Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Central right now.
On weekends the streets of Lan Kwai Fong are liberated from traffic, and the hordes from both sides of the street merge. A five-minute walk uphill is SoHo. Back in the ’90s it took local businesses some effort to convince district councilors that the sometimes vice-associated moniker (which in this case stands for South of Hollywood Road) was a good idea, but Hong Kong is now proud of this très chic area, a warren of streets stuffed with commensurately priced restaurants, bars, and late-night boutiques. Midway between Lan Kwai Fong's madness and SoHo's bohemian glamour is Wyndham Street, home to an array of sophisticated bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, and strict domain of the over-25s.
Around for more than a decade, dragon-i has lost none of its popularity, which is rare for a nightclub in Hong Kong. Have a drink on the deck, or step inside the vivid red playroom, which doubles as a Chinese restaurant earlier in the day. It's the domain of the city's young, rich, and beautiful (if not necessarily classy) crowd, and attracts a busy roster of international acts and DJs.
In a trendy SoHo space, this British-expat hangout evokes the feel of southwest London. The owner is a beer fanatic, and the place has one of Hong Kong's best selections of local and international craft brews. It's a fun and convivial spot, with a mix of ages and a pretty even split between expats and locals. You can book the sectioned-off "Lounge" to watch broadcasts of the World Series, Super Bowl, Rubgy Sevens, World Cup soccer, or other sporting events with a group of friends.
The Armani brand has made its mark on Chater House, bringing a taste of Milan to Hong Kong. The big draw here is a wide, gorgeous deck with skyscraper views, chic outdoor seating, and an impressive—if pricey—list of cocktails. Go into the bar and turn right up the stairs.
On Wan Chai's trendy Ship Street, the dimly lit Back Bar is the place for top-of-the-line cocktails and delicious Spanish-influenced bar snacks. It gets very crowded, so come early.
A local institution, Club 97 offers extremely generous pours and some of the best service in the city. Very loud and open late, this is not the place for an early evening.
This pint-size gem is the after-hours party spot in Central. Hidden down an alley beside a late-night food stand, its obscure location only adds to the speakeasy feel. Drop gets crowded on weekends, and it can be hard to get inside, so arrive early and wait for the party to pop off.
This club attracts a younger crowd, making it one of Central's rowdier nightlife spots. The music tends to be more varied than the commercial fare at other clubs, encouraging visits from a lively mix of local and international talent. Get here early for a perch on the low-slung black sofas.
An amazing rooftop terrace has turned this bar and restaurant in a nondescript commercial building on Hollywood Road into one of the hippest spots in town. The boldly colored mural urging patrons to "Eat, Drink, and Be Prosperous" and the bar covered with mah-jongg tiles add just the right amount of retro cool. The menu boasts cocktails based on traditional local flavors, but the bartenders are also adept at turning out the classics. If the front door is locked, just call and ask for the code.
This cavernous basement restaurant clears its tables regularly for some of the best live-music gigs in town. Whether the performers are visiting indie bands or homegrown jazz performers, the huge dance floor and rowdy second-level bar make it difficult not to have fun. The swinging Stray Katz Big Band plays on the first Saturday of each month.
A brightly lit oasis on Lockhart Road, Hay Hay is best known for its Hong Kong–style noodles and rice plates. The char siu hor fun (barbecue pork noodles in soup) is a popular late-night dish. Pay the cashier on your way out.
Tongue-in-cheek Honi Honi is a sleeker, more sophisticated take on the classic tiki bar, with fruit-filled cocktails and a DJ spinning island rhythms. Aside from the over-the-top South Pacific decor, the main draw is the plam-fringed outdoor terrace. Tables fill up fast, so get here early.
This is one of Hong Kong's best-kept secrets, serving authentic Russian food in a charmingly kitschy setting. The real draw is the "ice bar," a collection of vodkas in a walk-in refrigerator that has been painted with scenes from the old country. To get in the Dr. Zhivago mood, don one of the complimentary fur coats. The drinks are cheap and very good, and the experience is unlike anything else in Hong Kong.
The beating heart of Hong Kong's French community, La Cabane specializes in organic and biodynamic wines. On weekends the crowds spill into the street, with patrons enjoying glasses of affordable but hard-to-find wines and dining on French-influenced fare.
The leafy setting belies the down-and-dirty vibe at this casual bar with a terrace overlooking the colorful dining strip known locally as "Rat Alley." This refreshingly low-key bar is a little tricky to find: walk through the dining area and up a flight of steps. The place is packed on weekends.
