Singaporeans are evidently obsessed with Hong Kong – and the endless opening of Hong Kong gourmet brands on our sunny island is testimony to that fact. While most travellers only spend a weekend in the Pearl of the Orient, we strongly suggest you to re-visit the city this year.

From having breakfast at Honolulu Cafe, boarding a junk boat, hiking the Dragon’s Back, shopping till you drop at Citygate Outlets to partying at Lan Kwai Fong, here is a curated 4D3N Hong Kong Itinerary and 20 Tips On What To See And What To Eat.

DAY ONE IN HONG KONG

#1 HAVE BREAKFAST AT HONOLULU CAFE

Honolulu Coffee Shop is famous for their egg tarts. Having said that, do make it a point to visit in the morning to savour the freshest and tastiest egg tarts. There is a stark contrast in its quality during daytime and nighttime. We also highly recommend their Pineapple Buns.

176-178 Hennessy Rd, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2575 1823
Daily: 6am – 12am
Nearest Station: Wan Chai

#2 BARGAIN HUNTING AT LADIES MARKET

The Ladies Market is a popular night market that stretches across a few streets. Even if shopping is not on your to-do list, you should still take a stroll down the aisle and check out all the interesting items that have on sale.

Tung Choi Street
Mong Kok, Kowloon

#3 CHECK OUT THE FLOWER MARKET

Located on Flower Market Road, the Flower Market is actually a cluster of flower shops selling all sorts of flowers you ever dreamt of. Bouquets are readily available or if you would like, stalks of roses can also be bought at relatively cheap prices. It is Valentine’s Day every day here!

Flower Market Road
Prince Edward, Kowloon

#4 LUNCH AT KAM WAH CAFE

Kam Wah Cafe has a made a name for itself with its bo lo bao (pineapple bun). The local cha chaan teng is always crowded with locals and foodie tourists, but trust us, the pineapple buns are worth the wait.

G/F, 47 Bute St
Prince Edward, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2392 6830
Daily: 6.30am – 12am
Nearest MTR: Prince Edward

#5 BOARD A HONG KONG JUNK BOAT

The picture of a junk boat against the picturesque skyline of Hong Kong says everything. Cruising along the sea on a Hong Kong junk boat is an unmissable experience! So gather your friends, charter a boat and sail into the sea while singing along to Moana’s soundtrack.

#6 DINNER AT RONIN

Ronin—a speakeasy style Japanese bar-cum-restaurant—is one of Hong Kong’s best-kept secrets. The dark, mysterious 20-seated bar’s primary focus is seafood and damn, it seriously is one of the best meals we ever had in our lifetimes. Of course, the divine meal comes at a costly price.

8 On Wo Lane
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2547 5263
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 12am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

#7 BAR HOP AT SHEUNG WAN

Admittedly, the neighbourhood of Sheung Wan is immensely gentrified. However, we certainly do not mind the new addition of exciting cocktail bars! Some of our personal favourite watering holes include Aberdeen Street Social, Sohofama and NEO Cocktail Club.

DAY TWO IN HONG KONG

#8 BRUNCH AT MAXIM’S PALACE

If you are looking for a quintessential Hong Kong dim sum experience with the comfort of a modern establishment, then head to Maxim’s Palace. They have retained its authenticity by serving dim sum on traditional trolleys like the good old days.

3/F, City Hall 5-7 Edinburgh Place
Tel: +852 2521 1303
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Sun & PH: 9am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Central

#9 HIKE DRAGON’S BACK

Located in the outskirts of metropolis Hong Kong, Dragon’s Back boasts stunning panoramic views of tall skyscrapers, coastal shores and the surrounding mountainous region. The beginner-friendly hike makes an excellent alternative for those who wish to admire Hong Kong’s scenery minus the suffocating crowds.

#10 LUNCH AT YUM CHA

If you are looking for a great yum cha meal without the scruffiness, Yum Cha is the perfect place. The dining establishment is exceptionally popular for its irresistibly adorable dim sums. It is worth mentioning that the steamed dishes were superb and service was impeccable.

