Cheers to Hong Kong: 8 Bars to Sample During Filmart

With a frankly ludicrous number of bars, Hong Kong remains a world-class party town even if the excess of the boom years of the 2010s is now relegated to the past. The city seems to have had a lock on “best of” bar lists in recent years, and the 2024 Asia’s Best Bars list featured four Hong Kong watering holes in the top 10 — Bar Leone, Coa, Argo and The Aubrey — which is remarkable given that Tokyo exists.

Filmart attendees are spoiled for choice, with Hong Kong featuring local pubs and fancy-schmancy cocktail bars, and everything in-between. The Hollywood Reporter has picked out eight bars of varying budgets that might fit the bill for a quiet drink or a rowdy night out.

(This list is part of THR‘s 2025 “888” feature on the best bars, hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong. Click on the links to see the other lists.)

The Aubrey

The vibe: Despite its rather British-sounding name, The Aubrey is a sleek late-night Japanese isakaya style bar and restaurant found inside the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. The restaurant menu offers elevated staples such as sushi and sashimi, as well as wagyu beef, but the bar is what really excels and the reason why The Aubrey was ranked No. 10 in Asia‘s Best Bars list for 2024. The decor is a pretty outré, with the space filled with curios and interesting things to look at. It’s a classy joint, so yes, there’s a dress code.

The drinks: As befits a Japanese drinking establishment, The Aubrey is stocked to the gills with Japanese whiskies, sakes and shōchūs. The Aubrey’s magic trick is the omakase cocktail bar, where five guests per sitting can experience a two-hour journey through Japanese cocktails with mixologist Devender Seghal.

The location: The Aubrey is on the 25th floor of MOHK, and as such offers great views of Central’s business district, especially at night when all the skyscrapers are lit up. The location itself is about a 10-minute cab ride from the HKCEC.

The price: Cocktails start from $22

The details: Address: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road, Central. Telephone: +852 2825 4001. Website: https://theaubreycollection.com/hong-kong

Coa

The vibe: Coa’s founder and head bartender Jay Khan is something of a legend in the drinks world, and his joint consistently ranks among the top bars in the world. The Mexican inspired cocktail bar has won plaudits and a loyal fanbase for its innovative and bold tequila and mezcal-based cocktails and relaxed atmosphere. In 2024, Coa came in at No. 4 on Asia’s Best Bars list, and is still packed with crowds since it opened in 2017. This is a no reservations/walk-in spot only, so expect to wait on busier nights.

The drinks: They take their drinks seriously at Coa, with a 41-page menu of agave-based cocktails. Each week, a new cocktail is introduced by the staff that is usually a must-try item, but you also can’t go wrong with the tequila highball. The standout for those looking for something unique is the Bloody “Beef” Maria cocktail, a bloody Mary drink infused with beef stock.

The location: Tucked away in the quieter part of Central, Coa is off Hollywood Road and is a 10 to 15-minute cab ride from the HKCEC. The bar is a short walk from the bustling late-night spots of Soho and Lan Kwai Fong.

The price: Cocktails start from $11.

The details: Shop A, LG/F Wah Shin House, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central. Telephone: +852 2813 5787. Website: https://coa.com.hk/

The Old Man

The vibe: A moody, dark cocktail bar inspired by famed author and world-class drunk Ernest Hemingway? Yes please. The Old Man is a perennial Hong Kong favorite of the sophisticated drinking classes. When it burst onto the scene in 2017, The Old Man was winning all sorts of accolades and ranking high up regional and global lists. Its star has faded somewhat in recent years, but the drinking den still has that magical quality. Beyond the name, the bar also pays tribute to Hemingway by naming several house cocktails after him. Papa would have been proud.

The drinks: The bar has built its global reputation on serving excellent classic cocktails and given the Hemingway connection there are plenty of rum-based drinks, negroni-based drinks, whisky-based drinks… actually anything with alcohol in it could be said to have had a Hemingway connection, in all honesty.

The location: The Old Man can be found slightly hidden away in the bar and restaurant district of Soho, so it’s the perfect quiet spot for pre- or after dinner drinks. The bar is about a 15-minute car ride from the HKCEC.

The price: Cocktails start from $15.

The details: Address: 37 Aberdeen Street, Central. Telephone: No number. Website: www.theoldmanhongkong.com/

Bar Leone

The vibe: Bar Leone, arguably the best bar in Hong Kong, also ranked as the best bar in Asia in 2024. The Italian cocktail spot gets top marks for its decor, as it leans into this particular Roman aesthetic of adoration of old movie stars and soccer club AS Roma. With no telephone number to contact and no reservations, simplicity is the guiding principle at Bar Leone.

