play. It’s a fun experience seeing a diverse selection of flavourful cocktails presented in three different acts, each inspired by the content of the performance. If you are not too experimental, you can also always just play it safe and get prosecco, beer, wine, sake, or shochu.

When: Daily from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: LG103, Block 1 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2884 0114

The Bayside

A scenic view of Hong Kong and reduced prices on selected drinks? Who wouldn’t love that, right? Over at The Bayside, enjoy affordable house drinks including sangria, classic gin and tonic, cocktails, wines, spirits, beers, and cocktails. The happy drink list is expansive, so you’ll never run out of choices.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 8 pm
General price range: HKD 200-400
Address: G1, G/F, Whampoa Garden, 18 Tak Fung Street, Hung Hom
Phone: +852 2123 2177

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – April 2023

Duddell’s

Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant with an appreciation for the arts? Count Duddell’s in! Besides its lip-smacking dim sum, Duddell’s also has an amazing happy hour deal. Prices start from HKD 50 and you can choose from a selection of drinks including champagne, wine, cocktails, spirits, and draught beer.

When: Daily from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 400-800
Address: 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2525 9191

Beefbar

Beefbar recently returned with a fresh new look and a new lineup of specially curated cocktails. Every Thursday and Friday, you can listen to hip-hop tunes at the live DJ decks to sweep your stress away. You can also opt for the two-hour free flow and skewers package for just HKD 600 and enjoy a selection of house red and white, beer, spirits with mixer, gin and tonic, and cocktails!

When: Monday to Saturday, 5 pm until late night
Regular price range: Above HKD 800
Address: 2/F, Club Lusitano, 16 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2110 8853

Red Sugar

Looking for a post-work drink spot in Kowloon? Head over to Red Sugar. The rooftop bar has a great happy hour deal this month. Selected drinks start from HKD 58 while cocktails go for HKD 108 per glass, and mocktails from HKD 98 per glass. Signature cocktails include Coke Is It?!, Young at Heart, and Silky Punch.

When: Every Wednesday to Friday, 4 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Level 7, Kerry Hotel, 28 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2252 5281

BACI Trattoria & Bar

BACI Trattoria & Bar is the place to be before going bar-hopping around Lan Kwai Fong. Other than Italian comfort food, you’ll love the happy hour drinks available. Choose from wines, beers, spirits, or whisky to go with the crowd-pleasing Italian fare.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: G/F, California Tower, 30-32 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2344 0005

Quality Goods Club

Dinner, cocktails, live music, and late-night entertainment—what’s not to love about Quality Goods Club? Take advantage of their happy hour two-for-one deal on house wines by the glass, spirits, and beers starting at HKD 80 only. In addition, you can tune in to live music daily from 6 pm to 9:30 pm ranging from blues, soft rock, and American classics.

When: Every Wednesday and Thursday, 6 pm to 9 pm (excluding public holidays)
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: B/F, On Lok House, 29-43 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 6029 1530

Quiero Más

Quiero Más situated on the penthouse floor or M88 promises scenic views for gourmands and happy hour lovers! Enjoy discounted prices on selected drinks including beer, signature gin and tonic, and sangrias. Simply take your pick from the expansive beverage menu.

When: Daily from 4 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 100-200
Address: 20/F, M88, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2383 0268

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – March 2023

Bayfare Social

Rosewood Hong Kong’s gastro-market and restaurant, Bayfare Social, has a tapas-filled happy hour deal daily! You can enjoy the tipples indoors (amid gorgeous interiors) or the sun-soaked outdoor terrace. Treat yourself to a range of Spanish tapas and some stellar free-flowing wine or beer priced at HKD 350. The selection includes prosecco, white and red wine, beer, and two dishes. In addition, you also get to choose from 11 delicious tapas dishes!

When: Daily from 4 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Level 5, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3981 8732

Foxglove

Blink, and you might miss Foxglove during your first visit! After all, this sneaky jazz bar is disguised as an old-fashioned umbrella shop. The cocktails start at HKD 100 during happy hour, and each has a story to tell based on the accomplishments of four women in their fields. For instance, Ada Coleman—made of gin, sweet vermouth, orange juice, and Angostura bitters—is named after the head bartender at the American Bar at The Savoy Hotel in London. Interestingly, the mixologist worked at the London bar for 23 years and made drinks for Charlie Chaplin, Mark Twain, and more. Here, you can enjoy beverages, such as beer, wine, and single mixes, for as low as HKD 60.

When: Every Monday from 5 to 11 pm, every Tuesday to Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm, and every weekend from 6 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 300-500
Address: 2/F, Printing House, 6 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2116 8949

Plume

End the workday with a drink and incredible views of Hong Kong. With comfortable lounge chairs, the stunning rooftop bar Plume in Central is perfect for unwinding. The happy hour menu is taken from the 500-reference-strong comprehensive wine list, and you can pick from the list of red wines to rosé and champagne. Of course, a drink isn’t complete without food, so make sure to indulge in modern French dishes. Plume also offers a collection of premium cigars.

When: Every Tuesday to Saturday, from 5 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 300-500
Address: Rooftop, H’s Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 5200 1683

Candour

Just as its name suggests, Candour’s The Warm-Up happy hour is curated as a precursor to the main event. Choose from an array of drinks available at special prices to kick off the evening. The menu is made up of a series of house wines and house pours, both starting at HKD 58. Candour’s crowd favourites such as the Thai-inspired Siren’s Song and Ms Jackson are not just a feast for the eyes but also for the palate. Classic drinks such as Aperol Spritz and Negroni are also available.

When: Every Tuesday to Thursday from 5 pm to 9 pm, every Friday to Saturday from 5 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-300
Address: 65 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2362 8100

F.I.G.S. & Apéro

If you want to get away from the crowd, then enjoy happy hour at F.I.G.S. & Apéro. This Mediterranean bistro and terrace bar sits in the residential neighbourhoods of Taikoo Shing, offering a unique view of Hong Kong’s skyline. Take advantage of the discounted prices on selected drinks, ranging from classic cocktails, wine by the glass, or beer. Depending on what you love (gin, whisky, or rum), choose any drink from the five signatures.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 8 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: Shop 601, G/F, 1111 King’s Road, Taikoo Shing, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2126 7357

Mr Wolf

For as little as HKD 58, you get to choose a variety of cocktails, wine, beers, and spirits at Mr Wolf. Sit back and relax on the expansive terrace right in the middle of the vibrant streets of Central. Pair your drinks with light bites before enjoying a modern bistro meal in the dining room. That sounds like a good deal, right?

When: Daily from 3 pm to 7 pm
Regular price range: HKD 200-400
Address: 5/F, Crawford House, 70 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2526 0838

The best happy hour deals in Hong Kong – February 2023

Vibes

The Mira’s open-air lounge bar, Vibes, is offering cocktails, beer, wine, and a full range of bar snacks at half the price. Try one of the six signature cocktails and classics with a twist like the spicy-sour Tom Yum Goong. The Chicken Sando with Siracha Mayo and tender BBQ Pork Ribs are a must-try!

Its courtyard terrace is popular with shisha lovers, while the lush green space makes it perfect for chilling and catching up for pre-dinner drinks.

When: Every Sunday to Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm

Price range: HKD 200-400 

Address: Vibes, 5/F, The Mira, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2315 5599

Cruise

You can marvel at the amazing view of the Hong Kong skyline while sipping refreshing cocktails at Cruise. Get your spirits up with their 50 per cent off offer on selected signature cocktails and mixology jugs, beers, and wine. You can’t go wrong with the Negroni, but the Sotally Tober is unique to the bar, so we highly recommend that.

When: Every Monday to Sunday from 4 pm to 7 pm

Price range: HKD 200-400 

Address: 23/F, West Tower, 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 5720 2995

Tempo Tempo

Inspired by classic Italian garden mazes, Tempo Tempo is a verdant terrace in Quarry Bay. It is the perfect spot for a post-lunch tipple or sundown drink. Pair your drinks with Italian nibbles, charcuterie, pizzetta, sushi, and sweets. On Thursdays, you can treat yourself to an exclusive selection of pink cocktails like Strawberry Mojito and Pink Tommy’s Margarita. But the fun doesn’t end there! You also get a complimentary double-size upgrade on crisp and AIX Rosé from 1 pm to 7:30 pm.

When: Every Monday to Friday from 3 pm to 7:30 pm

Price range: HKD 100-200

Address: 2/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2788 3037

Majo

At Majo, every day is happy hour! Drinks are a serious business here with their daily Gin Siesta Hours. Gin enthusiasts will be spoiled with the curated Gin & Tonic menu. They offer a selection of Spanish gins, artisanal herbal tonics, and other refreshing concoctions. Each drink costs only HKD 70, including Gin Mare, Gin Raw, Nordes, Whitley Neill Original, and Farmer’s Organic, among others.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 7 pm

Price range: HKD 200-400 

Address: G/F, 22 Staunton St, SoHo, Central, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2529 3001

Ask for Alonzo

Ask for Alonzo is the perfect place to raise a toast for any occasion. During their Alonzo Hour, drinks start at just HKD 48 in all locations. Take your pick from a range of drinks, such as Campari Spritz and Negroni. Jug pints of Ask for Alonzo’s exclusive, locally brewed lager for as low as HKD 58. A drink isn’t complete without snacks, so order some complimentary bites from the menu, available until 6 pm.

When: Daily from 3 pm to 8 pm

Price range: HKD 200-400 

Address: Shop B, G/F, 8 Star Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 6500 8405

Terrible Baby

Head to Terrible Baby for discounted drinks, al fresco dining, and live music. Eaton HK’s eclectic cocktail bar and terrace offer cocktails, wine, and spirits starting from HKD 68. You also can’t miss their artisanal cocktails like Pineapple is Coming and Bellissima, made by mixologist Axel Gonzalez. Available from 2 pm to 7 pm, spend your afternoon at the lush outdoor seating or get ready for a celebratory night at the quirkily decorated bar.

When: Every Sunday to Thursday from 2 pm to 7 pm

Price range: HKD 200-400 

Address: 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2710 1866

Where are you heading for your next drink?

This story first appeared here

Related: The Best Hotel Buffets In Hong Kong Right Now

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which restaurants and bars in Hong Kong have the best happy hour deals?
There are plenty of restaurants and bars which have great happy hour deals including Cruise, Vibes, and Ask for Alonzo, among others.

What time is happy hour in Hong Kong?
Happy hour in Hong Kong varies within different bars and restaurants but it is typically from 2 pm to 7 pm.

IN THE JAPANESE SAKE SCENE, some of the hardest bottles to get your hands on right now are from a tiny Fukushima craft brewer called haccoba. Their iconoclastic offerings, dry hopped like beers or infused with cacoa husks from chocolate production, for example, are outliers in the typically staid industry, yet every batch sells out in a matter of hours, snapped up by fans across the country. 

“We are trying to make sake that pushes the concept of what sake can be, sake that opens up new frontiers,” says 30-year-old founder Taisuke Sato. Motivated by a desire to support the revitalization of Fukushima, he left an IT job in Tokyo in 2019 to learn sake-making from scratch, eventually relocating his family to the little town of Odaka.  

Odaka fell within the exclusion zone established after the meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi in 2011, so for half a decade, the entire town sat empty save for the occasional PPC-wearing decontamination crew demolishing buildings and carting off topsoil. In 2016, that work finally finished and people were allowed back, but after so many years, many former residents had settled elsewhere. Only a fraction returned, many of them elderly. However, the cheaply available land and the flexibility and potential in building a town quite literally from scratch also attracted a handful of new settlers: entrepreneurs looking to try something daring. Sato was able to gather a team of likeminded young professionals and enough crowdfunded capital to renovate an old farmhouse into a brewery and pub, opening haccoba in February 2021. 

Their first brews were dry hopped, reviving a local fermentation technique that nearly died out in the late 1800s when the government banned homebrewing. Prior to that, many Japanese households made their own small-batch sakes called doburoku, and in the Tohoku region, hops were sometimes added as a natural preservative. These early experiments became haccoba’s flagship Hanauta series.  

Hanauta Drops, for example, is brewed with locally grown rice, a Japanese hops variety called Karahana-so, and a blend of yellow and white koji that brings out sweet and sour notes to balance the bitter aromatics of the hops. A touch of fermentation carries on after bottling, imparting a slight effervescence that makes the citrusy concoction even more refreshing. 

haccoba’s team is pursuing more out-of-the-box experimentation with their LAB_series, partnering not only with food producers mundane and surprising (sake from insect egg sacs?!) but also artists, fashion labels, and musicians. A recent release was a collaboration with a fragrance company to create an aromatic sake as powerfully nostalgic as Proust’s iconic cakes, fittingly named ‘Quelle est votre madeleine?’ and sold with a matching beeswax candle.  

You might say collaboration is in haccoba’s DNA. Odaka is still very short on businesses like bars or restaurants. From the beginning, Sato wanted the facility to include a brewpub to provide a much-needed venue for residents to socialize and forge a new sense of community. With sake providing that age-old social lubrication, haccoba is a place Odakans can enjoy themselves together, subtly recrafting a local identity in a place brutally cut off from its own past. 

“Odaka also exists as a kind of frontier now. Because the residents all had to leave, the life of the town ground to a halt. Livelihoods, culture, everything was gone and now it has to be recultivated,” Sato says. “As we try to develop new ways of making sake, I hope we are able to work together with people in Odaka to bring new life to the town too.” 

The Details:

If you visit Fukushima, haccoba’s onsite shop is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the brewpub hours are Friday through Sunday 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with reservations. However, if you don’t make it farther north than Tokyo, try your luck at Hakko Department in Shimo-kitazawa, which reliably gets a few bottles of each new release.  

Images courtesy of All About, Inc.

It was early morning on the footpath to Corniglia, and half an hour in, I’d seen more farmers than hikers. Three of them tended to their cliffside vines as I passed by. One was spraying his leaves; another was clearing the scrub around his tiny vineyard; the third rode a toy-size train, called a trenino, on a rail up the steeply terraced cliffside. 

For more than 20 years, Cinque Terre has been one of Italy’s most popular places to visit. Along a 10-mile (16 km) stretch running north up the Ligurian coastline, five villages — Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso — are wedged between cliffs and sea, their pastel-coloured houses stacked up the slopes. The impossible prettiness of it all draws travellers from across the globe.

But above them lies another Cinque Terre, one built on agriculture. For a thousand years, locals have tamed the cliffs by terracing them with stone walls from top to bottom. Their crop: wine, so fine the poet Dante sang its praises and medieval kings and popes guzzled it by the flagon. In the 20th century, however, a combination of emigration, plant disease, and mechanisation (these craggy plots can only be worked by hand) decimated Cinque Terre’s wine industry. Since the 1970s, 90 percent of the acreage once used for viticulture has been abandoned; the terraces that once braided the coastline have, in many places, been swallowed up by scrub.

All about the wine scene of Cinque Terre, Italy

Only a few vintners remain, but today, these holdouts are making some of Italy’s most distinctive wines. Cinque Terre is known for its intensely mineral, saline whites, usually made from Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino grapes — a blend that’s officially recognised as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) product. I wanted to explore Cinque Terre through its wine, so I embarked on six days of tastings, cellar visits, and vineyard hikes.

That morning on the footpath to Corniglia, I was looking for Adelaide, a century-old vine of dark Vermentino Nero grapes grown in the Cantina Capellini vineyard. I had learned about it the day before from local Edoardo Lanzi. “Vines are like our kids,” he had told me, stroking a leafy tendril.

Out on the cliff, I looked up. There it was: a vast, wild vine on the terrace above, its tree trunk arms flexed like tentacles. Vines of red grapes, like Adelaide, were once scattered between the whites to keep the vines diverse and healthy, Laura Ampollini told me later. She runs the winery’s open-air Agrivino “tasting room” — a patch of dirt between two rows of vines.

Her husband, Mirco, is the seventh-generation winemaker at Cantina Capellini. Together, they opened the Agrivino in 2020. “We wanted to bring people into the vineyard, to smell the plants and feel the breeze,” she said. “We want to share the history — we have a thousand years of it.”

I continued climbing, past hikers sipping Cinque Terre DOC grown just feet away. Below me, the vines spilt toward the Ligurian Sea, the town of Corniglia clung to the cliff, and boats glided in the bay. It felt like I was dangling from a cloud.

Wine, I was starting to realise, was a portal to the real Cinque Terre. At the wine shop Ghemé, in Riomaggiore, owners Chiara Gasparini and Laura Ricci chatted as they pulled bottles off the shelves, pouring me a glug of each. I picked out my favourites at the bar A Pié de Ma, a five-minute walk away, where manager Barbara Boselli poured me a couple of ice-cool, flinty whites.

In the hilltop village of Groppo, I visited Cantina Cinque Terre, a cooperative founded in 1973 to help preserve local winemaking. Some members are in their eighties: “Take away their vineyard and you take their life,” smiled my server, Martina Andriani, as she poured me a glass of vigne alte, which is made with grapes grown higher on the slopes.

But I didn’t just want to drink; I wanted to experience for myself why Italians dub this gruelling trade “heroic viticulture.” At Buranco, a farm stay in Monterosso, I tried “wine-trekking”: hiking with a bottle in hand. Clambering around the terraces in the blistering heat, I gained an intense appreciation for the vintners’ work.

The next day I headed to Cian du Giorgi Winery, in the hamlet of San Bernardino. In 2017, owners Riccardo Giorgi and Adeline Maillard were working in Bordeaux when they came to Cinque Terre on vacation and stumbled on a semi-ruined vineyard. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Giorgi told me on the terrace as we drank biodynamic rosé brighter than a highlighter pen. The following year, they moved there.

Giorgi stuffed a bottle of white into a backpack and drove us to a cliff looming behind Riomaggiore. “Usually I like to make people hike up, so they can feel the effort,” he grinned. Happily, we took a trenino, which remains the only technology used in Cinque Terre’s vineyards. We cruised up 1,640 feet to the vines — some 90 years old, their arms twisted into sun salutations — and shared a toast as a rainbow arced overhead.

On my last day, the town of Vernazza was choked with visitors, but on its outskirts, Bartolomeo Lercari was calmly pouring organic wine on the terrace overlooking his hilly property, Cheo.

“My family has made wine here for five hundred years,” he said, lining up bottles: three whites, a red, and a sweet sciacchetrà. Later, we walked on land so steep that, as Lercari taught me how to recognise the vines — Vermentino has soft leaves, Bosco’s are harder and shinier — I dug my toes into the earth to stay upright. Below us, Vernazza sat astride its promontory, thrusting out into the sea. Music floated up on the breeze; crowds pushed through the streets. Thanks to the wine, I was high above it all.

This story first appeared on www.travelandleisure.com

(Feature Image Credit: Uta Theile)

Related: How To Order Wine Like A Pro, According To The World’s Best Sommelier

What’s the best cocktail you’ve had in Hong Kong? The bars in Hong Kong offer drinks to suit every taste. But knowing where to look can be daunting with so many new bars sprouting in the city every month. This is where our beneficial list of Hong Kong’s best new bars comes in.

You’ll find everything from fancy hotel spots to speakeasies, party places, and secret basements. What they all have in common are drinks that will tingle your taste buds and blow your mind. 

Save the list!

Best New Bars in Hong Kong – December

Takumi Mixology Salon

Takumi Mixology Salon brings a bespoke Japanese cocktail bar experience to the city, blending custom-made drinks with top-class hospitality. Rayven Leung, a rising star in the local cocktail community, leads the new bar. The concept draws inspiration from ‘takumi’, the Japanese word for ‘artisan’, focusing on tailor-made cocktails. Expect the same essence of Japan’s cocktail bars, known for tailoring to the guests’ preferences. The bar also champions seasonal ingredients, reflective of Japan’s rich kaiseki tradition. As such, the menu is ever-evolving, just like nature. Zen is the highlight, a smokey cocktail inspired by Japanese meditation halls or Spumoni, based on the Japanese anime series. You also need to try Yukiguni, a homage to Keiichi Iayama, Japan’s legendary bartender.

Address: 1 Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay, HongKong
Phone: +852 5394 3681

La Suite: Olivier Elzer

La Suite is the latest venture from chef Olivier Elzer, one of Hong Kong’s leading French culinary experts. Over his career, the French chef has accrued over 25 Michelin stars from the top French restaurants he worked at. His latest achievement? A French knighthood, the Order of Agricultural Merit. The speakeasy is aptly nestled within his contemporary French restaurant, Clarence. Hidden behind the opulent curtains, La Suite boasts an outdoor lounge complete with a stunning view of the Hong Kong skyline. On top of meticulously crafted cocktails, of course. As you can expect, the cocktail bar champions French heritage in every detail—from the spirits to herbs and design. Try the Saffron Negroni, a vibrant reinterpretation of the traditional drink. Or try Le Smoking Old Fashion, a smoky rendition of the Old Fashioned. To complement the drinks, taste the Yakifrenchy menu that reinvents French delights into skewered dishes.

