In the early 2000s, Hong Kong’s drinking culture could be summarized in just a few broad strokes. There were expat-packed pubs, a few wine bars and plenty of clubs.
If you wanted a crisp martini or Manhattan, you’d most likely head to a hotel bar or one of the few independent cocktail bars. In other words, cocktails existed, but they weren’t central to the city’s identity in the way they were in places like Singapore, New York and London.
But the city’s nightlife has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. Now, you can find aperitivi spots, Japanese whisky dens, experimental cocktail labs and agave bars — all within a few minutes’ walk from each other.
“Coming out of the pandemic years, I’ve noticed a massive shift,” says Lorenzo Antinori, founder of lauded Bar Leone and Cuban-inspired Montana, who moved to Hong Kong in 2019. “People are moving away from concept-driven venues or overly complex drinks. A night out is less about the ‘show’ now and much more about genuine connection, comfort and just having a great time with friends.”
Antinori says that evolution wouldn’t have been possible without a few pioneers. Among them are Antonio Lai’s Quinary, one of the city’s first internationally recognized cocktail bars, and Beckaly Franks’ The Pontiac, which brought an “unapologetic, rock ’n’ roll energy” and proved that a bar could be “wild and fun while still serving great drinks,” he says.
He also tips a hat to Jay Khan of COA and Agung Prabowo of The Old Man and later Penicillin, whose work helped show the world that “Hong Kong isn’t just a finance hub, but a serious, world-class destination for craft cocktails.”
Simply put, he says, Hong Kong’s cocktail scene is really about hospitality and quality taking center stage, rather than fly-by trends and spectacle. To give you a taste of its depth and diversity, we’ve rounded up eight standout bars to try next time you’re in town.
Bar Leone
Warm and relaxed, Bar Leone helped redefine what a world-class cocktail bar could look like in Hong Kong. Inspired by the casual neighborhood bars in Rome, Antinori’s hometown, the wood-clad space feels like an Italian living room — picture framed photographs and Italian soccer memorabilia on the walls, while servers weave through the buzzing space full of regulars.
It’s all about old-school hospitality and beautifully executed classics. Negronis, daiquiris, sazeracs and spritzes — the gang’s all here, some with creative spins, like the Filthy Martini or the Olive Oil Sour. It’s unfussy, uncomplicated and unpretentious, and that’s the point. After years of working in luxury hotels, Antinori says he wanted to strip things back to basics.
“Bar Leone managed to create that neighborhood feel while introducing the idea that quality can be accessible,” Antinori says. “Our motto is ‘cocktail popolari’ — cocktails for the people. It’s a love letter to what a bar should be: a place for people to get together.”
ARGO
Located on the ground floor of the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, ARGO has established itself as one of the city’s leading bars, pairing a dazzling design with waterfront views and an inventive cocktail program. Almost as soon as you arrive, you’ll be greeted with a playful welcome drink — a glass of sparkling wine with a gummy bear nestled at the bottom — setting the tone for an experience that’s sophisticated yet not overly serious.
Under the direction of beverage manager Jonathan Gabbay, the recently introduced ARGO Exploration menu takes you on a journey through Hong Kong’s people, places and seasons. Divided into chapters devoted to local collaborations, seasonal ingredients and beloved classics, the 12-drink collection features wholly novel libations alongside riffs on old favorites.
For a solid introduction, try a Morning Bite — an easy-drinking creation that pairs gin and chardonnay with herbal liqueur and banana jam for a bright, citrusy sip. Or head in the opposite direction with the rich, nutty Miso Espresso Martini, made with vodka, miso and coffee.
Kinsman
Opened in 2024 by food journalist Gavin Yeung and Singular Concepts hospitality group, Kinsman offers one of Hong Kong’s most distinctive drinking experiences. Named after the family-run distilleries that once helped make the city a regional spirits hub, the intimate Soho bar resurrects Cantonese spirits that have fallen out of the mainstream.
Designed as a modern Cantonese salon, the 50-seat space is drenched in saturated crimson hues alongside checkered flooring and nostalgic references. The creative drinks are built around pu-erh tea, preserved fruits, Chinese medicinal herbs and regional spirits for a result you won’t find anywhere else.
Signature drinks like the Milk & Honey — reminiscent of a cross between a Hong Kong milk tea and a tropical highball — or the savory and tart Papaya Van Winkle showcase the bar team’s inventive approach, while the overall experience celebrates Hong Kong ingredients, flavors and craftsmanship.