3/F, 20-22 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2751 1666
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest MTR Station: Tsim Sha Tsui

#11 COFFEE AT OMOTESANDO KOFFEE

Fans of Japanese Omotesando Koffee can look forward to the specialty coffee bar’s high quality espresso-based beverages and baked custard cubes at Hong Kong’s outlet. Take all our money already!

G24-25, Lee Tung Ave
200 Queen’s Rd East
Tel: +852 2601 3323
Mon to Fri: 8am – 8pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest MTR Station: Wan Chai

#12 SHOP TILL YOU DROP AT CITYGATE OUTLETS

Ladies, remember to increase your credit card’s spending limit prior to visiting Citygate Outlets. This shopping centre this is where you can find global brands such as Burberry, Club21 and OnPedder at slashed prices.

20 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung,
Lantau, Hong Kong
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tung Chung

#13 DINNER AT YAT LOK

Yat Lok might be notorious for their atrocious service, but it is their insanely delicious roast goose meat that kept us returning religiously each time we visit Hong Kong. It has been nearly half a century since award-winning Yat Lok started serving amazing roast meat with their family secret recipe, and the rest is history.

G/F, 34 -38 Stanley Street
Central Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2524 3882
Mon to Sat: 10am – 9pm
Sun: 10am – 5.30pm
Nearest Station: Central

#14 PARTY AT LAN KWAI FONG

You have not experienced Hong Kong until you paint the town red at their nightlife district Lan Kwai Fong. There are countless of bars and clubs at this area and they open till an unearthly 6am. Not even kidding.

DAY THREE IN HONG KONG

#15 LUNCH AT HELLO KITTY CHINESE CUISINE

Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine—the World’s First Hello Kitty-Themed Dim Sum Restaurant—has taken Hong Kong by storm and is a must-visit for all avid fans. Due to Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine’s overwhelming popularity, we strongly recommend you to make a reservation in advance to secure a table.

Shop A-C, G/F, Lee Loy Mansion
332-338 Canton Road, Kowloon
Tel: (852) 8202-8203
Daily: 11am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 11pm (last order 10pm)
Nearest MTR Station: Jordan

#16 SPEND THE DAY AT OCEAN PARK

Ocean Park is one of Hong Kong’s best attractions. It houses an amusement park, an animal theme park, an oceanarium and a marine mammal park all in the 17-hectare park. An ideal place for families to spend an entire day at.

#17 DINNER AT ICIHRAN RAMEN

Ichiran Ramen is a ramen chain from Japan and boy, we are glad it has opened 24/7 outlets in Hong Kong. The dining concept is unique; diners sit in individual partitioned cubicles. The broth is unbelievably tasty—we will never get sick of it.

Lockhart House Block B
440-446 Jaffe Road
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2152 4040
Daily: 24/7

DAY FOUR IN HONG KONG

#18 BRUNCH AT SING HEUNG YUEN

Make your way to Sing Heung Yuen—one of Hong Kong’s very last few Dai Pai Dongs—and experience the local way of life by dining at this old-school roadside food vendor. The humble Chinese alfresco eatery has been around for nearly half a century and is especially well-loved amongst locals for its signature tomato egg noodles and yummy condensed milk buns.

2 Mee Lun Street, Central
Tel: +852 2544 8368
Mon to Sat: 8am – 5pm
Closed on Sun and PH
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

#19 VISIT DISNEYLAND HONG KONG

It doesn’t matter if you are a grown adult, because there is no age limit at Disneyland. Discover the magic, immerse yourselves in the fairytales and forget all your adult fears and unhappiness. Spend half a day at Disneyland Hong Kong and unleash the inner child in you.

#20 DINNER AT TSUI WAH

Tsui Wah is hands down the most famous Cha Chaan Teng in Hong Kong. The menu is comprehensive but you can’t go wrong with their signature Hainanese chicken rice and fishball noodles. We are amazed by how the chain has successfully managed to keep its standards consistent throughout all outlets.

