Bars

Dickens Bar

Permanently closed   |   Causeway Bay

This English-style sports bar in the basement of The Excelsior is an institution, though the perpetually inattentive service has been an issue for years

 

Though many come to watch Premier League and guzzle generic beers, Dickens is also well known for its wonderful curry buffet at lunch. Aside from the predictable options on draught, there is a wide selection of bottled beers and wines by the glass, as well as some creative cocktails—we enjoyed Someone’s Luggage (vodka, melon liqueur, mango purée and cranberry juice) and Fantasy (coconut milk, vodka, mango puree and almond syrup). The bar snacks menu is lacklustre and decidedly non-British; dishes such as the quesadilla are an inauthentic let-down. The giant apple crumble is fantastic, however, and generously portioned for two to three people. As has been the case for at least a decade at Dickens, staff are inattentive and difficult to flag down, which is simply unacceptable for a four-star hotel and can make the experience an exercise in frustration—once tableside, however, they are friendly and helpful.