Address: 25/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3568 1397

Kinsman

Kinsman, a bar concept by dining editor Gavin Yeung and Singular Concepts, champions the long-lost tradition of indigenous Cantonese spirits. The new bar looks to fill the void in Hong Kong’s cocktail landscape through drinks that highlight Cantonese and Chinese spirits as starring ingredients. Thematically, the drinks also reinterpret Cantonese culinary traditions in innovative ways like the use of liquors such as Yuk Bing Siu, baijiu, and contemporary Cantonese amaros. The food also makes sure to impress, paying homage to childhood favourites like the reinvented tong sui (Cantonese sweet soups). Other than the food and drinks, guests will be hit with a wave of nostalgia upon seeing the old-style interiors.

Address: 65 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong
Social media: instagram.com/kinsman.hk

BrewDog

Craft brewer BrewDog teams up with Budweiser China for this new bar in Central, aptly named BrewDog. It features 16 taps of craft beer, ranging from BrewDog headliners, small batch specials, and a selection of local craft brews. The bar also serves up burgers, and scrumptious wings alongside classic snacks. If that’s not enough, they also have a beer fridge Beers to Go, loaded with BrewDog and local craft breweries’ canned beers to take away if you prefer to continue the party elsewhere.

Address: 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
Social media: instagram.com/brewdogbarhk

Dead Poets

Dead Poets is your new go-to neighbourhood bar in Central. It’s the newest concept by The Old Man’s Nikita Matveev. For the crew, Dead Ports is a space that celebrates the artists who inspire them. You can see it from the menu, the interiors, and even from the paintings on the wall. The team partnered up with local artist Benson Koo to paint one of the masterpieces in the bar. What’s even more interesting is that, during the day, you can book a haircut at the team’s barbershop and lifestyle store, Sauce. Or chill out with a cup of coffee or a beer. At night you can hang out with the bartenders at Dead Poets, who are whipping up your drink.

Address: 41-49 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong
Social media: instagram.com/deadpoetshk

Best New Bars in Hong Kong – November

Melody: House of Food & Music

Melody: House of Food & Music is the newest spot in Sai Ying Pun for dining, drinking, and entertainment. It is made up of five rooms: kitchen, dining room, music room, bar lounge, and garden room. As such, guests can experience a combination of delicious plates, refreshing drinks, and stellar music. Besides the elevated modern European dishes, guests shouldn’t miss out on the beverage menu helmed by Kaan Gilmour. Divided into three sections, the drinks menu focuses on classic cocktails with a twist. Dive into the selection of light Aperifis to whet your appetite before a meal. Or go hard at the seasonal cocktails with creations such as Yellow Pepper Margarita and Rhubarb Sour. Meanwhile, another section showcases the experimental creations—drinks that are unexpected and unusual but great. Indulge in the curated wine list featuring 150 labels, mainly from Italy and France.

Address: 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9593 8110

Wav

Wav is the hottest new rooftop destination in Hong Kong. The enchanting new venue is the second opening from Singular Concepts’ Trilogy saga. The rooftop takes inspiration from the beach clubs of Phuket, Miami, and Bali but in true Hong Kong fashion, is set within the breathtaking backdrop of the city’s skyline. It is the place to be for DJ sets, drinks, and socialising. The Sunset DJ series takes guests on a journey focused on mid-tempo melodic and soulful house music all while sipping on signature cocktails or wine. The best part? You can do all that from the comfort of your cabana!

Address: 45 Pottinger Street, 26/F, High Block, H Code, Central
Social media: instagram.com/trilogy.hk

Best New Bars in Hong Kong – October

001

001 is back! The New York-inspired speakeasy bar reopens in Tai Kwun. The reincarnated bar preserves its discreet charm with an interior that divides two different experiences. A semi-private Blue Room and the Green Room, the latter a tribute to the bar’s original roots in Wellington Street. Relish the secluded elegance at the Green Room, complete with a bar area. Guests can enjoy an array of beloved signature drinks including the Early Grey Martini, along with an expanded repertoire of creations that reflect 001’s legacy as Hong Kong’s ‘first’ speakeasy bar.

Address: 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3559 2600

Barcode

Barcode reopens with a new lunch menu, afternoon pastries, and of course cocktails! As its name suggests, Barcode offers a unique blend of bar, coffee, and dessert experiences all under one roof. During the day, you can replenish yourself with espresso-based drinks and non-coffee choices. At night, make sure to try the creative range of drinks such as the Peanut Butter Whiskey Sour and Ying & Yang Martini. Just pair those up with irresistible sweet delights like the classic operate cake or pistachio chocolate mousse.

Address: UG/F, 45 Cochrane St, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 9821 5501

ANJU

Restaurant and bar ANJU is the latest addition to Civic Square in Elements Mall. It showcases an innovative South Korean menu, edgy decor, and a playful vibe. This new opening is poised to become the go-to place for a hearty lunch, post-work happy hour, and socialising. ANJU takes its name from South Korea’s term for food enjoyed with alcohol at neighbourhood bars. Complete with colourful statement lighting and murals, diners can expect comfort food and a wide array of drinks. Pair the dishes with local liqueurs, premium and flavoured soju, and Korean beer. Don’t miss the somaek (a cocktail of soju and beer), soju bombs, wine, makgeolli (Korean rice wine), and cocktails crafted by order. The Kimchi Mary boasts a fiery mix of gin, soju, sweet vermouth, and lime juice. In addition, the Soju Colada features pineapple soda, pineapple chunks, and rum with Yakult.

Address: Shop R004, Civic Square, Elements, Kowloon Station, 1 Austin Road West, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2196 8733

Informal Affairs

Ovolo Southside and N.I.P Gin join hands to bring Southside’s first rooftop gin bar to Hong Kong. Its name, Informal Affairs, feels like a play of Infernal Affairs, the classic Hong Kong movie starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau and its iconic rooftop scene. Similarly, though, the bar takes inspiration from the 1990s and 200s Hong Kong, transporting guests to a dai pai dong-style setting. It pays tribute to this bygone era of the city when gin cocktails were all the rage. The cocktail menu is crafted by The Wise King’s Sandeep Kumar in collaboration with Ovolo’s bar manager, Issac Lim. The drinks combine traditional botanicals of distilled gin with local flavours and aromas like kumquat to create a blend with a Hong Kong flair. As you can expect, the cocktails are paired with Hong Kong-style vegetarian snacks.

Address: 64 Wong Chuk Hang oad, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3460 8100

Best New Bars in Hong Kong – September

Lockdown

From the award-winning team behind The Old Man, Penicillin, and Dead& comes a new cocktail bar concept, Lockdown. If you couldn’t guess from its name, the new drinking spot on Hollywood Road refers to the city’s infamous lockdown era during the pandemic. Bar veterans Agung Prabowo and Laura Prabowo bring with them over 50 years of experience in hospitality. The Indonesian duo have established themselves as trailblazers in Hong Kong’s bar scene. And the latest venture promises to elevate the city’s cocktail culture with its concept. It draws parallels to the Prohibitions Era in the US from 1920 to 1933 when alcohol was banned.

As such, the bar’s design recalls this bygone era with a touch of modern Asian aesthetics. It houses the world’s first special rotating bar station designed by Agung himself. Lockdown takes pride in its intimate setting, available to just 30 guests at any given time. The cocktail menu features around 25 handcrafted concoctions divided into three categories: Experimental, Vintage, and Remastered Classics. Each cocktail costs HKD 100 while the food menu starts at HKD 150.

Address: G/F, 27 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 6201 5855

Blotto

From Blotto’s motto of “If it ain’t fun, don’t do it”, you can already conjure up images of what this new neighbourhood 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. The new bar 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.

Address: 66-68 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong
Social media: instagram.com/blottobar_hk

Best New Bars in Hong Kong – August

Intervals

Need a good drink before boarding your flight? That’s not a problem now, thanks to Intervals, the first-of-its-kind airport bar in Hong Kong! Crafted purposely for an airport setting, expect the drinks to be travel-focused. The bar showcases a series of miniature ships, also known as “flight of cocktails,” tailored to guests’ spare time before their flight. If you’re up for alcohol, Intervals has non-alcoholic options that riff on the seasons. You can expect the same concept with the food. A bonus is the view of the Skybridge at the airport!

Address: Unit 9SB206, Level 9, Sky Bridge, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 6706 8075

The Sanctum

The Sanctum joins Central’s growing list of cocktail bars. True to its name, The Sanctum bills itself as a “sacred and private space” for boozehounds to drink. The legends of Greek mythology inspired the drinks menu with tipples like Ether’s Envoy, dedicated to Hermes, the Greek deity of herds, flocks, travellers, and hospitality. Another standout on the menu is Eucalyptic Helio, a tribute to the sun god Apollo. In addition to the innovative drinks, visitors can enjoy live music and DJ sets!

Address: 3/F, 11 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2522 3282

Best new bars in Hong Kong – July

The Green Door

Step into a New York-style speakeasy in the middle of the bustling Central neighbourhood. The Green Door is an intimate bar co-owned by Arlene Wong and Dabi Chin, home to only 36 seats. It offers an exclusive experience to try expertly crafted cocktails and some artisanal food reminiscent of classic New York cocktail bars. The concept takes inspiration from Dabi’s fascination with Alice in Wonderland. Sip on drinks like MARIE, a twist on the Bloody Mary or JULIA, a tropical cocktail that feels like paradise. The Green Door is taking reservations on Instagram for those looking to get transported into the dreamy wonderland.

Address: LG/F, Welley Building, 97 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Social media: instagram.com/thegreendoor.bar

Maggie Choo’s

Prepare to be transported to the enigmatic old-world glamour of the past courtesy of Maggie Choo’s. This new nightlife and cocktail destination is tucked away at the heart of Central, blending in among the many antique shops on the historic Hollywood Road. Part cocktail bar, cabaret, and late-night soiree, Maggie Choo’s offers a modern take on classic tipples. Ashley Sutton, the same visionary behind Iron Fairies, The Mixing Room, and Dragonfly, designs the interior. Be ready to be amazed by the giant antique-style bank vault door, spiral staircases, hand-crafted wooden tables and vintage pendant ceiling lamps. An ever-changing roster of jazz and blues acts complements the experience.