You'll feel like you've stepped into a Parisian wine bar. Le Tambour offers great vintages and excellent casual French fare—all of it at reasonable prices. The atmosphere is laid-back, and French is the language of choice. This place is a guaranteed good time, especially when there's live music.
A destination for the corporate lunch crowd and stylish tipplers, this plush bar and restaurant in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental appeals to a civilized crowd. You'll pay top dollar for the signature drinks (up to HK$200), but the super-modern interior and live DJ beats make it worthwhile. The ground floor location means the best views will be of the other well-heeled patrons, but that's OK: this is a place to be seen as much as to see. Upstairs, at the back of the room, make a reservation at PDT (Please Don’t Tell)—a speakeasy by way of New York City that's accessed through a faux phone booth. Just dial 1 and emerge into a wood-paneled world of craft cocktails and premium hot dogs.
The space is a bit of a dank hole, but thanks to the top-of-the-line sound system and strong drinks, nobody seems to notice or care. Expect great tech house music, international DJs alongside local talent, and parties that go all night.
The grungy pool hall turned hipster haven keeps packing them in with great music, reasonable prices, and an unpretentious vibe. It's good for a game of pool, darts, or beer pong. It seems everyone, even celebrity-chef Anthony Bourdain, goes to Racks.
With a stunning view of Central's glittering valley of skyscrapers, this cool and elegant rooftop bar is, despite often appalling service, always busy on Friday and Saturday nights. If you're feeling indulgent, come for dessert (the cakes are among the city's best) and stay for cocktails. Most of Sevva's well-heeled clientele prefer to drink outside on the spacious terrace, but there are also cozy couches inside. A dress code of smart casual applies.
Positioned a floor below dance club dragon-i, this bar is Wyndham Street's party central. Expect a mostly expat crowd of twenty- and thirtysomethings who come straight from work in their business suits. With good music—everything from electronic dance music to Cardi B—and a well-lubricated crowd, Solas is a great place to cut loose. The interior is dark and extremely basic, but the party routinely spills into the street out front.
Adjacent to Hong Kong's famous outdoor escalator is this stalwart bistro-style café and bar. As the weekend approaches the place gets crowded, but the upstairs balcony is still the perfect perch from which to people-watch. You can come for a drink at night or coffee during the day. It's also a Sunday-morning favorite for nursing hangovers over brunch.
This hectic boozer in the center of heaving Lan Kwai Fong is packed to bursting every weekend. It's saved from being just another soulless Lan Kwai Fong dive thanks to a killer oldies sound track and a ready-for-anything crowd. Come ready to dance.
Oenophiles will discover like minds at this vanguard of the city's burgeoning (and very serious) wine scene. Tucked in an alley off Wellington Street, the bar stocks more than 160 wines. About 40 are always available for sampling through an Enomatic wine dispenser, which the sommeliers use to draw from rare wines without uncorking the entire bottle. Head toward the door's blue glow to find the place. Enjoy the spread of fine cheeses and Italian antipasti before the tasting begins.
This whisky bar (pronounced "blackbird") has become the go-to watering hole for a more creative crowd. The design is bachelor-pad chic, with exposed brick walls, Chesterfield sofas on gray, tiled floors, and an outdoor terrace with long wood tables and potted palm trees. Take the elevator up to the sixth floor of 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, a building worth noting for its variety of bars and restaurants.
Named after the legendary British tea clipper in homage to Hong Kong's colonial history, this small pub in SoHo is a cozy, reliable spot with a nautical theme. It's a good place for a pint on weekend afternoons too, when locals gather around the streetside tables with their dogs.
So popular you'll need a reservation, this see-and-be-seen bar in the Pottinger Hotel packs them in with expertly mixed cocktails, comfy seating areas, and the exclusive feel of a British gentlemen's club. Head to the outdoor terrace, where you can enjoy a selection of East-meets-West snacks.
Nix that looming hangover with a greasy fry-up before you hit the sack. The Flying Pan is a popular 24-hour diner, equally busy at 3 am and 3 pm on weekends. Eggs any style come with two picks from a huge list of sides including grits, blintzes, baked beans, and fruit salad. The truly greedy can order the Kitchen Sink, which is a taste of everything. There's another branch at 81–85 Lockhart Road in Wan Chai.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