15 Wellington Street
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2525 6338
Daily: 24/7
Nearest Station: central

For more recommendations, read our Hong Kong Food & Travel Guides to find out more about the best places to visit.

Looking for a watering hole to unwind after business meetings, a romantic bar with impressive cocktails or a wild night of debauchery? Regardless of what you are actually looking for, Hong Kong’s vibrant nightlife is something that should not be missed.

From sipping Chinese-herbs infused cocktails at Chinoiserie bar Sohofama, partying at high-end nightclub Zentral till the wee hours to admiring bedazzling city views from the world’s highest bar Ozone, check out our guide to Hong Kong’s nightlife featuring 15 popular bars and clubs.

#1 AL’S DINER

Al’s Diner is an American diner in the day but when daylight wanes away, they are best remembered for their tasty yet lethal vodka jello shots (HK$38 / S$6.60 each) that comes in a variety of flavours – choose from blackcurrant, orange, lime or mango.

The bar-cum-restaurant is also a favourite destination amongst sporting fans to catch their favourite team in action on live broadcast.

G/F, 27-30 D’Aguilar Street
Tel: +852 2521 8714
Mon to Wed: 11.30am – 1am
Thu: 11.30am – 2am
Fri to Sat: 11.30am – 4am
Sun: 11.30am – 1am
Nearest Station: Central

There is always something to look forward to at Hong Kong, and there is always something to keep us returning. Here are 29 reasons why we love Hong Kong.

#2 BOBA BEAR

Boba Bear Soho is hands down Hong Kong’s best shisha lounge. One can choose to smoke their hookah from the traditional Egyptian Khail Mamoon shisha (HK$270 / S$46.90) or from the modern Russian glass glowing art shisha (HK$350 / S$60.80) which changes colour with its built-in LED lights.

Prices are way steeper when compared to other shisa bars as Boba Bear Soho uses coconut coal instead of the typical quick-light hookah charcoal. Coconut charcoal is odorless, tasteless and can burn significantly longer, whereas instant-lights are actually a lot more toxic.

From white gummy bear to sex on the beach, the hipster hookah bar offers over 40 interesting shisha flavours. You can even choose to mix the flavours! Bubble tea cocktails are sold here at HK$110 / S$19.10 each. Do note that there is no signboard at Boba Bear Soho’s entrance and reservations are not allowed.

31 Elgin Street
Tel: +852 2468 1525
Daily: 8pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Central

#3 CHOCOLATE

Chocolate Bar is the brainchild of well-established Hong Kong Prive Restaurant Group. The bartenders at Chocolate Bar have successfully infused chocolate into their alcoholic drinks, hence combining a diet’s two greatest enemies into one ultimate sin.

Start your night with chocolate martinis, chocolate shots and everything else chocolatey. A handful of bar snacks such as cheese fries and nachos are also up for grabs in this cozy place.

G/F, 2 Lan Kwai Fong, Central
Tel: +852 2810 1788
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 3am
Fri to Sat: 5pm – 4am
Sun: 5pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Central

Best known as a city for the best shopping and dining, we dug through into the streets to score you the top five cocktail bars in Hong Kong so you can hit the ground running.

#4 DRAGON-I

A contemporary dim sum restaurant by the day and an ultra sleek nightclub by the night, Dragon-I has effortlessly merged gourmet dining and nightlife entertainment into one destination. The interesting concept has won over the expat community, with expatriates making up more than 80% of Dragon-I’s clientele.

The lavish nightclub is also renowned as a hangout place for international models and celebrities. Even staff members themselves are drop-dead gorgeous! Resident DJ spins a different genre of music every night i.e. hip-hop on Mondays and house music on Saturdays.

Celebrity guests DJs are also invited to spin at Dragon-I from time to time and past gigs include Afrojack, Avicii and Laidback Luke.

60 Wyndham Street
Tel: +852 3110 1222
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 5 pm – 4am
Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Central

#5 FOFO BY EL WILLY

First-timers to FoFo by El Willy’s Rooftop Bar might face some challenges finding it. Visitors have to walk through an unassuming tiny walkway of M88 Shopping Mall and past the concierge to get to the lift lobby (you are on the right track when your friends start questioning if M88 is a residential building instead).

