This bar is named for what some derogatorily call Kowloon, but it’s also for its focus on dark spirits. The impressive drinks list includes extensive whisky, cognac, rum and Port selections. There’s also an exclusive cognac made especially for Rosewood Hong Kong, as well as a barrel of Graham’s 1982, both of which nestle behind the chocolate bar, where a range of dark, sweet treats made in-house are served with the various spirits—or alongside cigars, which can be enjoyed on the bar’s outdoor terrace that overlooks the Hong Kong skyline. 

2/F, Rosewood Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Established by Taiwan’s cocktail maverick Angus Zou and Quinary’s Antonio Lai, Draft Land offers a refreshing format for a bar situated on chaotic Wyndham Street. With minimalist interiors and an open, inviting layout, it’s the perfect place for a cocktail or three. Draft Land’s unique selling point is its seasonal, pre-batch-only concoctions that are available, as the name suggests, on tap. The snacks here, too, are superlative: don’t miss the takoyaki-style fish balls or lurou (minced pork) fries.

63 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong

A tiny bar nestled in the alleyway next to H Code, Saketen is the latest offering from the expert team behind Sake Central—look for the exterior that resembles an array of rice grains. But while the new venue is a fraction of the size, the offerings are no less impressive. If anything, the limited space has given owner Elliot Faber a challenge to limit his offerings to only 10 sake labels at a time—thus the name “sake ten”.

G/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong

With tea as their focus, mixologists Sandeep Hithiramani and Gagan Gurung—both industry veterans—have given their bar a unique proposition. Each drink crafted at this neatly hidden bar in H Code is thoughtfully constructed with a story and a specific kind of tea; the Tell Camellia team are all experts and can confidently recommend and decipher each drink for first-time customers.

LG/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong

Opened by the prodigal team of mixologists behind The Old Man, The Sea follows a similar formula of moody hues and fantastical cocktails in an intimate setting. The core menu is a concise list of 10 original cocktails that have been concocted in-house and feature unexpected ingredients; Cocktail #1, for example, is a stunning mix of seaweed gin and lacto-fermented pineapple rind soda.

2 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong 

Set up by industry veterans Ryan Nightingale and Mike Watt, this lively wine bar in Soho has captured the attention of elbow benders everywhere. With its laid back philosophy synergising with a serious approach to sourcing quality booze, The Shady Acres is a new breed of bar where all pretension goes out the window. The wine selection is focused on boutique bottles—there are around 200 in the cellar—while cocktails are shaken with house-made infusions and liquors.

46 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong