Hong Kong's Top 10 Speakeasies: Hidden Cocktail Havens Revealed
In the heart of bustling Hong Kong, speakeasies offer an alluring contrast to the city's vibrant nightlife. These chic, secretive bars, concealed within labyrinthine alleyways, bustling streets, and towering commercial buildings, deliver exceptional cocktails and intimate atmospheres. Discover our curated list of the 10 best Prohibition-inspired speakeasies.
Stockton
Spot the unassuming grey metal door at a lively Central junction leading to Stockton, a Hunter S. Thompson-inspired retreat. Plush leather sofas, eclectic flea-market glassware displays, and a concealed cigar room with a vintage Second World War-era leather chair evoke a Victorian-era hideout. Signature cocktails, named after literary icons like Raymond Chandler's Forty Four (rum, sherry, marshmallow in a glass fish), showcase expert craftsmanship.
Butler
Perched five floors up in Tsim Sha Tsui's vibrant shopping district, Butler exudes authentic Japanese elegance with dark wood accents and a warm irasshaimase greeting. Spanning two levels—the fifth for cocktails, the sixth for whiskies—with limited seating under 20 per floor, reservations are a must for this Tokyo-Shibuya-style gem.
Foxglove
Disguised behind an upscale umbrella shop facade (umbrellas available for purchase), Foxglove reveals a sleek navy-and-white bar. Cocktails draw inspiration from fictional explorer Frank Minza, featuring premium spirits like Japanese whisky and Ocho Blanco. Enjoy nightly live music in this inventive space.
Iron Fairies
Australian designer Ashley Sutton's iron foundry-themed Iron Fairies blends rugged iron tools with 10,000 preserved butterflies overhead. Beneath a framing shop on Pottinger Street's cobbled steps, savor innovative cocktails alongside comfort bites like popcorn chicken and burgers in this candlelit haven.
J. Boroski
Tucked on Soho's edgy Ezra Lane, J. Boroski's chrome entrance leads to an intimate space blending train carriage vibes with taxidermy (tarantula walls, beetle tunnel). Named for mixologist J. Boroski, it offers a personalized 'concierge' cocktail service tailored to your tastes.
Mrs Pound
Sheung Wan's Mrs Pound masquerades as a Damien Hirst-inspired stamp shop exterior. Inside, a vibrant pink-and-green speakeasy serves cocktails in chinoiserie teacups—like Mr Ming’s negroni with tea bitters—paired with Asian fusion small plates. The neon installation is a photo standout.
Feather Boa
Behind Soho's heavy gold curtains and 'members only' sign at 38 Staunton St, Feather Boa captivates antique enthusiasts with tasselled lamps, oval mirrors, and impressionist art. No website or fixed hours (peaks post-10pm), but strawberry daiquiris and espresso martinis draw crowds.
Ping Pong Gintoneria
This expansive former ping pong parlour in gentrifying Sai Ying Pun hides a neon-lit gin palace behind a red door (lit when open). High ceilings and goblet-sipping patrons enjoy Spanish small plates amid hipster vibes.
Employees Only
New York import Employees Only in Lan Kwai Fong lurks behind a neon 'psychic' sign. Expert bartenders man the long wooden bar, mastering reworked classic cocktails in a mysteriously alluring setting.
The Old Man
On Aberdeen Street, The Old Man pays homage to Ernest Hemingway and The Old Man and the Sea. Bartender Agung Prabowo (ex-Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La) crafts affordable, experimental cocktails named after Hemingway's novels in this perpetually buzzing micro-den.
