For cocktail lovers, Hong Kong can be a notoriously pricey city, where many sleek bars charge upwards of HKD150 for a quality tipple. Luckily for our readers, we’re here to save the day with our shortlist of the best happy hours in town – where to go for quaffable drinks at a discount. Even better, some of these deals include delectable bar bites too.
It’s 5PM somewhere, so it’s time to get your drink on!
The best happy hours in Hong Kong 2024: summer edition
Top Town
Glitzy American seafood bar Top Town, next-door neighbour to its sibling, Manhattan-inspired Italian restaurant ORO, offers arguably the most wallet-friendly happy hour in Central, especially considering its swish surrounds and awesome views. You can enjoy sundowners from the bar’s open balcony and rooftop terrace that are priced from just HKD10 for the first drink, followed by HKD50 per drink till the clock strikes nine. Top Town’s Prohibition Hour menu includes Prosecco, house red and white wine, bottled beer, house spirits, and classic cocktails.
Top Town, 31/F, 28 Stanley Street, Central, 2133 5769, book here
Available Monday–Saturday from 5–9PM
Jimmy’s Kitchen
Reopening with a bang earlier this year, Hong Kong’s 96-year-old restaurant icon Jimmy’s Kitchen has unveiled a refined bar snacks menu as part of its new happy hour. The bites crafted by chef Russell Doctrove are a condensed collection of Jimmy’s Kitchen’s British-inspired signature dishes, from prawn cocktail (HKD178), to crispy coronation fried chicken (HKD148), to freshly shucked oysters like the Belon “1930” No. 000 (HKD78/pc). During happy hour, in addition to the extensive drinks menu starring East-meets-West tipples, be sure to check out the off-menu cocktail of the day, a daily mixology mystery.
Jimmy’s Kitchen, M/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central, 2526 5293, book here
Available daily from 4–7PM
The Optimist
As part of Pirata Group’s newly launched Stiletto Nights mixology series comes this weekly happy hour at the F&B group’s popular Spanish restaurant The Optimist. Every Wednesday evening is G&T Night, when drinkers can knock back free-flow gin and tonics (from HKD198 pp for 90 minutes). The G&Ts showcased take a global slant, featuring unique combinations of botanicals, fruits, herbs, and gins, including Beefeater from the UK, Italy’s Malfy Gin Rosa, Nordés from Spain, and Two Moons calamansi-infused gin, made right here in Hong Kong. Guests can also enjoy buy-one-get-one-free signature cocktails, wine, and beer, priced from HKD48.
The Optimist, G/F & 1/F, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 2433 3324, book here
Available every Wednesday from 6PM
Murray Lane
At The Murray hotel, Murray Lane’s aperitivo hour – Murray Hour – is a great choice if you’re feeling peckish as it’s inclusive of complimentary (and unlimited) snacks from the bar counter. The pizzas and oysters also have special prices during happy hour, including La Margherita pizza (HKD132) and the half-dozen freshly imported oysters (HKD280). On the drinks front, it’s buy-one-get-one-free house champagne, sparkling, red, white, and rosé wine, house spirits, premium whisky, draught and bottled beer, and selected cocktails.
Murray Lane, G/F, The Murray, Hong Kong, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, 3141 8888, book here
Available weekdays from 5–8:30PM
The Stage
Unveiled recently as part of the multi-concept Sophia Loren House in Wan Chai, The Stage is a cocktail lounge and live entertainment venue with a retro 1970s vibe. Their glam-tastic happy happy offers buy-one-get-one-free signature cocktails for HKD128, house spirits for HKD138, wine by the glass from HKD98, and beer for HKD68. The creative libations by beverage director Benjamin Boyce include the tropical Summertime, marrying Ketel One vodka and Aperol with passion fruit, pineapple, and lime, and Milestones, a complex blend of Bulleit bourbon, Laphroaig 10 single-malt whisky, Campari, and Saison Fallen Quinces vermouth.
