When it comes to the best cocktail bars in Hong Kong, Central and SoHo are where the scene really lives. This stretch of Hong Kong Island is packed with stylish hotel lounges, inventive speakeasies, and neighborhood hangouts that serve some of the most creative drinks in Asia.
In this guide, I’ve rounded up 13 of the best cocktail bars in Central Hong Kong and SoHo, ranging from sustainability-driven standouts to underground themed bars worth hunting down. Several of these spots appear on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, while others are hidden gems that deserve a lot more attention. Whether you’re after a perfectly made classic or something more experimental, you’ll find it here.
Bars are listed roughly in order of my personal preference overall, not just on the cocktails themselves.
The Best Cocktail Bars in Central Hong Kong and SoHo
1. Apothecary
Apothecary is tucked away on the 3rd floor of an office building in Lan Kwai Fong, marked by a discreet entrance that adds to its speakeasy feel. Inside, the dark, minimalist design creates a refined atmosphere without feeling overly formal.
The bar’s approach is to take a classic cocktail as the “core” and build on it with herbs, spices, and unexpected ingredients as the “shell.” The result is something familiar but not quite like anything else, leaning herbal or slightly savory without crossing into difficult territory.
Signature cocktails include:
- Matcha Irish Coffee: Matcha, coconut, and vanilla layered into a hot drink topped with cold foam.
- Tarragon White Negroni: A twist on the White Negroni with tarragon and baijiu, landing somewhere between sweet and bitter.
- Hazelnut Sour: A riff on the Amaretto Sour with hazelnut, apricot, and clove.
It’s a good spot for couples or small groups who want something more refined than the Lan Kwai Fong bar crawl happening just outside the door.
2. Penicillin
Penicillin is Hong Kong’s first bar fully dedicated to sustainability and zero waste. Everything from the spirits and botanicals to the glassware is chosen with minimal impact in mind, and most ingredients are sourced locally. The goal is straightforward: as little waste as possible by the end of the night.
The space is sleek and minimalist, keeping the focus on what’s in the glass. Bartenders work with the precision of chemists, but the service stays approachable and the atmosphere never feels stiff.
Two drinks worth knowing before you go. The “One Penicillin, One Tree” plants a tree in Borneo with every order. The “Slow Grind” is a rich, layered mix of pistachio-paste bourbon, blackened malt, buttered cascara rum, and caramel-ghee foam. The rest of the menu holds up to both of those.
Penicillin has a spot on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list, which is well earned. If the sustainability angle doesn’t draw you in, the drinks will.
3. Bar Leone
Bar Leone brings a laid-back Italian aperitivo feel to SoHo and has become one of the more talked-about bars in Hong Kong over the past couple of years. The focus is on perfectly made Negronis, other Italian classics, and simple bar snacks done well, think mortadella sandwiches and the kind of food that makes sense next to a drink. The space is casual and welcoming, the kind of spot where one drink has a way of turning into several.
If you’re looking for bars in SoHo Hong Kong that don’t take themselves too seriously, Bar Leone is a good place to start.
4. The Diplomat
The Diplomat is easy to miss from the street, marked only by a small button to the left of the door. Find it, press it, and you’re in one of the best bars in SoHo Hong Kong.
The main room has only a handful of tables and a small bar, giving it a cozy feel without being cramped. There’s a short food menu built around a wagyu burger and chicken nuggets that are hard to stop eating. It’s a comfortable place to stop in solo for a drink and a bite.
The cocktail list is tight and focused, mixing punches, classics, and one of the better espresso martinis in the area. The Irish Coffee is likely also one of the best in Hong Kong.
The real secret is behind the main room. The Diplomat Member’s Lounge is a private back room reserved for members and their guests, an invitation-only speakeasy within the bar itself. It keeps the main space open to everyone while holding something back, which is a good way to run a room.
5. COA
Coa is the place to go if you’re into tequila, mezcal, or agave spirits in general. They stock over 200 bottles from Mexico, and the cocktails are built to showcase those flavors without overwhelming you. The signature La Paloma de Oaxaca comes with a worm-salt rim and is worth ordering on the first visit. The space is low-lit and relaxed, focused on what’s in the glass rather than how the room looks. If you want serious agave drinks in a no-fuss setting, Coa delivers.
