It's the branding that haunts this place…read more Fair enough, being a champagne bar in the middle of Soho is a good sell to stand out. But then, if you are just looking for a night to chill and relax, you'll think, "hey, it's some fancy high-end champagne bar, let's give it a pass and go for some low key lounge." The truth is, champagne bar is a bit misleading. You'll get a wide range of the usual drinks. Full pint of Asahi for $45 at happy hour till 8pm, which is a steal on Elgin Street. They almost all kinds of liquors at happy hour price too. Granted, you'd still want to get some sparkling here too. Go for the parma ham set that comes with two glasses of rosé? Oh yes, they serve food too! That's right. Doesn't seem like they have a kitchen here, but they bring over the pizza and other hot dishes from the restaurant next to it. One minor miss - the air-con. We were sitting not at the "outdoor balcony" but the table closest to the store front. Excuse us for being spoiled kids enjoying 24c air-con everywhere since we were born, but the air-con was really weak on a summer day like the night we visited. Champagne would have been much more enjoyable in a more pleasant temperature.

I'm a big fan of the bar Flutes on Elgin Street. It is primarily a champagne bar, serving a variety…read moreof champagne based cocktails, but does do a full range of other cocktails, wines, beers and spirits. They also have a small selection of bar snacks and small plates, the margarita pizza is particularly good. For me, Flutes has always been a "let's meet here before dinner" bar. Right at one end of Elgin Street, it is very easy to find, and has an open frontage onto the street, so you can sit at the front and watch the world go by whilst waiting for your hot date. The front seats are bar stools and high tables, which make a great elevated viewing spot to people watch, but I personally find these seats get uncomfortable over an evening, especially if the AC doesn't quite reach you. I prefer to sit further in the back where there are low seats and tables, but these are unfortunately near the toilet. Drinks are standard Soho price, around HKD80-90 for a regular mixer. Beware that the happy hour only extends to certain drinks. The service is a little slow, even when the bar is empty. It has been much better in the past, so I may have just hit it on a bad day. Otherwise the staff are very friendly. I personally come here a lot, but mainly for fancy drinks, celebrations, or to treat Mrs L. I probably wouldn't meet the lads here for a pint, unless of course it was a pint of Janisson.

If you're looking for a classy place to catch some live jazz, Salon de Ning is the spot to hit up!…read more In TST, you don't have too many other choices except for Ned Kelly's (and sometimes the Hyatt bar). Ned Kelly's isn't necessarily the type of dark, intimate environment for jazz if you're on a 1-on-1 date so Salon de Ning takes the cake in this aspect! If you've been to some old school jazz bars in Shanghai then you are familiar with the particular ambiance these type of places give off! Salon de Ning is built off of that and you can feel it the moment you walk in with their dark lighting and decor. There are plenty of seats on any given weeknight though I do suggest making reservations just in case it is booked out. I've walked in most of the time just sporadically and have always scored a good seat. Sometimes it is a nice couch off in the corner, other times we are at just right upfront at just a few feet away from the jazz band. Don't expect too much on their cocktails. Yes, the prices are very steep (it is The Peninsula after all) but you're paying more for the environment (and brownie points if you're on a date). I suggest going more for their whiskey based drinks as they do a good job on those. The other typical cocktails aren't mixed together very well. I've seen a number of great performers here and on my last visit, there was an awesome duo from LA (SoCal represent!) that had both the performance and vocals on point. Service is awesome here and they are much more attentive than usual (I am sure you're already used to the subpar service you'd typically receive in HK). And they will be happy to move you to a different part of the lounge if you ask! Grab a drink, soak in the music and relax!

Salon de Ning is an uber-cool bar in the basement of the Peninsula Hotel in TST. It is based on a…read moreShanghainese 1930s speak-easy, and it certainly does exude that style the minute you walk in. It's dark, plush, art-deco France meets Chinese chic. In fact, it's so dark in there, that I would be afraid to see it with the lights up, just in case I was sitting in something sticky. The main bar area surrounds a stage and small dance floor, and has a number of private alcoves jutting off in all directions. Depending on which table you have managed to reserve, booking is nearly always essential here, you may find yourself either sitting on the tallest spiky stool, or the most comfortable and luxurious sofa. It's a bit of a gamble, but I'm sure you can request to sit in particular areas at time of booking. All around the bar is art-work, antique furniture, and historical haute couture clothing, so if your G&T is no good, you can at least drink in the view. The bar menu is quite extensive, but also quite pricey. They are not the best made drinks in the world, but perfectly passable. I would have hoped for better given the price tag, but alas no. My impression is that one comes here for the kudos, and not to have a decent long island ice tea. There is also nightly entertainment. At the time of writing, it is a very classy Florida based jazz band. The staff are very pleasant, and have a wonderful effortless politeness about them. They are the antithesis of HK service, in that they are calm and quietly spoken. Note, there is a smart casual dress code...

a very friendly queer lesbian bar it feels welcoming the…read moremoment you sit down the bras hanging from the ceiling adds a touch of whimsy the signature drinks are delicious