Address: Shop 1, G/F, 1-13 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 6250 6000

Supergiant

Mira Moon Hotel’s sole—and soul—dining venue and cocktail bar, Supergiant, is reopening this month. It is introducing a fresh lineup of Asian flavours and Mid-Autumn legend-themed cocktails curated by award-winning mixologist Lorenzo Antinori. True to its theme, Supergiant is hidden inside a boutique hotel, and the reopened space is adorned with oriental touches. The added new plus is Antinori’s cocktail menu, which evokes the spirit of the Moon Goddess and Jade Rabbit, presented as potions using local ingredients and craft spirits.

Address: 3/F, Mira Moon Hotel, 388 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2643 8875

Best new bars in Hong Kong – June

Bar Leone

The buzz is all around Bar Leone, the first independent venture of famed hospitality figure, Lorenzo Antinori. He was previously at the helm of bars such as Charles H. in Seoul and Argo in Hong Kong. This new neighbourhood spot for classic and modern cocktails draws influences from Rome and in particular, Trastevere, where Lorenzo grew up. It takes inspiration from Roman bars that are integral to Rome’s 21 neighbourhoods.

Lorenzo takes a “low intervention” approach with an emphasis on craftsmanship, ingredients, and seasonality, removing the use of modern machinery or distillation. Take a sip of Leone Martini which features Ginepraio gin from Tuscany, marsala secco, orange blossom, and of course, olive. Being collaborative at heart, a dedicated section of the drinks’ menu called “Friends and Fam” focuses on partnerships and crossovers with brands.

A large mahogany bar takes centre stage, the place where the magic happens. Blinds and candles keep the place warmly lit and intimate. The bar is also set to an eclectic soundtrack that celebrates Italian pop culture, with touchpoints from vintage football shirts to Italian icons. More than cocktails, guests can also walk in for a quick espresso while standing at the bar. On the food front, don’t miss small bites such as Giardinera-style Pickles with Parmigiano and a selection of artisanal cold cuts.

Address: G/F, 11-15 Bridges Street, Central, Hong Kong

Social media: instagram.com/barleonehk

The Savory Project

COA’s Jay Khan and Ajit Gurung team up once again for The Savory Project, a new bar in Soho. Khan was named Asia’s Best Bartender at the 2020 Asia’s 50 Best Bars Awards while COA made history in 2022 when it became the second bar to be crowned the best bar in Asia for two consecutive years. At The Savory Project, expect cocktails that are intricate and nuanced with earthy and umami notes while dialling back sweet or fruity flavours. This comes after Jay and Ajit notice that more and more guests are requesting drinks that are less sweet.

Heralding in another shift in the industry, the bar is also paying equal attention to craft non-alcoholic drinks. This makes The Savory Project a space that’s as enjoyable for drinkers as for non-drinkers. Top that up with a design space that channels elements of the earth to create a space that encourages connections. A custom-made hexagon bar removes the barrier between bartender and customer to offer a more interactive experience.

Address: 4 Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong

Social media: instagram.com/thesavoryproject_

Orchard

Orchard prides itself on being the first cocktail bar dedicated to showcasing fruit spirits from around the world. Under the tutelage of Alex Pun, who previously worked in The Woods, the bar serves glasses filled with aromatic essence from nature. Try signature cocktails such as Butter Me Up, which uses a blend of fruit spirits like Calvados, VSOP cognac, and Amontillado sherry as well as Normandy Highball, made up of Calvados, applejack, cinnamon, and more. Otherwise, you can take a pick from the house collection of fruit spirits from Chile, France, Germany, or the US. Head over to the intimate back area with a tipple on hand.

Address: 28 Gage Street, Central, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 9881 1984

Best new bars in Hong Kong – May

Cardinal Point

Cardinal Point aims to represent the ‘magic hour’. Sitting atop Landmark Atrium, the rooftop venue has an indoor and outdoor bar, as well as a restaurant, lounge, and sky terrace. Cardinal Point also boasts scenic views of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline and Victoria Harbour. The impressive drinks are created by bartender John Nugent and are inspired by the spirit of travel and exploration. A resident DJ plays some amazing tracks while you indulge in a selection of finger food from all over the world.

Address: Gloucester Tower, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

Social media: instagram.com/cardnalpointhk

Artifact Bar

The sister venue to Artifact’s Japanese counter dining restaurant, an all-star team of bar industry veterans leads Artifact Bar. The brainchild of Beckaly Franks, Ezra Star, and Michael Larkin, the team also brought in J Frank from the UK as bar manager. As such, you can expect a new go-to place filled with life and sophistication. The drink menu focuses on brown spirits worldwide, with each cocktail being a conversion-inducing partner. Some must-try drinks include the Bread-and-Butter Milk Punch, a concoction made with bourbon; Olympus, created with cognac; and Caviar Martini, which is a choice between gin or vodka.

While the drinks are the main draw at Artifact Bar, you can’t miss the food menu by Chef Kiyoshi Sato as well. There are eight types of snacks available, which are inspired by the snacks at the iconic Cavaria House & Prunier in Harrod’s London. Signature dishes include Wagyu Sando, Tsukune Wings, and Classic Artifact Caviar Platter. When here, take some time to admire the upscale interiors, taken from the serene atmospheres found in underground water reservoirs.

Address: No. 1 & 2, Shop 5& 7, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 6468 8762

Vista Bar

Vista opens its penthouse bar, aptly named Vista Bar, in collaboration with Campari, complete with majestic views of the Hong Kong skyline. The new sky roof bar boasts a cocktail series specially created by Livorno-born bar director, Lorenzo Coppola. Among the new signature cocktails from the “Eight Shades of Red,” series is the Peking (One) Duck, which is a mix of duck fat, tamarind-washed Montelobos Espadin mescal, blood orange, cassis, and green apple yoghurt mousse.

The Nitro-Negroni Ice Cream is also a must-try, with ingredients like Campari, blood orange, yoghurt, gin glaze, and vermouth caviar. Hasta la Vista is a playful, and Instagrammable drink, served with a magnifying glass so you can look through the view as you sip. Alongside cocktails, enjoy old Italian cinematic classics projected on the wall and some peppy numbers from the resident DJ.

Address: 30/F, One Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2778 3255

Best new bars in Hong Kong – April

El Bar

Hong Kong’s cocktail aficionados thirsty for new bar experiences must head to La Paloma’s newly renovated El Bar. The spot offers a Spanish-style drinking experience. It evokes the lively atmosphere of Barcelona’s famed beachside Chiringuito. Take your pick from a wide variety of Spanish wines, gin and tonic, and top-quality Vermouths from Espinaler in addition to authentic tapas and moreish bar snacks to pair. Also, take advantage of the aromatized and spiced wines during Vermouth Hour, where Red Vermouth and White Vermouth are served.

Address: 1/F, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2291 6161

La Rosabelle Restaurant & Bar

Escape to La Rosabelle, a luxurious oasis fusing modern elegance and traditional English rural charm. Located in Tsueng Kwan O, the bar and restaurant are adorned with paintings of lush palm trees and vibrant flamingo walls, eluding an inviting atmosphere that is perfect for weekend tipples. The drinks menu offers a range of choices, whether you fancy a cocktail, gin or rum, vodka or tequila, whisky or bourbon, and white or red wine. Among the selection, we recommend Bella & Rosa (early grey tea, rum, honey, lemon juice) and Green Monster no.1 (rum, blue curacao, Malibu, pineapple juice).

Address: Shop 4, G/F, Alto Residence, 29 Tong Ying Street, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2881 1318

Cielos Cafe and Bar

Cielos Italian Restaurant is a gourmand haven of Italian fare. Its new sister branch, Cielos Cafe and Bar is an Italian-style bistro offering artisanal beer and handmade Italian dishes. Besides the drinks, be sure to get a taste of the daily fresh homemade Burrata Cheese, a rarity in Hong Kong’s Italian food scene. Cielos is the only place in the city that offers artisanal beer from Mastri Birrai Umbri, a renowned Italian olive oil brand by the Farchioni Family. Grab a glass of two signature cocktails infused with truffles—Alberto’s Cloud and Sabatino Sour.

Address: 4 Blue Pool Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2398 7629

Best new bars in Hong Kong – March

Bar Cyclone

Good news for wine lovers. You can now spend time at Bar Cyclone, a private wine membership club by professional cyclist turned wine aficionado Jack Wu. The new wine place is his second venture after the success of the whisky bar, Club Qing. Browse through 320 bottles of gems amidst the elegant interior with a dark and moody atmosphere. By becoming a member, you can indulge in the club’s privacy and gain access to a broader selection of wines. You also get an exclusive taste of Wu’s rare collections at a discounted price and try different tasting sets. The bar accepts members regularly. In the future, Wu hopes to open it to the public eventually.

Where: 18/F, M88, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

Social media: bar_cyclone/Instagram

Whale Club

Whale Club is another ‘private members’ club opening this month, featuring a bar, gallery, wine cellar, private rooms, and cigar-tasting rooms. Billing itself as a “playground,” the private club hopes to provide members with a chance to kick back and relax. The intimate bar space offers a variety of wines, including French, European, and several signature cocktails.

Address: 1/F, 29 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2506 0880

Best new bars in Hong Kong – February

Yatchabar

Conceived during the pandemic in Japan by Wagyumafia co-founder Hisato Hamada, Yatchabar has now opened its doors in Hong Kong. Taking pride in its extensive sake selections, expect drinks sourced from a wide range of Japanese breweries, divided by geography and curated according to different seasons. Drink lovers can enjoy over 30 labels of sake at the 10-seater chef counter or three standing high-tables. Pair the drinks with the izakaya menu, comprised of wagyu dishes and classified into five categories. Choose from the Obanzai, a traditional style of Japanese cuisine native to Kyoto or the Teppan, an iconic style of grilling using an iron plate, and many others.

Address: Shop 2B, G/F, Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2133 4999

Bushra

Over at Bushra, Hongkongers get the best of both worlds with its Middle Eastern culinary delights and cocktails. Unwind at the spacious two-level space at the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui with drinks crafted by celebrated mixologist Sandeep Kumar. The cocktail list boasts a Middle Eastern twist, with names and ingredients all having Arabic inspirations. Be sure to try the classic Bellini, restyled as Habibi, as well as the Turkish Espresso Martini which uses bitter Turkish coffee with vodka. You can also enjoy a shisha session and complimentary belly dance performances.