The Stage, 2/F, The Heritage Woo Cheong Pawn Shop, 60–66 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, 3594 6302
Available Tuesday–Friday from 3–7PM
The Globe
Hong Kong’s OG gastropub, The Globe, runs what might be the longest happy hour in the city. Every day, bright and early from 9AM for the next 10 hours, pints of draught beer and cider can be yours for just HKD50. The Globe is well known around town for stocking an exciting collection of beer styles from around the world, hosting both full-time and guest taps. A favourite house tap is Si L Dan IPA, a fruity collab between local craft brewers hEROES Beer Co and HK Brewcraft.
The Globe, G/F, Garley Building, 45–53 Graham Street, Central, 2543 1941, book here
Available daily from 9AM–7PM
Casa Cucina & Bar
With Casa Cucina’s move to Causeway Bay earlier this year came a more refined Italian-inspired menu by chef-owner Anthony Cheung, now extending to the eatery’s new happy hour. On the drinks side, there are cocktails, mocktails, tea, coffee, red and white wine, house spirits, and Suntory Malt draught priced from HKD48. To complement your Aperol spritz, chef Anthony is whipping up an array of light bites, such as grilled truffle cheese (HKD88), caprese (HKD98), and his signature tofu panna cotta (HKD58) sweet treat.
Casa Cucina & Bar, Shop C & D, Riviera Mansion, 59–65 Paterson Street, Causeway Bay, 9266 7969, book here
Available daily from 3–6PM
Shady Acres
Peel Street’s go-to bar Shady Acres is extending its friendly neighbourhood vibe with a killer happy hour that’s on from opening time till 7PM. Pair your HKD50 drinks, including the daily hard slushie, Young Master Pilsner, 2 Towns cider, house spirits and mixers, and selected wine with HKD50 snacks. The scrummy bites, such as tomato and sardine crostini and chicken and leek croquettes, should go down a treat with the gluggable bevvies.
Shady Acres, 46 Peel Street, Soho, Central
Available on weekdays from 5–7PM and weekends from 3–7PM
The best happy hours in Hong Kong 2024: spring edition
Cadillac Bar & Grill
This might be THE best happy-hour deal out there! At Cadillac’s vibey al-fresco space, knock back killer margaritas and classic Latin cocktails with the Tex-Mex restaurant and bar’s incredible happy-hour promotions, starting at 2PM, when selected drinks are priced from just HKD18. The prices go up by HKD10 every hour, culminating from 5–7PM with drinks costing HKD48, making this the happiest of all happy hours.
Cadillac Bar & Grill, 7/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, 2521 2322
Available weekdays from 2–7PM
Uma Nota
The fiesta-like ambience at Uma Nota is kicked up a notch during happy hour, when drinks like the Brazilian-Japanese boteco’s signature caipirinha, Aperol spritz, wine, Prosecco, bottled beer, and house spirits are priced at only HKD50. With the discounts extended till late night, Uma Nota makes for a great stop-off point for after-work tipples, and it’s also ideal for post-prandial sipping.
Uma Nota, 38 Peel Street, Soho, Central, WhatsApp 5185 8935, book here
Available daily from 5PM–late
Chi Yawaragu
Chi Yawaragu, the yakitori specialist infamous for its Offal-verse omakase menu featuring chicken-testicle skewers, is adding to the fun with a newly introduced happy-hour set, which see any drink order – and that means premium Japanese beer, whisky, and the eatery’s niche sake offerings – coming complete with four free-flow bites for munching. This moreish snack quartet includes the likes of wasabi raw octopus, pickled yuzu daikon, pickled burdock with soy sauce, and grilled cod fish stick.
Chi Yawaragu, 28 Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan, WhatsApp 9448 5988
Available Tuesday–Sunday from 4–7pm
The Mansion
New to the Wyndham Street nightlife scene, The Mansion has debuted a happy hour that’s perfect for those of us who crave a snack with our cocktail. With the bar’s drink and pintxo combo (HKD100), you get a tipple paired with a pintxo, the Basque take on tapas. Spanish omelette with padrón pepper, grilled prawn on portobello mushroom, and grilled beef and sunny-side-up quail egg with fresh mint are highlights of The Mansion’s delicious-sounding pintxo selection. If you prefer to save some belly space, selected Prosecco, wine, beer, and house spirits are priced at HKD60 during happy hour.
