(Image Courtesy of itstockphoto.com)

Hong Kong has a reputation of being a "city that never sleeps", and is home to some of the most vibrant nightlife in the region, so it's no surprise that they've come out on top of this year's Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2022 - with a whopping 8 Hong Kong bars making the list this year.

If you ever find yourself in the bustling city of Hong Kong, be sure not to miss a trip to some of these fabulous bars for a night you won't forget (or may not remember)!

COA Hong Kong

COA was opened in 2017 by Jay Khan as part of his mission to bring agave spirits to the forefront of Asia's cocktail scene.

Named after the machete like tool for harvesting agave, COA (co-ah) is inspired by the drinking dens Jay frequented on his trips to Mexico. COA focuses on great hospitality, set in a cozy and friendly environment welcoming all walks of life, and provides a diverse beverage offers, featuring 100% agave tequila, traditional mezcal and cocktails inspired by the flavours of Mexico.

A 41 page spirit menu dedicated to agave spirits that provides you a glimpse (or deep dive) into these rich, diverse but often misunderstood products.

(Image Courtesy of COA Bar)

Where to find them:

Bar Argo

Argo offers the 'Here Today, Gone Tomorrow' cocktail menu – the first of its cocktail menu that will change annually – celebrating six staple ingredients – coffee, honey, rice, cacao, vanilla, and apples – at risk of becoming endangered in the future because of climate change or the way it is being cultivated. Ingredients used in each of the cocktails come from local and overseas farmers and producers of premium spirits. Must-tries from the menu include the Single Origin Negroni ($140), a well rounded Negroni with subtle chocolate flavours, aged in cocoa pods from a Malaysian farm that supports indigenous tribes in the vicinity; Argo Martini ($150) – served two ways: citrus or savoury – made with the bar's signature gin, and it's not shaken or stirred but topped with seasonal hydrosols, also known as 'flower waters,' produced by distilling fresh ingredients like herbs and fruits with water; a delicious clarified milk punch Bark, Leaf & Love ($140) served in a ceramic glass; a three-flight spirit-forward gimlet using three different kinds of gin; and the spirit-forward Skynet Old Fashioned ($140) – named after Skynet, the rogue artificial intelligence that leads the army of machines in Terminator – filled with toasted coconut and salted caramel flavours.

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(Image Courtesy of The Four Seasons Hong Kong) 

Where to find them:

DarkSide

DarkSide is a cocktail parlour that offers rare aged spirits, vintage cigars and classic cocktails complemented by sultry live jazz. DarkSide was not only named “Best Hotel Bar” and “Best Bar of the Year” in 2021 by Timeout Hong Kong, it received acclaim as one of “Asia’s 50 Best Bars” and “World’s 50 Best Bars” the same year. In addition to an extensive library of fine rum, whisky and calvados, its dark spirits selection harks back to the early 19th century and includes an exclusive blend of cognac created by the award-winning bar team. The cocktail list pays homage to Kowloon’s “Dark Side” moniker and focuses on time-honoured traditions updated with innovative techniques.

(Image Courtesy of DarkSide HK)

Where to find them:

Quinary

With Diageo World Class 2015 Hong Kong & Macau Champion Antonio Lai at the helm, expect the unexpected. Flavour and aroma combinations together with different textures, appearances and even sounds will challenge every preconception held about cocktails — hence, a Multisensory experience.

The long bar extends to Antonio Lai’s lab showcasing the rotary evaporator and equipments redistilling and slow-cooking our own flavoured spirits, and the caviar box for the signature Earl Grey Caviar Martini.

Multi-sensorial and experimental cocktails (Image Courtesy of Quinary HK)

Where to find them:

PENICILLIN

Inspired by the farm-to-bar movement taking the culinary world by storm, PENICILLIN is Hong Kong’s first sustainable bar that champions a closed-loop model of production. With a focus on either locally sourced or up-cycled food and drink ingredients, PENICILLIN’s bar menu finds innovation in the true flavours of Hong Kong while constantly looking for ways to minimize carbon footprint.

Named after the group of mould-derived antibiotics discovered by Alexander Fleming in the 1940’s, penicillin was truly one of the greatest breakthroughs in therapeutic medicine. Its chance discovery and introduction gave way to effective treatments for all kinds of deadly infections and changed the course of medicine.

As with the inspiring story behind the discovery of penicillin, PENICILLIN bar undertakes scientific research, experimentation, and multiple trials and errors to achieve sustainability breakthroughs in the waste-heavy food & beverage industry – portrayed by the installation of The Penicillin Lab and The Fermentation Chamber by COLLECTIVE.

The ultimate mission of PENICILLIN is to become Hong Kong’s first “scrap-less” bar – in other words, a bar that produces minimal waste by the end of the night. Prabowo, Ghale, and their dedicated team pour endless creativity into the ways common waste or kitchen by-products can be recycled and upcycled, while simultaneously self-brewing, fermenting, growing, and re-using ingredients to be used in cocktails. Ingredients including botanicals are all sourced locally within Hong Kong, with PENICILLIN going a step further to minimize transport distance in order to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.

(Image Courtesy of Penicillin Bar HK)

Where to find them:

The Pontiac

Inclusive, progressive, rock and roll dive bar is not the first combination of words one expects to see when reading about bars but that’s exactly what The Pontiac is. This Hong Kong stalwart has built a safe, non-judgemental space for all, with open arms from the all-female team led by bar manager Jen Queen and co-founder Beckaly Franks. Settle into said safe space for a night of excellent chaos, craft cocktails and a highly curated playlist which ends with The Pontiac’s legendary midnight special. From the bar’s beginnings as being likened to Coyote Ugly, The Pontiac goes beyond that to showcase real cocktail credentials and female talent in the industry. It’s the ideal home for a quick one, or a night of raucous dancing. Drinks here range from local ingredients to funky slushies and the bar’s infamous Hobnail with blended Scotch, ginger, Averna, bitters and orange oil.

(Source: www.worlds50bestbars.com)

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Where to find them:

The Wise King

The Wise King is an independent venture set up by industry veterans Joe Villanueva (currently the senior manager for bar and concepts at Shangri-La Hotel) and Sandeep Kumar (a two-time Bacardi Grand Prix National Champion).

Here you can sip creative cocktails in the cosy lounge which include spirit-forward Negronis like the Mandarino Negroni ($128) made with local N.I.P gin with Mancino Vermouth, Mandarinetto Isolabella, and Rinomato Americano Bianco, or the claypot aged Olla De Barro Dos ($128) made with vermouth bianco, Rinomato Americano, brandy, and brined gherkin (dill pickles). Other refreshing serves include their signature Pickled Margarita ($118) and a Bloody Maria twist called Anger ($120), made with porcini mushroom-infused tequila, served in a red pepper rimmed glass.

(Source: timeout.com)

 (Image Source: timeout.com)

Where to find them:

The Aubrey

Recognised as one of the Asia’s 50 Best Bars and in partnership with Maximal Concepts, The Aubrey is a home-away-from-home for local Hong Kong and global guests alike that offers an eccentric Japanese izakaya experience.

Located on the 25th floor with sweeping views of Victoria Harbour, this all-day drinks and dining space has three distinctive bar experiences, a drawing room, a curio lounge and a leading culinary team that delivers the highest quality Japanese ingredients and traditional cooking techniques.

(Image Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental HK) 

Where to find them:

If you ever do pay a visit to any of these iconic bars, do drop us a note or comment and let us know how your experience was, and how the drinks are!

Happy sipping!

@ChopstickPride