Address: G6 and UG16, Tsim Sha Tsui Centre, 66 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 6172 3591

Smokehouse Bar & Grill

Treat yourself to steak fresh off the grill and whisky-based cocktails at Smokehouse Bar & Grill. While Smokehouse classics headline the menu, the smoked cocktails are equally as enticing. In addition to the twist on classic cocktail favourites, the fruit-flavoured smoke completes your night of drinking. Among the signatures are two whisky-based cocktails, Grape & Gin and Red Apple. Gin lovers should go for Blush, a gin-based drink topped with soda. We recommend sitting by the bar adorned with gold and orange tones and a contrasting rustic interior.

Address: Shop 05, Level 13, Langham Place, 8 Argyle Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2972 0078

Best new bars in Hong Kong – January

F.I.G.S. Bistro Mediterranean & Apéro Terrace Bar

Set sail on a flavourful journey through Southern Europe at F.I.G.S. Bistro Mediterranean & Apéro Terrace Bar. Take a trip to the French Riviera and relish the art of gourmet dining with delicacies such as the peppered Tuna Tartare on home-baked macarons and the refreshingly light Scallop Ceviche on Mango & Beetroot with Lemongrass-Vinaigrette. Each dish is designed to satisfy your palate, complemented by an array of wines and creative cocktails to complete the dining experience. 

Address: Shop 601, 6/F, 1111 King’s Road, Cityplaza One, Taikoo Shing, Quarry Bay

Phone: +852 6108 9153

room 3

Vibrant contemporary gastro bar room 3 has opened its doors in fashionable H Zentre in Tsim Sha Tsui. The modern-day speakeasy offers a fantastic array of revolutionary cocktails and cutting-edge Japanese tapas. Premium liquors, fruits and other ingredients of Japanese origin are used in concoctions that meld advanced cocktail technology with classic cocktail methodology.

The Fiction is the headliner, an effervescent blending of The Botanist gin, Koshu Japanese wine and Telmont Réserve Champagne. Giving New York’s classic Whisky Sour a Japanese twist, Hi Ball Imperial folds the sour-sweet fruit of emblica, hojicha, pineapple and yuzu lemonade into a smooth pour of Nikka from The Barrel. 

Address: Shop UG01-03, UG/F, H Zentre, 15 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 6361 8505

69 on Jervois Bar and Grill

The diverse menu at 69 on Jervois Bar and Grill promises a taste of British homestay classics, comfort foods, and signature drinks. The menu features Crispy Haggis Balls, the juicy Jervois Burger, crispy Chicken Schnitzel, Charred Broccoli Rabe, and a nostalgic Baked Apple Crumble. The venue also comes with a speakeasy bar curated for intimate get-togethers. The So Hong Sinner, The GoDown and Fragrant Nullah are just a few tipples you must try here.

Address: 69 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 9752 6715

BÀRBAR

Wan Chai’s Ship Street gets a new 50-seat Spanish wine and tapas bar BÀRBAR. Here you can sample an extensive selection of Spanish wines available by the glass, along with Spanish sherries, Spanish sparkling wines and artisan craft gins. In addition, they also have a contemporary, ingredient-driven tapas menu that pairs perfectly with the drinks.

Address: Shop A, G/F, Pinnacle Building, 9 Ship Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 2810 0008

Which place are you hitting first?

This story first appeared here.

Hero & Feature Image Credits: Takumi Mixology Salon

Related: These Are Hong Kong’s 20 Best Coffee Shops

As summer, with its dripping humidity and unpredictable weather cycle, gives way to cooler blue-sky days, there’s no better time to get reacquainted with the city’s finest rooftop destinations.

Cardinal Point

When Cardinal Point opened in July, it quickly established itself as a late-night haunt for the city’s elite and the go-to destination for luxury events. Situated on the 45th floor of Gloucester Tower, the bar comes with panoramic views in every direction and a terrace big enough for a small concert – yes, really. Despite its sky-high setting and plush interiors, bar manager John Nugent has achieved a unique balance: it’s buzzy without feeling overcrowded, the first-rate cocktails are surprisingly affordable and the moreish South Asian and Western bar snacks are anything but pretentious.

Forty-Five, Gloucester Tower Landmark, Central

Sevva

In a city where bars come and go, nothing has remained so utterly en vogue as Sevva. Since opening in 2008, it has been hailed as Hong Kong’s ultimate rooftop destination due to its wraparound terrace, unmatched views of Victoria Harbour and 12 am closing time on weekends. Signature Asian-inspired cocktails are accompanied by crowd-pleasing small plates, such as yin-yang prawns and wagyu beef bites. Pictured here are the refreshing Blue Breeze and Vespa libations.

25/F, Landmark Prince’s, 10 Chater Rd, Central

Sugar

The team from Quarry Bay’s smartest rooftop spot, Sugar, has sure been busy. Their new futuristic cocktail menu, created by head mixologist Lydia Wong, is comprised of nine unique tipples named after the solar system’s planets. Pictured is Neptune, a clear gin-based libation infused with ginger and pear liqueur, clarified chrysanthemum tea and white wine foam.

32/F, EAST Hong Kong, 29 Taikoo Shing Road, Taikoo Shing Tai Koo

Waterfall Bar, Grand Hyatt

A jewel in the crown of the sometimes-seedy Wanchai drinking scene, the Grand Hyatt’s elegant poolside Waterfall Bar is celebrating the end of summer with a live DJ every Friday and a new French-inspired menu based on the concept of an autumn guinguette, a type of outdoor tavern first popularised in France. Cocktails such as a cognac espresso martini and Martinique side car pair perfectly with the country’s greatest hits: baked camembert and black truffle croque monsieur. 11th Floor, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong,

1 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai

The Terrace

Adjacent to the Hari Hotel’s upmarket sushi restaurant, Zoku, the Terrace is a haven of calm just two floors above Lockhart Road. The vibe here is distinctly cool, with sleek urban furnishings enveloped in tropical foliage. The bar kicks off the alfresco season with a revamped drinks menu and suitably decadent bar snacks including oysters and caviar. Their Wednesday “This is How We Roll” deal is probably Hong Kong’s best-kept secret: 90 minutes of free-flow martinis and maki rolls for just HKD 298.

2/F, 330 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai

Still wanting more? Discover Hong Kong’s most imaginative cocktails here.

This story first appeared here.

Related: 5 Hong Kong Bars Rank On Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 51-100 List

A postcard-perfect region between Inverness and Aberdeen is home to half of Scotland’s finest distilleries. Whiskies from here are fruity and nutty — their deliciousness translating to wild popularity and a sea of bottles populating the aisles of alcohol stores. Naturally, picking the perfect one for your next on-the-rocks ritual could become an exercise in exhaustion. We recommend taking cues from the cosmos with this breezy guide to the best Speyside single malts for each zodiac sign.

In Scotland, over 50 popular distilleries are peppered across breathtaking verdant hills surrounding the pristine Spey River. The region’s dry climate, mineral-rich water, and quality barley lead to the production of the most smooth, soft, and fruit-forward whiskies — single malt to blends, breezy and grassy to rich and sweet. This is courtesy of being aged in sherry casks. Some of the best brands in the business — Macallan, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Aberlour — fall within this category of usquebaugh. Needless to say, there’s nary an alcohol store around the world that doesn’t have a Speyside bottle on offer.

A quick peek will reveal labels displaying varying age statements, production techniques, and prices — each promising a unique on-the-rocks experience. Needless to say, zeroing in on the perfect, most investment-worthy option involves plenty of trial and error. To save time, however, we recommend looking at the stars. Considering our astrological identities determine our most dominant traits — which in turn influences our choices in clothes, food, or even partners — they might just be able to point to a bottle that’s got the potential to be a go-to. Here’s a look at the best Speyside single malts for each zodiac sign.

Best single malts from Speyside Scotland for each zodiac sign

Aries: The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old

Those born under this bold fire sign would enjoy a Speyside single malt that mirrors their warmth and spunk. The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old fits the bill. Aged in American and European sherry-seasoned oak casks, every sip of this amber sings with hints of ginger, cloves, oak spice, and nutmeg — giving it the kind of spicy character that’s reminiscent of Aries’ personality. There are also notes of caramel, raisins, toffee, vanilla, and orange to discover. The finish, meanwhile, is long and luxurious. This whiskey is an award-winning one, bagging titles at several prestigious events. If that doesn’t make it desirable to this competitive fire sign we don’t know what will.

Taurus: Glenfiddich 18 Years

Those born under this dependable zodiac sign would be drawn to practical, timeless, elegant whiskies. Enter, Glenfiddich 18 Years. Home to some of the world’s best-selling Speyside single malts — every bottle from this distillery is underlined by careful production techniques and a long history of resilience during Prohibition. These are signs of quality and endurance that this methodical and persevering earth sign would appreciate. Every sip sings with notes of dates, oak, candied peel, and dried fruit. On the nose are hints of baked apple, with the finish being warm. An opulent choice that luxurious Taurus would find worth the investment.

Gemini: Glen Grant 10 Year Old

Free-spirited and social Geminis would enjoy a whisky that’s as elegant and popular as them. The best-selling Glen Grant 10-Year-Old — from a famous Scottish distillery — checks all of these boxes and more. Aged in Bourbon barrels, this Speyside single malt pours a bright golden. Every sip sings with notes of pear and vanilla. The finish is complex and satisfying, with a soft, creamy mouthfeel. This amber is gentle and approachable — qualities most associated with this air sign.

Cancer: Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice

As the biggest comfort-seekers of the zodiac, the emotional and nurturing Cancers would enjoy a single malt that makes them feel right at home. Enter, the warm and indulgent Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice. Aged in a combination of bourbon barrels, hogsheads, and sherry casks — this layered Speyside number sings with notes of ginger, toffee, milk chocolate, caramel, and pear. Sweet and elegant — just like this water sign — this Speyside single malt is as smooth as they come.

Leo: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

As the royalty of the cosmic jungle, nothing less than the best, most opulent whiskies would do for Leos. Glenfiddich 12-Year-Old — with the tagline ‘When you’re at the top, the only competition is yourself.’ — is the perfect choice. Hailing from a distillery that’s known for some of the world’s best-selling Speyside single malts — this 12-year-old expression is aged in Spanish sherry, American bourbon, and oak barrels. This combined with a high-cut distillation technique lends the amber a bright fruity character. Every sip of the golden number is reminiscent of pear, fresh fruit, creamy butterscotch, and oak. The finish, meanwhile, is long. This one’s quite rich — an adjective most associated with this fire sign.

