Review #3,500: When…read moreNathan Left (彌敦左岸) opened up in TST along Hart's lively nightlife road, I was super pessimistic at best. Who was Nathan and why did he leave? Is this another gwai lo bar taking over the local grime and pubs from yesteryear? Since I lived right around the corner, I figured it was important to see what the deal was. Here's the deal: This place is awesome and over the past 2 years, I've become a regular. Of the M1 nightlife establishments, Nathan Left is certainly the most unique. The exterior features a classic Hollywood marquee sign, along with open door seating at their downstairs pub where there is just enough room for people to enjoy a view out on the street while drinking a pint. The second floor, where a majority of the people are is stunning from a decor standpoint. It is mainly a lounge with very contemporary decor pieces and dynamic ones that change in from night in to night out (depending on their theme) along with tables, a stage, a classy bar, and a performing stage. Hidden in the back are pool tables, a karaoke room, and even beer pong. When I say I was blown away by the place, I was even more taken aback when I came back on different nights and the interior was transformed. One night was for a movie night and it was 1920s flapper party and the next night it was b-boys, big beats, and a hell of a hip hop night. For most other nights, it's a showcase of some of the best Filipino cover bands one can find. The menu is mainly a mix of western food, which like any M1 spots are typically grossly overpriced and typically mediocre. I was however, impressed at some of the items, such as their "wurst" sausage variety, and even their $650HKD steak which was exactly how I wanted it -- medium rare. Even I was surprised when I found their hamburgers and pizza to be strangely tasty. Despite all of this, I'd still opt for their drinks more than anything. The drinks are standard, but well done. There is a pretty solid selection of whiskey, and some beers on tap. It's not the most extensive selection of alcohol by any means, but it'll more than do the job for people who can order typical cocktails. The staff is young, professional, and very multilingual. My first few visits here were taken care of by Jordan, who despite looking like a fella from Ireland, was in fact a Hong Kong native and mercilessly trolling folks with his flawless Cantonese. The same for the gorgeous Zasha, who served every drink with a smile. Or absurdly friendly Jerome, who knew exactly how to get the party started. Finally, the manager Tony would give a hearty handshake to his regulars every time they entered / exited the joint. It seems like a moot point by now, but this really was my nightlife home away from home. It was a fun occasion any night of the week, a great place for a date, group fun, or a solo drinking session. And finally, an awesome place to listen to quality music and indulge in great company.

Had a GREAT time at Nathan Left. We were in from the States on the last leg of a vacation to a few…read moredifferent countries in Asia, and were lucky enough to have someone local showing us around. This bar is a gem, with an extensive and detailed drinks menu that includes classic speakeasy cocktails, a diverse selection of beers (for Hong Kong), and even WINE that won't break the bank, a welcome sight for westerners longing for a glass of vino after enduring the usually devastating wine prices in Asia. The real reason to come, however, are the cover bands. This bar makes more than adequate use of its upstairs space to host spectacular cover bands that will truly play you any song in the world. My understanding is that this is not that weird a thing in Hong Kong but for westerners it's pretty magical, so that is my lived experience. Decor is fun, eclectic and cozy. Ample seating upstairs even when busy.

The girlfriend wanted live music and remembers Hennessy Rd has good clubs with great bands and…read morereasonably priced drinks. We walked past The Wanch and noted the band playing 70's music and stopped to look up the evening's acts on the window. I gestured for the girlfriend to stop walking & go inside. I am very glad that we did. No cover. No watered down drinks and great shows. Totally worth it

We spent a week in Hong Kong and stayed at the Renaissance Harbour Front. The Wanch was a 5 minute…read morewalk from there and we went there for lunch 2 times and dinner once. We went every night for the live music. The food was good and there were vegan options for us. The service was really good. Highly recommend this place.

My dad and I crawled into the Live House seeking for some drinks after perusing down Goldfish St in…read moreHong Kong. Little did we know we'd be entering this really cool hangout place with nice drinks! When we walked down the stairs that led into the Live House, we were greeted by lovely live music and all about a really cozy vibe. I ordered a mojito for myself before sitting down with my dad to enjoy the music. The mojito was served in this really cool cup, which added to the exotic jungle vibe of the place. Aside from the eclectic table settings and decor, I thought it was really cool how the locals in the bar at that night really brought about a family vibe. It was the birthday of one of the singers (who had an AMAZING voice), and we were offered cake from the partying group! Anybody visiting should totally check this place out in the evening. :) English is okay to speak here, though if you speak the native language of Cantonese, you would definitely have a better time!

