Hong Kong’s Finest: 5 Best-Voted Bars in the City

From sensational rooftop views to hidden speakeasies, this city’s bar scene continues to dazzle on the regional stage. Prestige visits this year’s top five Hong Kong watering holes in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars ranking.

LEONE MARTINI AT BAR LEONE

Roaring from nowhere (it opened last year) straight into first place in Asia, Bar Leone’s explosive rise to glory is well deserved, as evidenced in its signature Leone Martini, created by the renowned Lorenzo Antinori. His recipe blends Ginepraio gin, dry marsala and orange-blossom water, perfectly shaked to bring forward the floral notes, then garnished with olives stuffed with Spanish almonds and accompanied by more olives, only this time stuffed with blue cheese. Sip on Italian sophistication as you’re whisked away to Rome’s finest watering holes with a martini that’s as bold and timeless as the Eternal City herself.

15 Bridges Street, SoHo, Central

SHOCHU AND MELON DAIQUIRI AT THE AUBREY

’Tis the season of sweet summer cocktails. Indulge at The Aubrey with the Shochu and Melon Daiquiri, a seasonal masterpiece that upholds the watering hole’s spot on the list. Centred around the revered Japanese spirit, the cocktail blends the smoothness of sweet-potato shochu with the refreshing essence of Merone Cantaloupe Melon, elevated by the botanical notes of Roku Gin and a hint of citrus. Honey and lavender weave a further harmonious blend that’s as refreshing as a cool breeze on a summer evening in Tokyo.

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road, Central

THIEF! AT ARGO

Clearly, we aren’t the only fans of Argo Manager Federico Balzarini’s new cocktail menu, as the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong’s opulent watering hole retains its top 10 position on the list for 2024. Introduced last year, the menu, named Argo Forestry, is inspired by the process of agroforestry, with each section of the menu representing a different stage in the ecological process: from the root, soil, fruit, flower, tree and animal, created with a respectful approach to sourcing. In fact, many ingredients are local to Hong Kong. Pictured is the Thief ! cocktail, which is inspired by the goat, which plays a big role in sustaining food systems. Made from Havana Club 7 rum, melon, hazelnut, and Ratafia Rossi, it comes garnished with a spoonful of goat yoghurt – which, honestly, turns out to be much nicer than it sounds.

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central

MARTINI VS VESPER AT DARKSIDE

Ranked in fifth place in Hong Kong, DarkSide is the sultry jazz spot burrowed into the Rosewood Hong Kong. Created by Arkadiusz Rybak and Simone Rossi, the Martini vs Vesper cocktail is a playful duel between timeless tradition and contemporary tastes. Mancino Vermouth Secco and Bianco blend with peach bitters and Japanese wakamomo, adding a fruity zing as unexpected as a plot twist in a 007 novel. Sip in sophistication with a wink, because why settle for shaken or stirred when you can have both in one glass?

Rosewood Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

LA PALOMA DE OAXACA AT COA

A stalwart of Hong Kong’s nightlife scene since 2017, COA blends warm hospitality with a rustic, Mexican-inspired ambience. Indeed, this industry leader has been a favourite for so long that many will be surprised it’s been dethroned from the top spot. This shouldn’t deter visitors, however: whether you’re a seasoned agave aficionado or dipping your toes into Mexico’s liquid treasure for the first time, COA’s La Paloma de Oaxaca promises an adventure worth raising a toast to. A refreshing concoction of Tequila blanco, Mezcal joven, lime and grapefruit soda with a cheeky rim of worm salt, it’s more than just a drink – it’s a fiesta in a glass. Perfect for when you want your taste buds to dance the salsa.

Wah Shin House, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central

This article was first published in Prestige Hong Kong