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Virgo: Glenlivet 15 Year Old

The hard-working and grounded Virgos would appreciate a quality, dependable whisky that appeases their need for perfection. Enter, Glenlivet 15 Years Old. The distillery is home to some of the world’s oldest single malt Scotches. As such, its bottles come highly recommended by connoisseurs — including the 15-year-old expression. Aged in Limousin French Oak — often used for cognacs — the production process of this amber is closely monitored and controlled to arrive at a delicate, delightful spiciness. Every sip offers notes of almonds and fruits as well. This one’s complex and layered — qualities often associated with this sharp earth sign.

Libra: Aberlour 12-Year-Old Double Cask Matured

The sophisticated and charming Libras seek harmony in every aspect of their lives. As such, they’d be drawn to the well-balanced Arbelour 12-Year-Old. Marked by a double-cask maturation — sherry and bourbon — this Speyside single malt pours gold. Every sip sings with notes of milk chocolate and brown sugar. This one’s known to be sweet, soft, and popular — qualities most associated with this air sign.

Scorpio: Craigellachie Speyside 17 Years

Bold and passionate Scorpios would find their ‘bad boy’ reputation mirrored in the rebellious spirit of Craigellachie Speyside 17 Years. Unlike most other Speyside numbers, this expression is rich and robust. Aged in a rare blend of casks, this amber is smooth and mellow with notes of pineapple, vanilla, and smoky liquorice. The brand positions this amber as unapologetic — a quality often associated with this water sign.

Sagittarius: Benromach 10 Years

The free-spirited and fun-loving Sagittarius would find a kindred spirit in Benromach 10 Years — which is as popular as them. Matured in the finest of oaks, this Speyside number pours a golden amber. On the nose are hints of green apple, pear, dark honey, and soft vanilla. Every sip, meanwhile, offers notes of warm toffee, cherry, and malted cereal. The finish is full-bodied. The brand believes in making whisky that has genuine character — a little detail that the straightforward fire sign would relate to and appreciate.

Capricorn: The Macallan Harmony Collection Smooth Arabica

The hardworking, luxury-loving Capricorns would enjoy a single malt that’s high-quality and timeless. Just like Macallan Harmony Collection Smooth Arabica — which comes from one of the most reputable names in the whisky business. A celebration of Ethiopian Arabica coffee beans — this one’s created to be paired with a cup of ‘Joe. An ideal combination for this hustler of an earth sign who’d need to fuel up to keep working through the day. Every sip sings with notes of cherries, walnuts, vanilla, toffee, raisins, and gently spiced Americano. The finish, meanwhile, is soft and creamy. This aside, the coffee-alcohol combination is akin to Capricorn’s ‘work hard, play hard’ motto.

Aquarius: Glenallachie Speyside 12 Year

Those born under the rebellious and progressive sign of Aquarius would be drawn to Glenallachie Speyside’s approach of going ‘against the grain.’ The young, independent distillery moves away from all things corporate to focus on good whisky. The 12-year expression is at the heart of it all. It pours deep mahogany and offers notes of heather honey, butterscotch, raisins, mocha, and cinnamon on the nose. Every sip, meanwhile, sings with damsons, dark chocolate, figs, dates, and orange zest. This one’s popular amongst connoisseurs — a little detail that this conversationalist of a zodiac sign would enjoy dropping into interactions.

Pisces: Aultmore 12 Years

Those born under the sensitive and whimsical sign of Pisces — represented by fishes — would enjoy the sweet, refreshing experience of Aultmore 12 Years. This whisky has been a favourite of local fishermen in the region for over 100 years. Clean and smooth, every sip offers notes of rosemary, thyme, apple, pears, vanilla, and grass. The finish, meanwhile, is long and aromatic floral. This one’s uncomplicated, delicate, and ethereal — all adjectives commonly associated with this dreamy water sign.

Cheers!

This story first appeared here.

Currency conversions were done at the time of writing. 

(All images: Courtesy Shutterstock/Brands)

Related: Smooth Single Malts To Add To Your Whisky Collection, Based On Your Zodiac Sign

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What type of whisky is Speyside?
Speyside whisky is best understood as a Scotch that’s been produced in the Speyside region of Scotland. Popular brands are The Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich.

2. What does Speyside single malt taste like?
Speyside whisky — single malt or blend — is typically fruity, with notes of apples, vanilla, honey, and spices. This is courtesy of the sherry casks that are used for ageing.

3. Is Glenfiddich Speyside or Highland?
Glenfiddich is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dufftown, Moray.

At the latest edition of the prestigious Singapore World Spirits Competition, a hickory charcoal-filtered whiskey from a brand helmed by a popular pitmaster bagged the best bourbon title. Each sip singing with notes of vanilla, toffee, and biscuits — a bottle pairs well with all things barbecued. Here’s all about it.

For decades, bartenders around the globe have turned to bourbon whiskey for their concoctions — with big brand bottles being a common sight across bars and restaurants. Sweet and smooth, this form of malt comes from America and has carved a space for itself in the drinking habits of connoisseurs and amber enthusiasts alike. It’s also known for being delicious when served alongside smoked meats. Most recently, Peg Leg Porker’s delicious Tennessee Straight (White Label) expression was deemed the finest of its kind by a panel of industry experts at the Singapore World Spirits Competition (SWSC). The latter is the newest member of The Tasting Alliance — the name behind the San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC) — and celebrates the finest alcohol options in the market.

The world’s best bourbon is a Peg Leg Porker Spirits’ signature

 

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Carey Bringle runs the wildly popular eponymous Peg Leg Porker BBQ restaurant in Nashville and has over 10 years of experience to his name. His deep love for bourbon whiskey — as well as how it pairs like a dream with barbecued creations — led him to be the first pitmaster in the US to start his own brand.

The prizewinning, signature, 90 Proof Tennessee Straight Bourbon (White Label) is filtered through custom-made hickory charcoal and featuring 80 percent corn, 8 percent rye, and 8 percent malted barley. Aged between four to six years, it was crafted to be savoured alongside heart portions of pulled pork and sausages. Bold and smooth, every sip offers notes of biscuits, caramel, toffee, vanilla, flowers, and spice. For cocktails, the brand recommends fusing it with ginger beer and sweet tea.

 

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Besides this, the brand’s 8-year-old expression was awarded a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits competition in the first year of its launch (2015). The 12-year-old amber, meanwhile, is wildly popular — with only 136 cases being released and quickly selling out — and won the Double Gold Medal at the same competition. Even today, supplies of this malt are limited. These aside, there’s also a 15-year-old number on offer.

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At the moment, this bourbon whiskey is priced at about USD 40 (HKD 313 approx.)

For more information, head here.

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All images credit: Peg Leg Porker

All currency conversions were done at the time of writing

Related: All About Ardbeg 25 Years Old That’s Been Crowned The World’s Best Scotch Whisky

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which whiskeys are bourbon?

Wild Turkey, Buffalo Trace, Evan Williams, and Woodford Reserve are popular bourbon whiskey brands.

2. Is bourbon whisky a Scotch?

Bourbon and Scotch are different types of whiskey. The former is from the US and the latter is from Scotland.

The taxi dropped me a short walk from AC House, a new Tokyo restaurant tucked in the origami folds of a residential neighbourhood near the Aoyama Cemetery. The location was appropriate since I felt like another drink would probably kill me.

A space capsule of smooth white curves, AC House’s first floor is dominated by a swooping 10-seat counter and an open kitchen where chef Atsuki Kuroda chars turnips on the robata grill and studs squid blini with gingko nuts. The open second story of this former residence has been preserved down to the last knotty timber plank. Anchored in Japanese ingredients and influenced by Italy and Scandinavia, the cooking is similarly layered, and I wanted to be excited about it. But the idea of 10 courses, each one paired with wine, dampened my enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water. Actually, I would have preferred a bucket of cold water.

Your ultimate guide to the dining scene in Tokyo

“Could I switch to the nonalcoholic pairing?” I asked my server, Haruna Sugiyama. She explained that the nonalcoholic option needed to be ordered in advance. Her smile was sympathetic, but I knew she was thinking, What, you expect us to conjure a roster of compelling zero-proof drinks on the fly?

Except that’s exactly what happened, beginning with a glass of effervescent liquid far too fuchsia to be wine. “Amazake,” she told me, a cloudy, subtly sweet beverage made with koji-cultured rice. The purple was from shiso syrup, she continued, and that was diced pickled orange peel gathering at the bottom of the goblet like cubic boba. Pinprick bubbles raced to the surface. A single large ice cube clonked against the delicate glass, and suddenly, I was thirsty.

Tokyo is a drinking city. It happens at master-class cocktail bars hiding in nondescript office buildings. At shochu power hours that electrify dank izakaya. At luxury lobby bars in the clouds. But wherever the action takes place, lately it’s a drinking-with-less-alcohol city.

“For the customers at my bar, and for many young people, low-alcohol cocktails and mocktails are becoming more popular,” Keita Saito said after picking me up from my hotel, the buzzing Trunk, for a bar crawl in Shibuya. A sparsely goateed gearhead with tornado and lightning tattoos on his neck, Saito owns Liquid Factory, a 10-seat cocktail workshop a couple of blocks from Trunk. But it was his night off, so we weren’t heading there.

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At our first stop, SG Club, umami bubbles drifted across Parmigiano Sours, made with pisco and Sauternes, and neo–piña coladas arrived in pineapple carriages. Cheap and ferociously fizzy whisky sodas fuelled a feast of iridescent sashimi and wintry oden stew at Shirubee, a rambunctious restaurant-industry hangout. In Shinjuku, we pressed in to Open Book, spine-to-spine like the volumes on the floor-to-ceiling shelves, and sank into the citrusy, narcotic quicksand of the bar’s famous Lemon Sour. At some point, Saito told me, without irony, “It’s changing, the stereotype of Japanese people drinking too much.”