For the longest time, the place was listed as closed and I swore it was open after passing by from…read moretime to time during my burger exploits (ahem: https://www.yelp.com/biz/burger-joys-香港). One night I noticed it was open and completely dead but the Filipino cover band was jamming hard and there were signs for happy hour plastered all along the outside. Music and discounted drink prices are an easy way to sucker me in. But what I got was so much more. Maybe more than I would've asked for. You see, Amazonia isn't just any bar, but one of the many Filipino girly bars within the seedy Wanchai scene. I only realized this after noticing that while bopping my head to some Aerosmith / Journey covers that I was the only dude sitting alone and then after 8pm, a swarm of pinays came in and with that a steady crowd of middle aged white guys came creeping in. It's a scene that's been played out throughout Asian bars throughout the Southeast, but I was staring at it right in the face. From a bystander's point of view, the place is big enough to merit all sorts of gatherings. There is a legitimate stage for serious band action and lots of comfy seats that create a loungey presence much more so than a dive bar one. Colors here are primarily red and black, which perfectly mimics any sort of red light district vibe. The bartenders enjoyed my company. My drinks stayed at regular prices where I noticed a slight uptick for some of the other patrons looking to buy gals everything from beer to mildly potent cocktails, emphasis on the mild. Amazonia stays open late every night, just beware of the calm before the storm which tends to occur right around 7-8pm. Come for the drinks and stay for the music. Beyond that, everything else is suspect.

Amazonia is a dirty bar, and by that, I'm not endorsing it as a place to do "that" sort of thing,…read morealthough their website does boast that it is "where Hong Kong's wild and wonderful people hang out - beautiful babes and the guys who come to meet them there", so read between the lines. For those not looking for beautiful babes, it's a place to get hot, sweaty, drunk and rock the night out. It's a great venue, that's dark and dingy, with lots of nocks and crannies to hide in. The sort of place where you should never go during the day, in case you see the state of the seats that you have been sitting in the night before. Having said that though, even during the day, it seems to be dark inside (despite the open bar frontage). The venue seems to suck in light like a black hole. However, what this bar offers, is a great dive atmosphere to drown your sorrows or celebrate your happiness. The drinks are pretty much to be expected in any Wan Chai bar, beers, wines, spirits, that's about it. I don't know if there is food, as I have never eaten there, nor seen anyone else eat there. In the evenings, there is table service (or standing service). The waitresses identify themselves with LED light badges and will take your orders and bring you drinks. This is useful, because walking around in the dark to find the bar could result in injury, and it gets rocking busy, so any excuse to avoid squeezing through the crowds to the bar is a good thing. What Amazonia is really known for is the pumping live music, that goes from 8pm to 6am every night. They have a great Filipino band that just never seems to stop betweens songs or sets. With the relentless noise, don't expect to come here for a conversation, just let the noise roll over you as you sip your drink or dance on the makeshift space at the front of the stage. It's actually an ideal place it you don't have anything to say to whoever your there with. Happy hour is opening to 9pm. Sports is played on the screens around the bar.

I get the impression that this is supposed to be an Australian style pub, except that it isn't…read more Well, maybe it is because I don't live in Hong Kong and just visited for a couple of days because for all I know it could be where all the Australian expats hang out. Look, it was a pretty cool pub, and it kinda seems popular, and there were some pretty nice beers there as well. Yeah, I liked it.

This bar restaurant has a great vibe! I was a bit turned off by the name but pleasantly surprise…read moreonce inside. It's not huge but the layout gives privacy and makes it cosy. The drink menu is good as is the food menu. They won't be winning any culinary awards but We were happy. The air con was a relief from the humidity outside and the live band was a treat. Everyone got into the live music, some more enthusiastically than others. The clientele is a cultural mix which is nice. For me the big winner was that it's no smoking inside. If your looking for an oasis and a cold drink try here.

Ah, Dusk 'til Dawn. We've all been there -- it's 2 a.m. You could call it a night at the bar with…read moreyour friends, or you could head to Duskies at this prime hour for the best damn band in Wan Chai, the absolutely worst drunk brit/moms on holiday dancing this fine island has to offer, and drinks (albeit pricey) delivered directly to you on the dance floor so you don't have to miss the second chorus to "Wonderwall" by Oasis. Because no one wants that. You're belting it out. You're living for it. LIVING FOR IT!!! YOU'RE MY WONDERWALLLLLL. I am a shameless Dusk til Dawn fan. If you go in before midnight it'll be absolutely empty, but the band plays like there's a packed house anyway. I like to go there around midnight to easily get a seat (though let's be honest after a few cold ones I'll have inevitably abandoned it to go join the hoards of drunk people gyrating to "Sex is on Fire" by Kings of Leon). It gets absolutely PACKED starting about 1 a.m. By 2:30 you can hardly move. By 3:30 you're wasted and you don't care. by 4:30 you're dripping in sweat and full-out dancing with either a 60-year-old Aussie on holiday, a Navy man on shore leave, or a commercial airline pilot to "I'm so Excited"... .and you just can't hide it. You can't. Don't even try. Give in to Dusk til Dawn. Do it. Dusk til Dawn is an amazing experience for expats and those on holiday alike. Expensive? Sure. 75 bucks a drink, probably, but that's why you go at 2 a.m.; when you clearly don't need four more beers, but god damn it you'll probably have them anyway because you make brilliant decisions in your life when Bohemian Rhapsody is involved. Stumble home past Big Pizza and/or Ebeneezer Kebab on Luard Rd and feast on the street before hopefully finding your way home, humming a little tune all the way.