The Pontiac / Central (Hong Kong) -- This was such a great find for Jamie W and me. We decided to…read morestay in Central on Hong Kong Island because many of the trendier eateries are here. So are the gay bars. Although just a fifteen-minute walk from our hotel, the last block on Old Bailey Street was a bit of a climb. We started hearing Shania Twain, a far cry from the K-POP blaring everywhere else. When we saw the rainbow flag out front and the sea of brassieres hanging from the ceiling, we knew this must be the place. There were just three people at the bar and two behind it, both English speakers. Our particular barkeep was from Curaçao even though she sounded like a Texan. The vibe was casual and quite chill, and we were impressed by the manga menus. The name refers to the Native American tribe, not my dad's 1968 Pontiac Catalina. Wanting time to peruse the menu, we ordered our standby, a couple of HK$98 Espresso Martinis (photo; https://yelp.to/8pnmgyoiM6). Quite smooth with just a hush of sweetness that had us tapping our feet to classic Dolly Parton. We were ready to order their artisan signature cocktails for our second round. Jamie went for the HK$98 Killswitch, a particularly potent mix of tequila, Ribena Jamaica, lime, fenugreek tincture, and soda, it was a margarita with a third leg. I went more refined with the HK$98 London Calling, a clubby blend of Strawberry Pimm's, ruby port, petite verveine, basil, and soda (photo: https://yelp.to/8OhUsNESX4). What a lovely drink on a balmy night in Hong Kong. COCKTAILS - 5 stars...very thoughtful about their mixes AMBIANCE - 4 5 stars...just the right mood for two tired gay Americans SERVICE - 4.5 stars...very friendly TOTAL - 5 stars...great to find this boozy oasis in HK...oh and did I mention it's ranked #33 on the esteemed Asia's 5O Best Bars list? RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg

In the heart of Lan Kwai Fong district in Hong Kong, this bar/lounge stood apart from most of the…read moreother places in the area as what it is considered to be Party Central Hong Kong. However, It was during the week and the Lan Kwai Fong district was quieter than usual, and maybe also the fears of rioting for democracy from the locals caused this area to be even more secluded. Empty it was, but music was still blasting from the outdoor bars. My friends and I being jetlagged from the long flight wanted to hang out somewhere more quiet. And Tasmania was the favorite after bar hopping. Tasmania plays loud Western music too. Yes, some hip hop but mainly pop. We were greeted at the door by security and the hostess who took us upstairs. A bit on the dark side, but beautiful lighting very fitting to its ambiance. There was two bars, couches, and ping pong tables! Cool... I wanted to play, but the wait was long. Fine, we sat on the couch and got table service. The drinks menu wasn't huge, but good enough. A good variety of mixed cocktails. I had my Moscow Mule. A little weak on the alcohol side, as it was mostly ice and ginger soda. Oh well, it's good to stay sober though as we just got off the plane and pretty much went straight to dinner then the bars with our local friends. Yes, we checked into our Airbnb prior. Lol. I like Tasmania. A very classy environment minus the noisy crowds. The drinks was a bit weak, but still had a wonderful time soaking it in with people there. Tasmania seems very international, as we saw many Europeans inside. All good! Drinks was a little more pricey than the traditional bars there. Gunbaeee!

The "clubbing" scene in Hong Kong maybe quite depressing these days. To each his own, one can still…read morefind places to enjoy the time if you look beyond "clubbing". And Tazmania is always around for you. In the crazier years, I used to come here often. Like Mondays. And Thursdays (for the ping pong every Tue/Thu), and then Fridays and maybe Saturdays too. It's always a good "buffer zone" after dinner and before you go somewhere else. It's never too quiet. Well on a Monday night it can be quiet but hey, you have the whole pool table for yourself. And it's never too crowded. They'd even raise one of the pool table overhead to spare some space for guests. You come early at 6:30pm, you can grab some of their feed buffet finger food. If you come later (like after 1am), you can just treat this place as your yet another club and pop some champagne. It's definitely on the higher end of price tag. But it's a good strategy to keep the kids away, really. The only downfall is it closes "early" at 3am even on weekends. There were a couple of times, again, in the crazier years, where girls would check their bags to the cloakroom and forgot to get it back, when they wandered off to some other bars/clubs till a bit too late.

Love this place. Super chill with THE best ice cubes on the planet! My tequila cocktail was pure…read moreperfection in a sweltering Hong Kong night. The service was impeccable and we felt very welcome. Prices reasonable. Check this place out.

Dai Bing- A hidden gem tucked steps away in the quiet Bonham Road Strand…read more True to its name, the cool bar Dai Bing meaning "big ice" in Cantonese, specializes in an array of coolest 'Long Drinks' served with special crystal-clear, top-quality, ice cubes that not only keeps the cocktails and mocktails chilled till the end but also preserves the flavors by not diluting the drinks. The bar is equipped with Clinebell directional freezers, ice band saws, and a walk-in freezer for storing the immaculate long ice blocks. The cozy, warm and artistic atmosphere draws in a big young, hipster crowd that comes to enjoy the delectable Portuguese tapas. Portuguese Spritzer tops the list of recommended drinks that can be matched with some of the best bites such as Portuguese Tortilla (omelet with caramalised onion), Chicken and Eggplant Chamuças (samosas), Assorted Meats and Cheese platter with a basket of garlic bread and Grilled Squid with green Olive sauce. All in all, Dai Bing is a must-try place where food is always served with a big smile! Dai Bing, 52 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, +852 9838 4438 Opening hours: Mon-Wed 6pm-12:30am; Thur-Sat 6pm-2am. Price: HK$110-$140 for long drinks.

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.

I had a great time here even though the space was packed tight with people on Saturday. We managed…read moreto get ushered into the back area and while it was difficult to see the band the music was great. They definitely have great talent there and it was definitely a great time. A great hidden gem for live music.

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.

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.