Quinary Hong Kong is one of the best places for cocktails in the trendy SoHo district. The cocktail list has enough variety to keep you satisfied for repeat visits, with signature drinks such as Quinary Sour (HK$130), Blackbeard (HK$140), and Earl Grey Caviar Martini (HK$120).

The bar's skilled and smartly dressed mixologists can also make you something special upon request. Light bites are highly recommended, especially Quinary's truffle fries and prosciutto meat platter. 

Ping Pong 129 Gintoneria is one of the coolest bars in Hong Kong, housed in the basement behind a narrow red door on Second Street (west of Sheung Wan). Its huge space is decked out in bare concrete, red neon lights, and mismatched furniture. Gin is the drink of choice at Ping Pong Gintoneria, with over 40  types and each with its own tonic and garnish. 

Stockton is a stylish, prohibition-style bar in Central Hong Kong. Walk down a narrow passageway on Wyndham Street, where a steel staircase will take you into a tiny reception room. If you pass the test, a heavy drape is pulled back revealing a dimly lit cocktail bar inspired by 1890s London – think parquet floors, tiny tables, and a few booths for privacy.

Stockton specialises in cocktails with quirky names like Udre Udre, Take Me to Babylon, and One Thousand. If you're not a cocktail fan, the bar also offers over 150 types of whisky from Scotland, Ireland, America and Japan.

Lily & Bloom is an American restaurant and cocktail bar that impresses diners with a setting inspired by old Manhattan – think warm wooden tones, industrial elements, leather sofas and dark, broody lighting. The bar, Lily, is located on the highest level, and attracts a happy mix of locals, expats and visitors.

Standout cocktails at Lily & Bloom include Martinez (old tom gin, maraschino, sweet vermouth, and orange bitters) and Aqueduct (vodka, curacao, lime, and apricot).

Ned Kelly's Last Stand is one of Hong Kong’s oldest bars, which we can’t help but returning time and again when in Kowloon. Its live Dixie jazz music is always on point, the drinks are reasonably priced, and you can usually get a table for a large group.

The bar is friendly and welcoming, but we feel that the house band, The China Coast Jazzmen, is the main reason for Ned Kelly’s Last Stand’s continued success. A 20-piece jazz band often plays at the bar, usually on the first Sunday of the month. 

The Pawn Botanicals Bar occupies a late-1880s building in Wan Chai, where you can soak up a bit of living history along with award-winning cocktails. The bar is located on the 1st floor, featuring indoor and outdoor seating areas with 2 bars.

Handcrafted cocktails at The Pawn Botanicals Bar cost around HK$90 to HK$140, while bar snacks such as buffalo chicken wings, salads, and mini beef burgers are priced between HK$65 and HK$188. Local and international DJs liven up the bar on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mrs Pound is a speakeasy bar disguised as a stamp shop in Sheung Wan. Its food menu is mostly Asian street food with a modern twist – think lamb rendang poutine, cheeseburger spring rolls, and laksa bibimbap. Its cocktail list is equally imaginative, with unique names like Ni Hao You Doing, Open Sesame, and Pandan Paradise. Cocktails cost around HK$120, while beers by the bottle are around HK$75. 

Geronimos Shot Bar occupies the 2nd floor of Winner Building, which offers an open view of the bustling Lan Kwai Fong district. It’s one of the best places to go if you don’t fancy dressing up but still want a few beers – and it does get lively!

Happy hour runs from 5pm to 9pm, when cocktails, standard mixers and house shots cost around $40. Ladies nights are on Wednesdays, when you can enjoy free house cocktails from 7pm to 11pm. Geronimos Shot Bar’s legendary 15-shot challenge gives you the opportunity to have your name up in lights if you can beat the previous record.