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.

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!

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.

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.

A pretty neat travel hack is to look up any last-minute AirBNB experiences, particularly evening…read moreones that don't break the bank (preferably with at least one drink included). Peel was on the list on a Friday night, tucked away in some of the diviest ex-pat bar districts I could have never imagined existing in Hong Kong. The whole adventure leading up to these streets felt like a new edition of New York I've never seen before. And that's a good thing. The space is small as well, so look for more of that East Village vibe. I was gonna originally give the experience three-stars, but added an extra star since the musicians were Filipino (and great to boot). Sorry, I think my bias is showing.

Nice place to have an enjoyable live jazz night, this place opens until 4am. We enjoyed the light…read morejazz tonight and we had a Serrano Jamon with pickles and sour dough bread, which very nice as well. Very good sound system in a rather humble place.

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.

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.

Hidden in the glass and concrete jungle of Hong Kong is this quaint little Victorian building…read moresafeguarding Hong Kong's avant garde treasures. The building itself is a photo opportunity as its unique round shape makes it look like a mini castle of relaxation, out of time and place in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Inside, lies a quiet little art gallery. If you work in the area, I invite you to come in on your lunch break, relax, and enjoy a zen moment to refresh your mind before jumping back into the fray. Hong Kongers are often trapped in a perpetual grind. Due to crazy high real estate prices, people have to work a lot of overtime and multiple jobs to pay for a very tiny flat. Often, the higher paying jobs are on Hong Kong island while the low cost housing is far away in the new territories. Commuting 3 to 4 hours a day and working long hours results in a daily grind with zero free time. You come home after a long day at work, a long commute, crash onto your bed, then, as soon as you open your eyes, the grind starts all over again. Hong Kong is full of opportunities, but only for those creative and resourceful enough to get out of the grind. The fringe club is full of that creative vibe. For example, I went to a performance there by a musical group, "Western District", which is not a performance of catchy tunes you can listen to on your commute for the daily grind. It is, rather, a musical workshop where the musicians are experimenting and testing the boundaries of just exactly what is music. What is a piano? What is the boundary between melody and cacophany? How do you play a piano? Their experimentive spirit, your discussion with the artists and other patrons during the intermission just might be that creative spark that starts your fire that eventually burns down your daily grind. You must challenge what is, in order to build what will be. P.S. Honestly, I really didn't "get it" and, thus, didn't enjoy my experience at The Fringe Club. I enjoy old world craftsmanship such as Renaissance art or Ming Dynasty Imperial porcelain. I don't "get" abstract art such as Kandinsky. I enjoy listening to Mozart or Chopin played by a pianist who has slaved for years to perfect his/her performance. I don't "get" the group, Western District, which performed abstract "music" such as a German guy reciting German poetry whilst an Opera singer alternately sang and whimpered like a puppy with a pianist playing randomly by pounding on the piano with a shower curtain rod. However, everyone else there seemed to really enjoy themselves. Their performance was packed with people paying 180 HKD to listen to them perform whilst standing up because they ran out of seating space! Hence, the positive review with 4 stars even though I wanted to give it 1 star. The most difficult reviews to write are positive reviews of stuff you really didn't enjoy. LOL!

Have been in and out of here for different reasons, for the now closed restaurant, the happy hour…read moreon the grassy roof, concerts and most recently, for Nike's Air Max Con. There is enough reviews that cover the history of the building, but what makes it valuable is that in midst of Hong Kong the financial hub, where people barely slow down for a meal let alone to appreciate art, is a venue where art and performances are showcased. The location is convenient and right next to Lan Kwai Fong, where you can go for a drink after the shows. The place is a bit cozy and far from state of the art, but I appreciate it for what it does and think that it does it pretty well.

We got a gathering at Kowloon Shangri-la lobby lounge. They offered light lunch menu and regular…read moremenu during lunch time. We decided to try out their light lunch menu. It comes with 2 courses or 3 courses set lunch. The main is either salad or sandwiches. We ordered a grilled chicken avocado salad, and one grilled chicken sandwiches. One set with cream of mushroom soup, while the other set with mango cheesecake. Let's briefly talk about the service, it is not great because not too many waitresses. Even we have a bit problem to ask them over for ordering. The preparation time for the food is also very long time compared to other hotel restaurants. The good side is the portion and taste. Portion is huge, and taste is good. They also didn't remind us for complimentary tea or coffee. By the time we finished, there were lots of people for afternoon tea or drinks. Follow up with the complaint on the service and the preparation food time, the manager invited us back to the Lobby Lounge for afternoon tea. This time by far way better than yesterday lunch experience. The table was set up properly with 6 seats. The manager also serves us personally during the whole time. We feel welcome this time. The tea set comes with fusion Korean style savouries and sweet. The tea set is creative and taste is good as well. Definitely worth a try!

The Shangri-la Lobby Lounge is one of my favorite places in Hong Kong. It is huge, and faces…read moreVictoria Harbour along its full length. I sometimes meet for business there. We worked through lunch hour and decided to have the high tea here. I like the Shangri La high tea, it is bountiful with trimmed finger sandwiches, scones and petit fours. Just right if you missed lunch! Good choice of teas, I like the strong tie kwanyin. And service is excellent, attentive but not intrusive. Best part is the view out to the harbor or in to the people. That day the Hong Kong Tourist Bureau junk sailed across and back. Shangri La and the other hotel at the end of the promenade have the best and most frequent views of this ubiquitous junk. A wonderful and unique experience in Hongkong.

Lovely cosy place great music live bands staff brilliant freindly definitely worth a nibble from…read morekitchen food well presented and served with a smile plus don't miss happy hours.

When the partying in LFK starts fading, one bar stands above the rest in keeping the fiesta vibes…read moregoing, appropriately named Insomnia. Located along the main stretch of where LKF partygoers gather on D'Aguilar, Insomnia has maintained a long standing reputation as an easy destination for live music and a never ending 24 hour bar scene. The interior is quite good for all sorts of occasions. There is an outdoor area with a separate bar and an indoor area that has a massive stage equipped with lights, speakers, and mic stands. It might be the most elaborate setup I've seen for a bar at this size. As a result, the live music here is probably the best I've seen in LKF. The nightly Filipino cover band deserves some serious kudos. Like all things in these parts of LKF, the drinks are expensive. Average cocktail goes for 100+HKD and roughly half off during Happy Hour. The food isn't much to write about, more folks are here for the ambiance than the bites. I've been here when it was both dead with no one inside and packed to the gills (typically the weekend). When it's crowded, this place is extremely hit or miss. There is only so much body bumping and middle aged people dancing awkwardly that one can take. When the weeknight crowd is light, this is a fantastic place to chill and appreciate some quality music. Service is somewhere between fast / efficient to terribly mean. The Filipino staff is courteous, but they can get feisty with the drunkards at the bar. Beware of the whack men's room, the urine odor is on full blast at night. Staying in the back has its drawbacks. At the very least the intense air conditioning and high energy performances from the band make checking this place out a worthy cause. I wish I could say the same for the rest of LKF.