The rooftop bar is located right above the fancy Spanish restaurant. Instead of walking into the fine dining establishment, head straight for the adjacent stairwell and an urban sanctuary awaits upstairs. Do note that both the bar and restaurant are under the same company, hence you would be making your payment at the restaurant below after.

The panoramic view of its surroundings is nothing short of spectacular and every angle poses yet another great photography opportunity. We love their refreshing signature mixed fruit Sangrias (HK$75 / S$13.80 per glass) that are available in the white, red and even pink! We actually love this rooftop bar so much that we are going to rate it five out of five.

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20/F M88, 2-8 Wellington St, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2900 2009
Daily: 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Central

#6 LEVELS

3-year-old nightclub LEVELS features two bars, 18 VIP tables and an enclosed private room. Spanning across 8000 square foot, the sleek nightclub is home to Hong Kong’s largest dance floor, hence attracting countless of eager partygoers nightly.

Ladies get to enjoy free admission and complimentary drinks before 1am every Thursday.

2/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2811 1568
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 5am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Central

#7 MAGNUM CLUB

Tastefully designed Magnum Club has long been regarded as an institution in Lan Kwai Fong ever since its inception in 2011. No expense has been spared in the 13,000-square-foot nightclub’s aesthetics; think expect crystal chandeliers, crystal staircases and even a crystal DJ booth! Well, we don’t blame you if you are too buzzed to notice the elaborate decors…

3-4/F, Silver Fortune Plaza, No.1 Wellington Street Central District
Tel: +852 2116 1602
Sun and Mon: Closed
Tue to Sat: 11pm – 5am
Nearest Station: Central

#8 NEO COCKTAIL CLUB

Neo Cocktail Club is an up-and-coming retro cocktail bar that is so camouflaged that you would not even know that you have walked past it. Located right beside dessert shop Munchies, the bar is not just well-known for its drinks but also equally famous for its old-school games. Unwind into the night with a round of foosball or a game at the vintage pinball machine.

10 Shin Hing Street,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2812 2280
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sat: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

#9 OZONE

Are the steep hills of chaotic party district Lan Kwai Fong too much for your stilettos to handle? You might want to strut through the night in your best outfit at Ozone instead. Located at the 118th floor of Ritz Carlton Hotel Hong Kong, Ozone’s terrace offers stunning panoramic views of Hong Kong. Ozone is not only one of the world’s best bars but is also the world’s tallest bar.

Indulge in tantalising light Asian tapas and end the night with a delectable variety of fruity cocktails. Prices of drinks (from HK$200 / S$34.70) may be off the charts for Southeast Asian standards but what you are paying for also includes the prime location and gorgeous ambience.

118/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West
Tel: +852 2263 2263
Mon to Wed: 5pm – 1am
Thu: 5pm – 2am
Fri: 5pm – 3am
Sat: 3pm – 3am
Sun: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Kowloon

#10 OZU

Non-pretentious Japanese bar Ozu left a lasting impression with its divine fusion cocktails and addictively tasty Jap bar nosh. The amazing creations were invented by talented mixologist Kit Cheung who has over a decade worth of bartending experience in various cosmopolitan cities.

We had the honour to sample his creations firsthand and were blown away by how he managed to integrate green tea and wasabi seamlessly into delicious cocktails.

1 Hollywood Road, Central
Tel: +852 6064 7428
Daily: 3pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Central

#11 QUINARY

If innovative cocktails are of your thing, then you are in for a treat. Ranked as #42 in the world’s best bars, Quinary is famous for their mindblowing creative cocktails. Do not miss out their signature creations Marshmallow Duo shots (HK$110 / S$19) and Earl Grey Caviar Martini (HK$130 / SG$22.60).

