New bar and club districts are often emerging in Hong Kong’s dynamic nightlife scene but the following are some of the major and most established ones. From dice game bars to swanky clubs, each has its own character. Check them out to get your night on the town started.
Lan Kwai Fong & SoHo, Central
The beating heart of Hong Kong’s nightlife scene, Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo are the city’s most popular boozing districts, two neighbouring areas in Central filled with bars, pubs, clubs and all manner of watering holes. Lan Kwai Fong is the busier of the two, with rowdy crowds spilling out of its blaring bars and onto the streets on any given weekend. SoHo, meanwhile, is a more relaxed affair, contrasted by quiet lounges and tucked-away boozers. One of our favourites is Stazione Novella.
Wan Chai Bar District
Once famed for its Suzie Wong-style gentlemen’s venues, Wan Chai has cleaned up its act, and now features a wide variety of colonial-style pubs, sports bars and live music clubs. Watch football and rugby on huge projector screens, down a couple pints of real British ale, catch cover bands playing your favourite hair-metal tunes, and then dance the night away on a booze-soaked bar top. Our favourites include Delaney’s – The Irish Pub and music venue The Wanch.
Knutsford Terrace, Tsim Sha Tsui
An across-the-harbour counter to Central’s Lan Kwai Fong, Knutsford Terrace & Observatory Court in Tsim Sha Tsui is a decidedly more sedate affair, with a long line of bustling restaurants that transform into late-night watering holes. The area features an even mix of ground-level alfresco spots and upstairs bars, as well as a small smattering of after-hours clubs. Popular choices include The China Bar for live music and Assembly for snacks and cocktails.
Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok
A few streets north of Mong Kok’s Ladies’ Market, Tung Choi Street is a local hangout, a stretch of Chinese-style pubs where bottled beers are served in buckets, dartboards are everywhere, and dice games are constantly being played. But don’t feel overwhelmed: the bars are more than welcoming to tourists, and it’s a great way to rub shoulders with friendly locals while enjoying some of the best-priced drinks in town. Best bets include Quarter Bar and Future Lounge.