9 Best Bars in Western, Hong Kong

Awarded first place in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, this Italian-run, casual-cool bar is known for its signature "filthy martini," pepped up with a smoked olive and brine for extra oomph. More genteel is the small but perfectly formed mezcal negroni, which goes beautifully with bar snacks like Leone’s best-selling mortadella sandwich—stacked layers of thinly sliced Italian garlic sausage squeezed between crisp home-baked focaccia.

Hidden behind an unmarked red door is one of the coolest bars in Sai Ying Pun. Converted from an old table-tennis parlor, the basement space serves gin and tonic cocktails and features works by local artists on the walls. It also offers an array of Spanish tapas.

One of Hong Kong's favorite after-work watering hole, 208 sits in the middle of trendy Sheung Wan, The place serves up spot-on classic cocktails alongside authentic antipasti. Sit outside and enjoy a cocktail or three with a mostly local crowd.

This New York–style pub has a loyal following thanks to its excellent cocktails, a good selection of beers, and friendly service. It's a no-frills place, located across from the Sheung Wan MTR station.

This bohemian diamond-in-the-rough was named in tribute to July 1, 2003, when half a million Hong Kongers successfully rallied against looming threats to their freedom of speech. Tucked away on a terrace down a side street, the quirky, unpretentious bar is a mainstay of artists, journalists, and left-wing politicians. The outdoor area closes around midnight.

There can’t be many cocktail bars in the world that have fans queuing at 5 pm to sample their libations, but such is the allure of Coa, crowned Asia’s Best Bar for three consecutive years (2021–23). The meticulously crafted drinks spotlight the spirits and flavors of Mexico, showcasing the smoky depth of artisanal mezcal. Coa boasts a standout collection of over 200 agave-based spirits, while the bar’s name is a reference to coa de jima, a traditional machete-like tool used for harvesting agave plants.

Dance anthems fill the floor until the wee hours at this friendly LGBTQ+ club. "Game nights" lure visitors and locals alike with alternating themes such as drag bingo or karaoke. 

A lively spot in Kennedy Town, Missy Ho's has made a name for itself as much for the swing hanging from the ceiling and dress-up closet as for its Asian-inspired cocktails. Dark but inviting, it's the kind of place where the bartender will urge you to enjoy tequila shots on a Tuesday night. The crowd tends to be mostly young people looking to party, but all will feel welcome. A sign that Hong Kong's nightlife epicenter is moving ever westward, the bar comes into its own on weekends when it is often full to the brim with revelers.

This Hemingway-theme cocktail speakeasy takes its name from one of the author’s stories, The Old Man and the Sea. There’s nothing fishy about the superb drinks on offer, which are best savored while sitting along the central bar-table, cleverly inset with a slab of ice to keep them at optimum temperature as you imbibe.