The Mansion, Shop B, G/F, Carfield Commercial Bldg, 75–77 Wyndham Street, Central, WhatsApp 9592 8005
Available Wednesday–Sunday from 5–7pm
The best happy hours in Hong Kong 2024: winter edition
Vibes
Vibes, the atmospheric open-air lounge at The Mira in Tsim Sha Tsui, has got our blood pumping with its ongoing Holy Happy Hour. With this deal, you’ll get half-price signature and tiki cocktails and mocktails, house spirits, wine, and beer. The spicy-sour Tom Yum Goong is a perennial fave, as is the shareable Aumakua Tiki, served in a whole pineapple. On the food front, all 16 of the lounge’s bar bites also come at 50% off, from Cajun sweet potato fries, to crispy chicken sando with sriracha mayo, to double Oreo cheesecake.
Vibes, 5/F Lobby, The Mira Hong Kong, 118–130 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2315 5599, book here
Available Sunday–Thursday from 5–7PM
ICHU
Nikkei hotspot ICHU is another al-fresco stunner, this time in Central, boasting a lush terrace. The Japanese-Peruvian happy-hour menu includes a variety of cocktails, wine, beer, and spirits priced from just HKD80, along with a complimentary second pour. We always order the refreshing ICHU Spritz, made with sakura vermouth, aromatic bitters, and Prosecco, finished with a splash of soda. To accompany your bevvies, we recommend going for the free-flow light bites (HKD148 pp), whereby guests have two hours to get their fill of ICHU’s best-loved tacos and skewers.
ICHU, 3/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2477 7717, book here
Available daily from 4–7PM, with bottomless bites from 4–6PM
REX Wine & Grill
A luxurious European steakhouse might seem an odd choice for happy hour, but REX Wine & Grill offers the real deal. Come sundown, there are discounts on the eatery’s classic cocktails and premium wines, including cult labels and up-and-coming gems. But what we love most about happy hour at REX are the complimentary free-flow beef sliders, yours for the eating.
REX Wine & Grill, B/F, One Chinachem Central, 22 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, 2857 7157, WhatsApp 9577 3045, book here
Available Monday–Saturday from 5–7:30PM
Terrible Baby
An award-winning bar offering a garden space, Music Room, and Gallery Room, Terrible Baby at Eaton HK has on an extended happy-hour promotion that starts from as early as 2PM, so you can head there right after lunch to sip on selected house spirits, draught beer, white, red, and rosé wine, and craft cocktails by mixologist extraordinaire Axel González, priced from just HKD68. Our pick goes to Guava All the Way, an elegant and fruity libation mixed with Irish whisky, Nardini bitters, guava, citrus, and honey.
Terrible Baby, 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan, 2710 1866
Available Sunday–Thursday from 2–7PM
The Dispensary
Living up to its namesake, The Dispensary, Tai Kwun’s East-meets-West cocktail bar of choice, recently introduced a line-up of drinks inspired by ancient Chinese and Western remedies, with the menu itself showcased in an old-fashioned apothecary box complete with hand-drawn recipes. These new cocktails include the earthy Goji Nectar, pictured, infused with goji juice and white chocolate. You can revive your senses with this drink and more at the watering hole’s daily happy hour, dubbed Hideout, which offers buy-one-get-one-free promotions on selected cocktails, wine, and beer. And if you find yourself at The Dispensary on a Friday evening, you can also treat yourself to two-hour unlimited Chinese and Italian bar bites (HKD100 pp) – what a great way to ease yourself into the weekend.
The Dispensary, Police Headquarters Block 01, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central, 2848 3088
Available daily from 3–7PM, with free-flow bar bites on Fridays from 5–7PM
Hugger Mugger
British speakeasy Hugger Mugger shakes up stellar drinks inspired by Great Britain’s cultural heritage, and on offer during happy hour are discounts on these signature cocktails (HKD55), plus a selection of bubbly, wine, spirits, and beer (from HKD48). One of the cocktails not to be missed is this gorgeous fizzy Green Mule, crafted with Beefeater gin, basil, lime, and ginger. A hidden happy-hour gem – just look for the red door!
Hugger Mugger, B/F, 43–55 Wyndham Street, Central, 2362 8988
Available daily from 5–7PM