The evening’s shenanigans aside, Saito is not wrong. Alcohol consumption has been on a two-decade decline in Japan. The pandemic only accelerated this trend, and the drop has been most precipitous among Gen Zers and millennials. Lauren Shannon, an American expat and the general manager of the Arigato Japan tour company explained the next morning over restorative miso soup: “I’ve lived in Tokyo for twenty-five years, and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve been to my Japanese friends’ houses.” It’s not a lack of hospitality but a function of logistics, she said; multigenerational households cohabiting in small apartments “push socialising outside the home to izakaya and bars.”

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Which was not possible during successive lockdowns, when the government severely curtailed operating hours for bars and restaurants. Largely bereft of their social-drinking spaces, people indulged less, and establishments that wanted to remain open, like the Bellwood, in Shibuya, had to get creative. Fortunately, this sepia-toned lounge already had an artist in residence. I met chef Ayaka Terai in her four-seat bar-within-a-bar, dressed like a painter in a linen smock over a black turtleneck, one long earring dangling from her left lobe like a lamp chain.

Bellwood’s founder and head bartender, Atsushi Suzuki, served me an easygoing welcome cocktail of shochu with shiso and seltzer, while Terai introduced her unconventional Bell Sushi. “I’m inspired by taking trips, talking to people, and Netflix,” she said. These influences converge in an exuberant, internationally inspired carnival untethered to traditions of who can make nigiri (only men) and where it can be served (not in cocktail bars). With a blowtorch, she flash-broiled dominoes of anago, pressed them into nigiri with delicately seasoned rice, and applied a shiny coffee glaze and cocoa nibs, in a tribute to Brazil. The burning smell wasn’t the smouldering sea eel but the demise of the sushi patriarchy.

Another night, I descended into a Ginza basement to meet two more resourceful disruptors. I found chef Tatsuya Suzuki and sake master Takafumi Doi waiting behind the dark wood counter of their restaurant, Kion, partially obscured by the soothing shadows like a couple of sake oracles. Pairing with Suzuki’s smart Mediterranean-Japanese cooking, Doi went all out with an array of sakes: Shikishima Junmai, a zephyr of peach blossoms and liquorice; a tawny aged brew from 1988, as acidic and nutty as Oloroso sherry; blond mango sake as sweetly fragrant as Juicy Fruit gum. A red-rice Kyokuko Rosso had been infused with sansho pepper and bergamot, then carbonated into a faux sparkling rosé.

Tokyo’s bar culture is in perpetual motion. To wit, Kion closed in April, but Suzuki and Doi have already launched Chord, a sake think tank and pop-up-restaurant series. The venue may be different, but the mission remains the same: reintroducing sake to a generation that often dismisses it, according to Suzuki, as “a drink for the elderly.” They offer spirit-free alternatives, too.

Back at AC House, a parade of peculiar, complex, and delightful drinks unfolded: roasty hojicha, on its own as cold brew and separately infused with burdock and fermented into sprightly kombucha; the Gin-Apple Soda, alchemy of fresh juice and juniper; aged red rooibos turned into a look-alike orange wine with plum syrup, pine oil, and pickled pine-leaf brine. None contained a drop of alcohol. Sugiyama, who by now I’d learned was not only my server but AC House’s beverage director, brought the last drink, a “mezcal” mocktail, with dessert. The delicious hazelnut ice cream melted in neglect as I sipped and studied the mocktail, a captivating concoction of plum, whey, and some mysterious alt-agave. It was fruity and sharp, bittersweet and smoky like a plum tarte tatin baked a little too long and extinguished with lemon and cream.

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Taking cues from the city’s new hospitality generation, I realised that drinking versus abstaining from alcohol can be a both-and instead of an either-or, and later in the trip, I would find that balance. At Liquid Factory, I would pick Flowers (a spirit-free basil-and-orange-blossom fizz) and One Pear (hopped gin and tonic laced with pear liqueur).

While staying at the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon, I’d try tea bottled like wine (an elegant Taiwanese oolong) and wine batched like a cocktail (Sauvignon Blanc with green rooibos and mint eau-de-vie) at the gorgeous Jade Room.

During a cocktail crawl with Shannon, I’ll trip out on the Blue Cheese Lore Martini at Folklore, a blend of blue cheese brandy, sweet potato shochu, Sauternes, and honey.

Back at AC House, I reflected on how Sugiyama had achieved the ethereal smokiness of mezcal in her after-dinner banger. “Lapsang souchong,” she said, the ancient tea finished over a pinewood fire. She invited me to compare it with the actual mezcal version, but I declined. “Do you not drink alcohol?” she finally asked. I offered a fitting answer for this Tokyo moment: I do, and I don’t.

Sugiyama has since moved on from the restaurant — like I said, perpetual motion — but her influence remains. Shortly after her departure, AC House went completely nonalcoholic.

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Related: Some Of The Most Hard-To-Book, Invitation-Only Restaurants In Tokyo

From sprawling speciality spaces to cosy cafés — India houses several top-notch coffee shops, each with the best brews on offer. Zeroing in on the perfect one for your next java might, hence, become an exercise in exhaustion. Our recommendation? Let the cosmos take the lead. Here’s where to grab a cup of something caffeinated, based on your zodiac sign.

Around the globe, millions engage in the near-religious ritual of brewing a cup of coffee every morning. For some, only a luxurious pour-over would do. For others, a convenient instant number hits the sweet spot. That said, for many, this exercise extends beyond the wee hours — with several cups being savoured through the day. In fact, this collective passion for caffeinated beverages has paved the way for spaces specialising in all things java. While some are the perfect spots for first dates, others double up as a makeshift office for digital nomads.

In India, several such coffee shops dot major cities and travel hotspots — each with wildly varying ambience and menus that boast the best beans and brewing techniques. Picking the perfect one for your next cup of ‘Joe from the sea of options on offer can get tricky. This is where zodiac signs come in. By spotlighting dominant personality traits — and in turn, major lifestyle choices — astrology might just make it easier to determine which establishment is a worthy addition to a caffeine repertoire. We’re letting the stars brew up a cup with this guide to must-visit spots, based on your zodiac sign.

Cafes to pop by for the best cup of coffee, based on your zodiac sign

Aries: Maverick & Farmer Coffee, Bengaluru

 

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Aries is known to be adventurous and bold. Those born under this sign would enjoy satiating their competitive spirit by following — or participating in — a football match at Maverick & Farmer Coffee, Bengaluru. Couched within the RBANM football ground in the heart of the city, this breezy pet-friendly cafe is frequented by athletes and caffeine aficionados alike. On the menu are a host of options — Vietnamese Coffee, Espresso, Cortado, Flat White, and the works. Each sip here comes with the promise of the finest blending, roasting, and grinding processes. This spontaneous fire sign would particularly enjoy savouring the range of experimental cold brews or getting creative by personalising a latte.

Address: 32, Gangadhara Chetty Road, Ulsoor, Bengaluru
Contact: +91 83174 11438

Taurus: Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, New Delhi-NCR

 

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Taurus is known to be grounded and practical. Those born under this sign are likely to have a go-to coffee order, enjoying the routine of popping by a familiar space on their way to, or back from, work. A dependable choice? Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, New Delhi-NCR. Each cup at this household name boasts beans that have been meticulously chosen after careful sampling. The in-house roasters have been through advanced sensory training as well. The menu here is a medley of classics — Espresso, Cortado, Mocha, Cappuccino, Iced Americano, Trioccino, Cold Brew, the works. There are canned alternatives, hot and cold variations, and a few quirky options in there as well. Best part? There are multiple outlets across the city, ensuring that this comfort-seeking earth sign doesn’t have to look too far for their choice of java.

Address: Multiple outlets across New Delhi-NCR

Gemini: Gshot Coffee Roastery & Cafe, Goa

 

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Geminis are known to be multifaceted and social. They’d find a kindred soul in the community-run G-Shot in Goa. The breezy, ‘gram-worthy space boasts a free-spirited, laid-back ambience — ideal for long hours spent engaging in conversations and creative endeavours. The menu is extensive and unique — creamy Hindustan Cold Coffee, fizzy Espresso Tonic, fragrant Lavender Sea-Salt Latte, classic Vietnamese Style, and more. The Espresso Bar comes with several options as well — a fun infographic spotlighting the differences between each. An Affogato Bar and Cacao Section adds to the excitement. These factors will keep this curious and easily bored air sign entertained. Not to mention, there are plenty of options to customise a drink — lending this space an adaptable character that Geminis are known for.

Address: House 436, Bouta Waddo, Bardez, Assagao, Goa
Contact: +91 73787 30564

Cancer: KCROASTERS By Koinonia, Mumbai

 

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Cancers are known to be affectionate and sensitive. These creatures of comfort would be drawn to the cosy, warm ambience of KCROASTERS By Koinonia. The quaint cafe nestled in the quiet bylanes of Chuim Village boasts some of the most delicious cups of coffee in the country — courtesy of high-quality beans that are sourced from estates in South India and roasted fresh in-house. Of all the options on the extensive menu — which includes several classics — this water sign would enjoy the indulgence of Gingerbread Latte, Spiced Orange Mocha, Almond Date Cold Brew, and Coconut Vietnamese. There’s plenty of French viennoiserie and other delicious bites to pair these with. Cancers would enjoy snuggling into their seats with a good book and a hot cup of ‘Joe on a rainy day.

Address: 66, Chuim Village Road, Danda, Khar, Mumbai
Contact: +91 91366 50280

Leo: United Coffee House, New Delhi

 

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Leos are known to be regal, traditional, and luxury-loving. Those born under this sign would enjoy the opulence and rich history that United Coffee House serves in spades. It first opened its doors in the 1930s — serving cona coffees to the capital city’s most influential figures. The menu has evolved since to offer the most extensive set of global bites, appetisers to desserts. However, brewed numbers remain a must-try here. In fact, Akassh Kalra, director, of United Group of Restaurants told The Hindu, “If you come in and don’t smell coffee, find people sitting back and reading a novel and the ambience relaxing” it is not UCH.” Caffeinated options are exceptional — Espresso Blends to Blended Cold Coffees. There’s a selection of liquor-spiked concoctions to choose from as well — a touch of fun that this bold and adventurous fire sign would enjoy. A cup of ‘Joe here is a grand affair — nothing but an iconic experience for the king of the cosmic jungle.