The former is a sweet milkshake cocktail served in two miniature bottles with roasted marshmallows on the side and is perfect for those with a sweet tooth. The latter is a stronger concoction of Absolut Vodka, Cointreau and citrus juices with foamy earl grey flavoured bubble foam.

G/F, 56-58 Hollywood Road, Central
Tel: +852 2851 3223
Mon to Sat: 5pm – 2am
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Central

#12 SEVVA

Highly raved about Sevva is one of the most reputable roof top bars in Hong Kong. Located on the 25th storey of Prince’s Building, the extravagant bar is the place to be and to be seen – with an unsurprisingly hefty price tag. Patrons get to enjoy a spellbindingly beautiful panoramic view of the glitzy city centre that will have you scurrying for your camera.

With the HSBC Building and Bank of China Tower in unbelievably close proximity, Sevva is a favourite haunt amongst those in the banking sector. Sevva is a great business meeting venue and also a perfect location for a romantic date. You can admire a bird’s eye view of the Old Supreme Court Building and admire the Hong Kong Ferris Wheel from afar.

Do be reminded that you would have to adhere to Sevva’s smart casual dress code; avoid wearing flip flops, shorts and singlets or risk being refused entry. From Cucumber Starfruit Martini (HK$195 / S$35.95) to Dark Chocolate Martini (HK$195 / S$35.95), you are a bound to find a drink you fancy from the comprehensive alcoholic beverage menu.

Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Rd, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2537 1388
Mon to Wed: 6pm – 12am
Thu to Fri: 10.30pm – 2am
Sat: 10.30pm – 2am
Sun: Closed

#13 SOHOFAMA

Located in PMQ Cultural Hub, Sohofama is a modern organic Chinese restaurant with an impressive in-house bar. Their drinks menu boasts a list of exotic Chinese herbs infused cocktails, whereby the key ingredients are mainly sourced from their hydroponic farm located right outside the restaurant.

For an unforgettable drink, order the Smoking Chamomile (HK$168 / S$29.10), Orange Peel Porridge (HK$168 / S$29.10) and Drunken Monk (HK$138 / $23.90).

Kit Cheung is the creator behind these unique drinks. He has once again pushed the boundaries of cocktails and this time round with the incorporation of traditional Chinese flavours. Watching the bartenders – who are disciples of cocktail master Kit Cheung – in action is as exciting as following a Hong Kong TVB drama.

Unit SG09-SG14, G/F, Block A, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street
Tel: +852 2858 8238
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat to Sun: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

#14 THE WOODS

Tucked away in a basement along Hollywood Road is specialty cocktail bar The Woods. The intimate 54-seater is a dark, mysterious-looking and romantic bar that serves brilliant seasonal concoctions. The ingredients used to prepare these sinful alcoholic beverages are sourced daily, hence ensuring the highest quality attainable.

If your budget permits, we say go for the reservations-only Prix-Fixe menu (HK$488 / S$88.45), which consists of a sensational 4-course meal completed with four cocktails.

17 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2522 0281
Mon to Sat: 6pm to 2am
Nearest Station: Central

#15 ZENTRAL

Situated within Central’s California Tower, Zentral Club is the latest business venture of Magnum Entertainment Group. The premium establishment is opened daily till 5am and is the go-to place for epic party animals that cannot get enough of the degenerate lifestyle.

4-5/F, California Tower, 32 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2111 8110
Sun to Wed: 9pm – 5am
Thu to Sat: 10pm – 5am
Nearest Station: Central

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She was previously a marketing executive and freelance photographer in the food industry. Her work has been published on Epicure, Lifestyle Asia and Meld Magazine etc.

Best known as a city for the best shopping and dining, we dug through into the streets of Hong Kong to score you the top five cocktail bars so you can hit the ground running.

ABERDEEN STREET SOCIAL

Like its name suggests, Aberdeen Street Social is the place to see and be seen, coupled with a cool tipple in hand, and perhaps Neil in the other? We kid—but we know you’ll want to. The eye candy we speak of is the man behind these cool concoctions; Neil Rivington, head bartender of Aberdeen Street Social, with a cheeky personality to boot.