The drinks: The bar is the brainchild of Lorenzo Antinori, and is his first solo business after working at other highly regarded spots Caprice Bar and Argo. Antinori’s focus is strictly on “cocktail popolari,” that is cocktails for the people, so don’t expect fancy gimmicks, just straight Italian classics like martinis and bellinis served with love and attention in a wonderfully welcoming setting.

The location: Another bar located in Central district, Bar Leone is a short 10 to 15-minute car ride from the HKCEC.

The price: Cocktails start from $17.

The details: Address: 11-15 Bridges St, Central. Telephone: No number. Website: https://www.barleonehk.com/

The Champagne Bar at the Grand Hyatt

The vibe: Ah, the old faithful for the Filmart crowd, the Champagne Bar at the Grand Hyatt. The bar won’t win any awards for innovative cocktails, but newcomers to Hong Kong often overlook one of the best places to mingle with Filmart attendees. Whether it’s to discuss business, or celebrate closing a deal, the Champagne Bar is tried and tested and conveniently located. One added bonus is that Champagne Bar offers live music.

The drinks: It’s all about the Champagne menu here, with one of the widest selections available in Hong Kong, including several rare vintages and boutique bottles. The resident mixologist is also on hand to knock up great Champagne-based cocktails.

The location: It doesn’t get much more convenient than a bar inside the Grand Hyatt which is mere minutes walk from the HKCEC.

The price: It’s Champagne, darling, expect to open your wallet.

The details: Address: Lobby Level, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Telephone: +852 2584 7722. Website: https://www.hongkong.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/restaurants-and-bars/champagne-bar/

Crushed

The vibe: A left field choice perhaps, but in a city full of swanky joints, Crushed is a hidden gem of a bar that focuses in small-batch wines. The casual neighborhood bar and restaurant was initially established as a retail operation by four women who were wine and restaurant industry veterans, but the community of patrons they had built up led to them branching out with their own spot. Crushed isn’t fancy, nor is it trying to be, but if you want a cozy, quiet place to try excellent and interesting wines, there are few better places.

The drinks: The range of wines at Crushed is something to marvel at, with bottles from the new world and old, as well as natural, organic and sustainable wines.

The location: Crushed is found in the quieter Sai Ying Pun district of Hong Kong, which is a 15-minute car ride from the HKCEC.

The price: Glasses of wine start from $15 and there is an extensive wine menu. Wines can also be purchased.

The details: Address: Shop A, G/F, 6 – 8 Second St, Sai Ying Pun. Telephone: +852 5597 8774. Website: www.crushedwines.com

Mostly Harmless

The vibe: Billing itself as a “farm to glass” cocktail bar, Mostly Harmless is a quirky and intimate place that ranked No. 45 on Asia’s Best Bars list for 2024. Founded by Venezuelan bartender Ezra Star, the name of the bar is taken from one of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books. There’s no phone number and no reservations, so don’t expect a lot of ceremony, but the drinks and decor have oodles of charm.

The drinks: The bar is built on favoring local, fresh ingredients, and the daily cocktail menu changes depending on what the staff were able to source from local markets.

The location: Mostly Harmless is a short 10-minute car ride away from the HKCEC.

The price: Cocktails start from $19.

The details: Address: 2/F, 110 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun. Telephone: No number. Website: www.mostlyharmlessbar.com/

Artifact

The vibe: Ezra Star makes a second appearance on this list with the design-forward cocktail bar Artifact which she established with Beckaly Franks (formerly of the excellent dive bar Pontiac). The design is supposed to be inspired by haunting underground water reservoirs, and it has a sort of retro futuristic-cum-brutalist vibe that is worth seeing irrespective of the drinks.

The drinks: Given the A-list talent behind Artifact, unsurprisingly, the drinks are top notch. The focus is on brown spirits and the menu is rotated frequently.

The location: Artifact is on the basement floor of Jardine House, the modernist skyscraper and one of the quirkiest buildings in Hong Kong. The bar is part of the Basehall food hall, so is ideally located as a post dinner drinking spot. It is a 7-minute car ride from the HKCEC.

The price: All cocktails are priced at $22.

The details: Address: LG/F, Jardine House, No, 1 & 2, Shop 5 & 7, 1 Connaught Pl, Central. Telephone: +852 6468 8762. Website: www.artifactbar.com