Travel

Hong Kong Bars & Nightlife

Establishment neighborhood
Penicillin
23 Hollywood Rd., Central
If you aren’t looking for Penicillin, you’ll miss it, but this teensy cocktail bar is one of Hong Kong’s best. The bartenders focus on innovation (which they’ve translated into the space; notice the scientific, lab-like surroundings), and they’ve designed a closed-loop model that eliminates food waste and minimizes their carbon footprint. People love the pisco sour, which tastes like White Rabbit candy. Ask the bartenders about their fermentation masterclass, which runs most weekdays.
COA
6-10 Shin Hing St., Central
You might not expect Hong Kong’s thrice-crowned best bar to focus on artisanal tequila and mezcal, but here it is. COA’s signature menu fuses flavors from Mexico (mole, ancho chile) with those of Hong Kong (bitter melon, Sichuan pepper, Chinese pickled cabbage), and every drink is fantastic. A line starts forming here about half an hour before opening, so if you don’t plan to arrive early, come prepared for a wait. Which, all things considered, is not that bad: You scan a QR code, and your phone shows where you are in the queue in real time, so you can explore Sheung Wan or drink elsewhere until it’s your turn.
Argo
8 Finance St., Central
Argo, on the ground floor of the Four Seasons, is regularly named one of Asia’s best bars. The bar itself is inspired by conservatories and terrariums, and it's very cool—but it’s the cocktail menu that really shines. The bartenders’ narrative focus changes regularly: They’ve centered Asian botanicals threatened by climate change (like honey, cacao, and coffee), classic Hong Kong flavors (XO sauce and pu-erh), and ingredients that work symbiotically in circular agriculture (ginger lily, granite, sweet potato, and bamboo). The menu is so intentional it reads like poetry, and the drinks are well-balanced. The bar snacks are great, too: spicy olives, ruffle chips, and egg waffles with dipping chocolate.