Let him tingle your palates with Bloody English (HK$120), a twist on the classic Bloody Mary that we prefer. Sipsmith gin takes the place of vodka with a dash of ‘full English’ spice mix that adds character, while the original Bristol cream sherry gels individual flavors into a creamy, velvety texture with fresh and tangy aromas of dried fruit.

While you’re at it, (decide to) call in sick and let him give you just What The Doctor Ordered (HK$140)—a light, lemony and milky concoction filled with woody, herbaceous notes of botanicals that end in a mildly dry, honeyed bitterness of ginger. Sending us into a cocktail frenzy is Down Mexico Way (HK$140), leading you down the path where you might never see the light at the end of the tunnel.

One sip coats the mouth with a bitter smokiness of roasted wood, layered with deep citrus flavors of blood orange and lemon juice, laced with gentle touches of Auchentoshan whiskey. It’s all too good to stop at one—you understand now why the light is dim at the end of the tunnel.

PMQ, Ground Fl, JPC, 35 Aberdeen Street,
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2866 0300
Mon to Sun: 11:30am to 11pm
Nearest MTR: Sheung Wan

BUTLER BAR

Step into this exclusive 20-seater Japanese-style bar and be welcomed in like a king. A gentleman, smartly dressed in a vest and tie will bow and offer to take your coat, one will pull up a chair, while another (behind the bar) greets you with genuine warmth. Welcome to Butler Bar.

The star of the show is owner-bartender Masayuki Uchida, head barkeep behind the extensive list of divine Japanese cocktails who earned his stripes at cocktail bars Bar Tokyo and Little Smith at the Ginza in Tokyo. Bartending for 15 years, it’s no wonder Uchida is known in the industry as the Japanese cocktail master.

Here, he transforms a classic gin martini (HK$128) by stirring Japanese dover perilla liqueur into chilled Tanqueray gin, resulting in unique notes of bittersweet herbs. Executed with finesse is the smooth drinking (yet complexly layered) High West double rye whiskey sour (HK$118), garnished simply with a Cointreau griottunis cherry and lemon that highlights its full, uncompromised flavour.

Showcasing his true mastery is the old fashioned (HK$128), concocted with incredible precision and skill—three different bitters and house-made liqueur with Buffalo Trace bourbon (The Fifty Best Bourbon Whiskeys 2015), thoughtfully garnished with a slice of orange, lime, lemon and Cointreau cherries that allows you to tamper with the flavour profile to your personal preference. Such is the Japanese touch.

5/F, Mody House, 30 Mody Road
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2724 3828
Mon to Fri: 6:30pm to 2am
Sat: 6:30pm to 1am
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui/East Tsim Sha Tsui

HAM & SHERRY

The name itself says it all; house-cured meats and sherry is the name of the game. Be spoilt for choice with their bounty of sherry from finos to rossos, and tasting flights to cocktails that we daresay will satisfy any palate. Sherry novices, try your hand at their tasting flights (HK$295) for a sampling portion of your preference of four sherries, with four categories to choose from; manzanilla, amontillado, palo cortado, and pedro ximénez & palomino.

Incredibly sexy is the don Jose Maria very old amontillado, jose de soto (HK$92) whose smoky aroma extends to surround the palate, taking one on an exquisite journey that heightens the senses, finished with a subtle honeyed sweetness that lingers on the tip of one’s tongue. More complex is the apostles, Gonzalez byass (HK$158) that tastes exactly like its aroma of sweet cherry wood and aged oak, with a smooth finish. Pair this with a jamon board (HK$264) of house-cured meats.

Also recommended are the sherry cocktails concocted by head bartender, Ryan Nightingale. In No One Expects the Spanish Inquisition (HK$110), a manzanilla (Pasada Pastrana) sherry holds fort with Grand Marnier, sweetened by raspberry syrup, and citrus notes of lemon and orange. The result is a subtly sweet, light and refreshing tipple reminiscent of an autumn breeze.