Address: E-15, Connaught Place, New Delhi
Phone: +91 11234 16075

Virgo: The Craftery by Subko Coffee

 

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Virgos are known to be practical and methodical. Their inner perfectionist would enjoy the attention to detail that comes with the javas at Subko Coffee. The expansive space — which houses a roastery, bakeshop, and coffee shop — allows visitors to take a peek at the production process behind every sip and bite. This would appeal to the intelligent Virgos, who’d closely follow every stage. The caffeinated concoctions here are high quality — with beans sourced from the finest plantations in Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Options range from classic Cortado and Long Black to more experimental Banoffee Flat White and Sif On The Rocks (filter coffee with condensed milk). A retail section allows those born under this earth sign to pick up ingredients and perfect their own coffee-making skills at home.

Address: Unit 2, Jak Compound, D K, 1st Cross Lane, Byculla, Mumbai
Contact: +91 85917 58233

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Libra: Lala’s Art Cafe, Ladakh

Are we the survivors of immeasurable events?

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— Insha Kanue (@InshaKanue) July 20, 2021

Libras are known to be charming, friendly, and adaptable. Ruled by the planet of beauty Venus, those born under this sign have a deep appreciation for art and harmony. They’d be drawn to the welcoming, quiet, and picturesque Lala’s Art Cafe. Once a monastery on the verge of demolition, this cosy space was restored into a gallery cafe. Here, delicious coffee (some of the best in India) is served with a side of works by international as well as Ladakhi artists and photographers. This air sign would also enjoy admiring the nine-foot-tall granite statue of Maitreya (Buddha) outside, befriending the staff, and getting in a few stunning shots of the old-school space for the ‘gram.

Address: Main Bazaar Rd, Old Town, Leh
Contact: +91 95966 60593

Scorpio: Babka, Goa

 

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Scorpios are known to be mysterious and honest. Those born under this sign are loyal and would enjoy a quality space they can trust enough to be a patron at. The passionate sign would appreciate the dedication that’s poured into every cup at the cosy Babka in Goa. The service here is top-notch and the coffee is simply one of the best found in India. The options are classics — Cortado, Cappuccino, Iced Americano, and Iced Latte among others. Scorpios enjoy complexity and learning and would enjoy asking the baristas about available roasts and the origin stories of every coffee being served up. Scorpios would enjoy popping by for a sip (or two) on the way back from a day at the beach — which is where their water sign selves are likely to feel the most at home.

Address: 1282, Gaunwadi, Anjuna, Goa
Contact: +91 82620 41326

Sagittarius: Bloom & Brew, Goa

 

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Sagittarius is known to be adventurous and free-spirited. Their sunny personalities and traveller hearts will feel right at home in the breezy boho Bloom & Brew. The pet-friendly space features eccentric, ‘gram-worthy décor, complete with floor seating, verdant corners, and wooden details. The menu at this caffeine hub in India includes a range of the best, most classic coffee options — Cold Brew, Espresso, Latte, Cortado, Cappuccino, Macchiato, and the works. Each comes with the option of vegan milk. This, combined with frequent art workshops, live music performances, and flea markets gives this social, fun-loving fire sign plenty of opportunities to make new connections and live it up.

Address: Survey No. 199/1, Boura Vaddo, Assagao, Goa
Contact: +91 98109 78888

Capricorn: The Caffeine Baar, Bengaluru

 

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Capricorns are known to be ambitious and pragmatic. This hardworking sign is most likely to be drawn to work cafes where they can indulge in several cups to fuel a long day. Enter, The Caffeine Baar — where you are guaranteed to find one of the best coffees in India. Complete with Wi-Fi facilities, practical and comfortable decor, and a quiet ambience — the well-lit, 1,400 square feet space is a popular spot for those who work remotely. On the menu are quality 24-hour fermented brews — Espresso to seasonal cold brews. Each is meticulously crafted, using the finest beans. These factors combined make the space a dependable, sound choice for this practical earth sign.

Address: 1424/81, Second Floor, 9th Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore
Contact: +91 96114 94141

Aquarius: Été Coffee Roasters Headquarters, Kohima

 

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Aquarius is known to be rebellious and eccentric. Those born under this sign would find kindred spirits in the owners of Été Coffee Roasters Headquarters — who broke away from conventional professions to Northeast India’s first speciality coffee roasting company, promising the best brews. The Headquarters is cosy, ‘gram worthy with a range of classic to unique on offer. We’re talking Cappuccino, Latte, Flat White, Irish Coffee, the works. This social and intelligent sign would also enjoy talking to the baristas, watching their work closely, and learning the little intricacies of the art of brewing.

Address: Billy Graham Rd, Kohima, Nagaland

Pisces: Cafe Des Arts, Pondicherry

 

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Pisces is known to be imaginative and creative. They’d enjoy the whimsy of the cosy, vibrant Cafe Des Arts in Pondicherry. The space features yellow walls, graffiti, and a medley of artwork. The vibe is vintage and the coffee, is top-notch. This water sign — which feels the most at home around the beach — is likely to pop by this spot for a quick cup of Latte or Vanilla Espresso, a couple of ‘gram-worthy shots, and plenty of artistic inspiration. Besides, the cosy ambience will comfort this homely sign.

Address: 10, Suffren St, White Town, Pondicherry
Contact: +91 99944 81914

Where are you headed for some Java?

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Related: Grab A Cup Of Joe At The Most Gorgeous Starbucks Outlets Around The World

Sometimes you feel peckish, but not for food. These Thai drinks will keep your taste buds entertained for a while. But what are the best Thai drinks you can get in Thailand? Read on for our ranking and our rating.

It’s really true that you can find something to eat no matter the time of day in Thailand. The same also goes for drinks. Even if there are no drinks stalls and tea places open, there are drinks almost identical in taste offered in mini-marts and mom-and-pop shops down the soi.

Spoiled for choice on which Thai drink would work best for your craving? We’ve got you covered.

Ranking the best Thai drinks, from Thai iced tea to roselle juice

Thai iced tea

Ceylon black tea, condensed milk, and sugar—these were the ingredients chosen to create the perfect drink. But Professor Utonium accidentally added an extra ingredient to the concoction: whole milk, poured on top. Thus, Thai iced tea was born, and to this day, is inarguably the most popular Thai drink.

Taste: The punch of Ceylon coupled with the creaminess of the milks are perfect to begin mornings if you’re looking for a coffee alternative. You can also grab one for a quick sugar rush during the day.
Availability: Practically in every cafe, coffee shop, restaurant, hotel, and more. So, everywhere.
Thainess: It’s the drink people associate Thailand with, so that’s the most Thai drink you can get.

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Nom yen (cold milk)

Translated to “cold milk,” nom yen is made from cold milk and salak syrup. It’s very popular in drink form and as a flavour for shaved ice, which Thai people pair with bread and other sides. Simple but satisfying, it is certainly one of the Thai drinks visiting friends should try while in Thailand.

Taste: Sweet but not overbearing, absolute banger on a hot day (so, like, every day).
Availability: This can be found in almost every place that sells coffee in Thailand.
Thainess: It can be argued that the salak fruit isn’t inherently Thai, but Hale’s Blue Boy, where coffee shops typically buy for the salak flavour, has been in Thailand since 1959. We’re pretty sure that we made it our own after almost 80 years.

Coconut water

Packed with electrolytes and a distinct refreshing flavour, coconut water is the super hydrating choice popular in various parts of Thailand, especially the provinces near the sea. All those benefits available at your fingertips at a very low-calorie level make it easy to see why it’s so beloved. Get a good mixologist in the house and you have yourself a nice tiki cocktail, too. The options are endless.

Taste: The taste has become synonymous with the beach itself, so full marks on that front.
Availability: Easily found in Bangkok, as well as near the sea. Still, the markup in tourist areas is insane.
Thainess: It’s a must-have when in Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, and the like, but is it “Thai?” Not really.

Chrysanthemum tea

Packed to the brim with health benefits, chrysanthemum tea is an herbal drink prevalent among the Chinese community in Thailand. While many foreigners may be more familiar with the chrysanthemum flower being made into hot tea, the Thai-Chinese community added some syrup, packed the glass with ice, and turned it into a refreshing alternative to combat any hot day.

Taste: Herbal, and very nice with sugar. A great gateway drink for your kids to get into herbal drinks. Some places make it way too sweet, though.
Availability: Commonly found in Thai-Chinese businesses. Almost every restaurant in Yaowarat has its own brew ready to be served.
Thainess: Not actually Thai at all, but still a big part of the Thai-Chinese community here, so somewhat Thai in that sense.

Butterfly pea tea

There’s simply no better afternoon pick-me-up, period. This Thai drink is underrated by the crowd—a light, crisp flavour with an herbal aroma owing to the Asian pigeonwings flower. It normally has a deep blue colour by nature, but comes with an extra wow factor: add lemon juice to the drink and it turns into a beautiful purple colour.

Taste: Goes amazingly well with lemon juice. Perfect for in-between meals. A fresh take on your regular iced tea.
Availability: Quite hard to find compared to other herbal drinks. Normally found in floating markets, Thai spas, and, oddly, shabu restaurants.
Thainess: One of the herbal drinks that is very Thai, as butterfly pea can be commonly found in Southeast Asian countries. To our knowledge, the countries that add lemon juice and ice are Thailand and Vietnam.

Roselle juice

Roselle juice has a mesmerising deep red colour from the roselle plant, a variety of the hibiscus flower. Apart from being refreshing in nature, the plant also has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Some studies even show that it lowers blood pressure, too, so this drink has become very popular for people of all ages.

Taste: Very notably herbal in taste, with a sharp tanginess.
Availability: Not very common anymore, but Thai restaurants and markets still have them. Some hotels like to offer this as a welcome drink.
Thainess: It’s quite hard to pinpoint its origins since the roselle plant can be found in Southeast Asia, as well as West African countries. However, it has become a staple in Thai establishments.

Oliang (Thai iced coffee)

Oliang is best described as “Thai iced coffee.” It’s prepared with Robusta coffee, brown sugar, and various grains and seeds ranging from cardamom to sesame. The coffee aroma coupled with the smokiness of the roasted grains really gives this Thai drink a unique sensation.

Taste: It’s certainly got the caffeine punch, but the smoky notes of the seeds really elevate the drink. All that for what, THB 40? A fantastic coffee break.
Availability: It has become harder to find since it’s normally only found in streetside stalls, but many coffee shops are bringing Oliang back into their menus.
Thainess: Even though Oliang is labelled as Thai, and its history isn’t very clear, the word Oliang is of Teochew pronunciation. So, it’s a bit more on the Thai-Chinese side rather than being fully Thai.

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This story first appeared here.

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Related: The Most Underrated Thai Dishes To Order Instead Of Pad Thai