I heard about this live music venue from a bunch of people throughout my stay in Hong Kong. This…read morespot in Wan Chai is well known. Very nice inside and the band was excellent, best in the area for sure. The problem is the drinks were rather expensive versus other spots in the area. The staff was nice, but rather cold in general.

Back in the day when I used to work in Wanchai- Joe Bananas was a home away from home for many…read moredifferent reasons. We went to it for lunch- they used to serve a 98 HKD buffet which considering you are actually in Wanchai makes it incredibly cheap. You may start think that the food will reflect the price and......you would be half way there. I would say that they do serve some surprising items (such as roast beef in thin slices) but some of the other items do seem a little bit tacky such as spring rolls and sausages. However, given you always get a table, its near to the office and you get a full three course meal with a drink- you can't really complain. They never pushed you to return the table by a certain time and I believe they also do this deal over the weekend with a lot more alcohol involved- please check the store for details. We went to it for drinks- Joe Bananas is pretty much an institution in the Wanchai area along with Delaneys , Meis Amis, Dusk till Dawn and a number of others. Its an expat orientated environment though locals could also thoroughly enjoy themselves over a few drinks and with the usual gaggle of girls standing just a bit too close to you for comfort. The band and everything else completes the Wanchai experience and of course if you are really keen they also have t-shirts available. Why would I rate it 5 star? As far as its foibles went I still went there everyday- my house is messed up but I still love it. Same theory.

After the hype that I've heard of this place from the older generation, this place is a bit of the…read morelet down. Drink prices are at par of other Wan Chai bars, Joe Bananas is well located, and still really well decorated, but it seems to have forgotten what it means to be a pub. While the drinks list is comprehensive, I feel that the drinks lack the flair that I'd expect from a bar that has such as resonating reputation among the locals. While I'm used to the classic gin and tonic with a slice of lemon floating in the glass, it is by no means an aesthetic that I expect to see in one of the fancier bars (I mean at least stick a lemon WEDGE on the rim of the glass). While I understand that it is unreasonable to expect 5-star hotel bar aesthetics in a Wan Chai bar, they could do better... and maybe put more gin or just cut down on the tonic in my G&T. I was surprised by the limited selection of bar snacks (paid and otherwise), considering how nachos seemed to be the only option there that wasn't an entree or appetizer. Offering peanuts (even if they charged for them) would've been nice. Service was on par with other bars in the area, i.e. reasonably responsive, and friendly enough.

This spot was quite fun when I came a few years ago. Didn't find it necessary to go back to this…read morespot, as a lot of new ones have popped up since then. I enjoyed this spot on a Saturday night, with pop bands & jazz dudes playing during the evening. The food and drinks were subpar from what I remember. Nothing in my opinion that made me want to go back & imbibe or nibble. Not to say it could be different from now though... The entertainment was great. I stayed because of it. A place to check out, should you stumble upon it :)

I went for some Jazz night with friends to Dada Bar and Lounge,and came back the second time to…read morerevisit the deco with a few hoteliers. The hotel tour I had at Luxe Manor is breath-taking. Each time encounter some antique, I marked it down in mind for my wish-list. The vibrant ambience complimented the live music scene and some funky dance crowd. The award-winning design boutique embraces various theme rooms. To illustrate, Safari is a theme room carries African characters with Sahara desert as the backdrop setting. I salute to the Bohemian deco and bold colors when walked in. Their gourmet canapés are refined for sophisticated mixodology. The dim light adds on the chill atmosphere and compensates the Jazz live. Any sofa there can be my favorite, cosy and plenty of room to sit in. Not bad wine selection, though toasting the sexy Metropolitan demonstrates a bit more grace. The mystery tone laid the romance for dating and intimate chat within small groups.

Cafe was a little difficult to find - where you see Ichiban, swerve into the alley and the building…read moreto your right is where you will find it on the 3rd floor. There are actually several floors of cafes here including a cat cafe and a darts bar. I got the honeycomb coffee. Unfortunately, I ordered it cold which doesn't not allow the honey to dissolve into my coffee. Instead it solidified into a honey lump which I just chewed on while sipping coffee. The atmosphere is really casual and laid back with great music.

A perfect Cafe setting in the heart of Mong Kok. The cafe covers a few floors of the building and…read moredepending on if you are there for food, music, drinks or all three, they have different themes according to the floor. A few days of the week, they feature live entertainment like music and open mic. I've been there once for music and if you are on the floor that doesn't have the artist, they broadcast the show on a projector. Their drinks are very delicious and unique. I prefer their teas over their smoothies. More refreshing and less sweet. I also really enjoy their food menu. They have special main courses daily and also snacks like chicken wings.