Tease the palate with Stormy Skye (HK$110)—Talisker whiskey and Tio Mateo fino sherry come together with salted pineapple cordial for an incredibly unique sweet-salty cocktail with a bittersweet finish. Tip: don’t limit yourself to one.

1-7 Ship Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2555 0628
Mon to Sat: 12pm to 3pm; 6pm to 12am
Nearest MTR: Wanchai

LITTLE LAB

Asian-inspired cocktails reign in this cosy bar cobbled along Staunton Street. Don’t be fooled by its nondescript manner, these bartenders will soon show you a thing or two. Here, bar consultant Alex Ng runs the show, adjusting the cocktails every few weeks to suit the season.

Step out of the cold and be warmed up with an oriented mulled wine (HK$108) where rum is spiced with a mix of Chinese herbs, cinnamon, star anise and cloves. Inspiration is stemmed from the Chinese vinegar pork knuckle dish (believed to improve blood circulation), this cocktail uses a house-made sweetened Chinese ginger vinaigrette steeped together in red wine for two to three hours to obtain a robust sweetness of red date and spice.

Turning the famous Hong Kong drink of 30% coffee and 70% tea into a tipple is yuan yang (HK$120), made with Jose Cuervo reposado, espresso, evaporated milk, house-made dai pai dong tea syrup and pale ale to form a smooth and well-balanced cocktail, garnished with coffee beans and tea leaves.

If you’re hankering for something sweet, easy-drinking Oriented Ramos (HK$120) is a twist on popular 1970-80s local beverage Ramey’s gin fizz previously commonly found at cha chaan tengs. This “modernised” version combines yuzu and lime with milk to birth a sweet and dry, almost yogurty finish. If such concoctions are what this lab offers, we sure wouldn’t mind being a lab rat.

Shop B, G/F 48-50 Staunton Street,
852 Central District, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2858 8580
Mon to Thu: 5pm to 1am
Fri to Sat: 5pm to 2am
Sun: 4pm to 12am
Nearest Station: Sheung Wan

THE WOODS

Tucked away in the basement along Hollywood Road lies a magical forest—no, we’re not talking about mushrooms. We’re talking exquisite cocktails that evoke the senses, paired with edible works of art that evolve around a ‘woods’ theme. Highly recommended is the four-course pairing menu (HK$788) that starts with an amuse bouche of St. George Terrior Gin, lemon juice and simple syrup, topped up with sparkling wine and served in a test tube with a rosemary sprig; setting the stage for visually stunning alcoholic libations.

We’re especially impressed with Grass—a Holland vodka distilled with spiced grass, muddled with cucumber and tarragon before being mixed into fresh apple and lemon juice, served with balls of ice infused with coriander and cilantro to enhance its flavor of fresh herbs and botanicals. Equally impressive is its pairing dish of French Bayonne ham with Australian jumbo asparagus, Spanish olive oil caviar, and micro greens drizzled with a port wine and balsamico reduction.

Speak to head barman, Freddrick Ma, and it’s evident the passion and care that goes into his creations. In Earth, an oyster mushroom is infused in Makers bourbon, combined with dry vermouth, artichoke liqueur and black walnut bitters to exude oaky and uniquely bittersweet notes.

Taking it up a notch is its garnish of dehydrated mushrooms and enoki on a thin crisp of house-made biscuit, micro greens dancing along the biscuit plateau; drawing the earthiness out of the cocktail. Charcoal breadcrumbs, dried dark olives and fennel pollen fall lightly around the pairing dish of herb butter escargots and mash that further accentuates its earthiness. Let the night take you deeper into this magical “forest”. Getting lost in the woods might not be such a bad idea after all.

17 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2522 0281
Mon to Sat: 6pm to 2am
Nearest Station: Central

About the writer
Mandy Lynn is a former I-S Magazine writer and current columnist at Nookmag; her dining and nightlife features are published in Men’s Folio, Singapore Tatler Dining and The Drinks Business, amongst others. For bite-sized food recommendations, follow her on Instagram and Facebook, or join her Gourmet Adventures to keep up with the latest dining and nightlife news.