The Lounge & Bar
If you’re seeking the height of sophistication, simply look up. Towering over the West Kowloon peninsula, the Five-Star Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong sets both a literal and figurative benchmark for the city’s hotel bars with The Lounge & Bar, perched on the 102nd floor.
While many visitors come for the views, the beverage program is sophisticated enough to stand on its own. The sky-high address combines Hong Kong’s most spectacular vistas with inventive libations, including the signature Woody cocktail. Poured tableside, the drink unfolds in a swirl of black orchid smoke, revealing a rich, silky blend of vanilla-infused Bulleit bourbon, white penja pepper cordial, Amaro Santoni and Old Fashioned bitters.
Add flame-seared salmon tartare, Spanish Cantabrian anchovies or Iberian charcuterie, and you have one of the city’s most decadent cocktail experiences.
COA
No roundup of Hong Kong’s bars would be complete without COA. Back in 2017, when this little mezcal bar popped up on the fringes of Soho, the concept was different from everything else out there. Founded by industry veteran Jay Khan, the agave-focused bar helped introduce many locals to the diversity and rich history of tequila, mezcal and other Mexican spirits while elevating Hong Kong’s international cocktail reputation.
Decked out with exposed concrete and hand-painted murals, this acclaimed drinking den combines a convivial personality with an agave-spirits menu spanning more than 40 pages. Come for the mezcal, but stay for COA’s excellent Tommy’s Margarita, La Paloma de Oaxaca and seasonal creations.
The Savory Project
One of the city’s most original cocktail concepts, The Savory Project — a joint venture from COA’s Jay Khan and Ajit Gurung — experiments with flavors more commonly associated with the kitchen than the bar. Inspired in part by a growing demand for less-sugary drinks, the bartenders lunged toward the savory and umami end of the spectrum, where ingredients like tomatoes, mushrooms, beef jerky, herbs and cheeses appear not for the sake of novelty, but to create layered, balanced cocktails with alluring aromas and textures.
All aglow with amber hues, terra cotta mosaic tiles and raw brick, the warm yet minimal interiors reinforce the bar’s ambitions, allowing guests to focus more fully on their drinks. Indeed, you’ll want all your senses available to fully appreciate tipples like the aromatic Baked Cheese Curry — a combination of coconut curry, baked cheese, apple, celery and tequila — or the gin-based Mala Punch, featuring a funky blend of Sichuan pepper, mint, peat and fermented beans.
Qura Bar
Tucked inside the Five-Star Regent Hong Kong, Qura Bar feels less like a conventional hotel bar and more like a collector’s private library devoted to rare spirits. Rich woods, velvet upholstery and panoramic harbor views create a glamorous art deco world, while an extensive collection of cognacs, Armagnacs and whiskies draws connoisseurs from around the world.
The recently launched Salon de Qura menu transforms cocktails into works of art, with eight creations inspired by disciplines such as painting, music, film and sculpture. For an introduction to Qura Bar’s adventurous menu, try the Beth-Luis-Nion, a mineral-forward highball featuring sun-dried tomato-infused whisky, or the Paparazzi, a smooth milk punch finished with a playful chocolate “kiss” as a garnish.
And if classic drinks are more your preference, you’ll find polished takes on Vespers, mojitos and margaritas alongside an extensive wine and spirits list — best enjoyed while gazing out at the twinkling lights of Victoria Harbour.
Socio
A fresh concept on Hong Kong’s cocktail circuit, Socio opened in 2024 to satisfy a growing appetite for more casual, community-driven bars. The Soho hot spot centers on sustainability and collaboration, regularly teaming up with neighboring venues on seasonal menus and charitable initiatives. As an example, the team recently created a sea-aged Negroni, which matured underwater for 42 days, to raise funds for Hong Kong-based environmental charity Plastic Free Seas.
That same sustainable ethos extends to the drinks menu, which frequently incorporates upcycled ingredients sourced from other Hong Kong restaurants and bars. In one signature cocktail, Socio infused vodka with spent white tea leaves from Tell Camellia, a neighboring bar, before blending it with gin, local honey, rhubarb and a silky milk tea foam. Rich yet refreshing, the drink feels like an homage to Hong Kong culture in cocktail form.
Socio’s approachable atmosphere and out-of-the-box recipes feel emblematic of the city’s broader cocktail evolution — globally connected, locally rooted and increasingly confident in its unique point of view.