6. The Thirsty Shaker
Thirsty Shaker stands out from a lot of the other bars in Central Hong Kong for two reasons: it has an outdoor terrace and it actually works for larger groups.
The bar and terrace sit on the 3rd floor and feel much more casual than the higher-end spots nearby. It’s more local hangout than hidden speakeasy, which is a nice change of pace after a few of the more serious bars on this list. The menu covers classics and a handful of signature drinks, all solid without being overcomplicated.
If you want something more low-key but still worth your time, Thirsty Shaker fits the bill.
7. ARGO
Argo sits inside the Four Seasons and is one of the more polished central Hong Kong bars on this list. The drink menus change seasonally and lean toward unusual ingredients and techniques, though the results are always balanced and easy to drink. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Victoria Harbour don’t hurt either. If the view is part of what you’re after, this is the spot.
8. The Aubrey
The Aubrey is a Japanese izakaya-style bar on the 25th floor of the Mandarin Oriental. The space is split across several rooms, each with its own feel, which makes it work well for both a quiet drink and a fuller night out. The menu leans on shochu and sake-based cocktails alongside Japanese bar snacks, and the high-rise views over the city are hard to argue with. It’s a more formal option than most bars on this list, but worth it if that’s what you’re in the mood for.
9. The Iron Fairies
Iron Fairies is one of the more unique bars you’ll find in Hong Kong. The underground space takes its cues from an Australian mine, with tunnels, hidden rooms, dim lighting, heavy iron details, and hanging chains throughout. Little jars of “fairy dust” are scattered around the room, which sounds gimmicky but somehow works.
The cocktails are creative, but the setting is the real draw here. It’s also one of the larger spaces on this list, which makes it a good call for groups or for bringing friends who are visiting the city for the first time. Sister locations exist in Kuala Lumpur and Bali if you find yourself in either city.
10. The Savory Project
The Savory Project does exactly what the name suggests. The focus is on umami rather than sweetness, so cocktails are built around ingredients like mushrooms, miso, and spices instead of fruit and sugar. The Thai Beef Salad cocktail, rum with chili, kaffir lime, and herbs, is the one most people talk about and a good place to start. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re open to drinks that don’t taste like drinks, this is the spot.
11. GOKAN
Gokan is built around the idea of the five tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. The cocktails are precise and lean on Japanese spirits and seasonal ingredients, which keeps the menu feeling fresh without being unpredictable. The space is intimate and calm, a good fit for the drinks. If you want a quieter, more understated cocktail bar in Central Hong Kong, Gokan is worth a visit.
12. The Mixing Room
The Mixing Room is the sister venue to Iron Fairies, right next door and run by the same team. It shares some of the same DNA but has its own identity, separate cocktail menu, and a very different atmosphere.
The main talking point is the ceiling, more than 22,000 glass bottles suspended overhead, which turns the whole underground space into something worth looking up at. The cocktails lean creative and theme-driven, which fits the room. If you’re already going to Iron Fairies, it’s worth poking your head in here too.
13. Artifact
Artifact is tucked beneath Jardine House and feels like no other bar on this list. The curved walls, soft lighting, and sleek textures give it a spaceship quality that sounds over the top but comes together well in person.
The cocktail program draws on Japanese ingredients and minimalist design, with drinks built around umami, fresh citrus, and seasonal botanicals. The glassware is chosen carefully enough that it’s worth paying attention to. It’s one of the more experimental spots on this list, and if that’s what you’re after, it’s hard to beat.
Central and SoHo pack a lot into a pretty small area, which is part of what makes this corner of Hong Kong Island so good for a night out. You can move between a sustainability-focused bar, an agave-only spot, and an underground cave bar all within a short walk of each other.
If you’re working out where to start, Apothecary and Penicillin are the two I’d point most people toward first. Bar Leone is the right call if you want something more casual. And if you’re bringing a group, Iron Fairies or Thirsty Shaker give you the most room to breathe.
However you end up spending your night, the cocktail bars in Central Hong Kong and SoHo are some of the best in Asia, and honestly some of the best I’ve come across anywhere. Worth making time for on any visit to the city.
