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Header image courtesy of @99bottleshk (via Instagram)
We all love a good sip and gossip session after a long day, but the age-old question remains, where do we go? Hong Kong bars are notorious for being on the pricey side, and “one drink” can easily turn into leaving the bar with your wallet feeling worryingly light. Fortunately, there is an in-between, so before you resort to grabbing a canned drink from Club 7-11, check out this list of affordable bars in Hong Kong, with drinks priced as low as $18!
You’ve probably heard about Sidekick Bar from a friend, or even been there yourself. Having been in business for 10 years, the bar is widely known for its artful and cost-effective cocktails. All of its drinks are mixed by Sidekick’s ex-Shangri-La bartender and are priced under $100, ranging from signature drinks such as Sidekick Punch and Time Goes By to classics like a mojito or piña colada. If you’re a beer person, its bottle and draught beers can be yours for under $100, too!
Most popular of all are its cocktail towers, which are all priced under $300 for a whopping two-litre serving, making it a perfect choice if you’re there with a group of friends. With a good view of Causeway Bay’s skyscrapers and fun interior design (look out for the fake lifts), it’s a go-to spot for drinks with any sort of crowd.
Sidekick Bar, 8/F, The Zing!, 38 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay | (+852) 9559 2259
Standing out on Wyndham Street with its colourful brick wall, this venue is anything but unassuming. Walking in, and before you enter the equally bold Indian restaurant Chaiwala, you might be surprised to discover a dimly lit British speakeasy lies beyond the crimson entryway. Unlike most speakeasies in Hong Kong, the drinks don’t come with a price tag that makes you wince. Its original cocktails will cost you a mere $58 at happy hour, and house spirits go for even lower at just $48. These discounted prices are available daily from 5 to 8 pm, or from 9 to 11 pm from Thursdays to Saturdays for all the night owls out there.
Hugger Mugger, B/F, 43–45 Wyndham Street, Central | (+852) 2362 8988
Calling all fellow beer drinkers—head on over to 99 Bottles, which provides a rotation of both imported and local craft beers, making repeat visits more than worth it. It proudly “doesn’t do happy hour,” because prices are affordable whatever the time of day! Every item on offer is priced under $100, including its fun pandan and whiskey tea, vodka oolong, and BBQ Bloody Mary cocktails all going for $65, while a glass of wine is only $50, and the craft beers $55. Keep in mind there aren’t many seating options, so your drinking session will most likely be spent standing up and socialising with the Peel Street crowd.
99 Bottles, Shop A, G/F, 59 Peel Street, Soho, Central | (+852) 9772 3053
As a reimagined dive bar, Blotto keeps it real with its drinks, which never cross the $100 mark. It deviated from the original dive bar concept through its café-like interior, so Blotto looks more like a place you’d visit for a morning cup of coffee rather than after-work tipples, but the comfortable and homely quality of the bar is what led many of its customers to dub it a second home. The drinks are sectioned off in the Slightly Tipsy, Deffo Buzzed, and Proper Drunk sections, and the signature drinks are also named after different levels of inebriation, so drink at your own risk!
Blotto, G/F, 68 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town
Step into The Globe, and let yourself be transported to the realm of warm British pubs, even if it’s just for a little while. The gastropub is modelled after the interiors of archetypal English pubs, with the dim lighting, wood furnishings, and book-filled “living room” area making every customer feel right at home. Aside from the delectable meals, it also offers an extensive range of alcoholic drinks, from beers sourced from a myriad of breweries, to gin and tonics, and its own signature cocktails. Guests are almost guaranteed to find something that will satisfy them. The prices on the drinks menu range from $50 to $130, making even its most expensive bevvy cheaper than entry prices to many a Hong Kong club.
The Globe, Garley Building, 45–53 Graham Street, Central | (+852) 2543 1941
If you want to drink al fresco while avoiding the sky-high prices of Hong Kong’s rooftop bars, Cadillac Bar & Grill might just be the perfect choice. Tucked into a corner of Hysan Place, guests who come across this hidden gem are rewarded with a partly covered terrace area that offers Mexican-American bites and affordable drinks. No, really, how many places reward you for day-drinking? This bar’s “hora loca” begins at 1 pm with a special price of $18 for every glass of house wine, beer, spirits, and margarita, after which the price increases by $10 for each hour that passes until 7 pm. Come early if you want to get the most bang for your buck!
Cadillac Bar & Grill, Shop 718–719, 7/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay | (+852) 2521 2322
With a motto like “What hath night to do with sleep,” it comes as no surprise that Bobby’s Rabble is a bar for those who’d prefer to have fun with a drink in hand rather than, well, rest. Although its happy hours only last from 5 pm till 8 pm, the $46 selection is ideal for post-office hours. For the remaining business hours, which last well into the wee hours, drinks start at $78, and most cocktails, whiskey, and rum are priced at $98, while single malts typically go for $98 to $138. Not only are the affordable drinks tasty, the bar also offers live music, pub quizzes, and a myriad of other fun activities, so keep an eye out on its Instagram page for the most updated information and schedule of activities.
Bobby’s Rabble, 46 Wyndham Street, Central | (+852) 9165 6144
If you want to slow down the tempo of life, Tempo Tempo is a great place to start. As one of the rare al fresco dining spots in Hong Kong, guests can enjoy downtime in the open air, surrounded by greenery. Enhance the experience by enjoying one of its happy hour drinks, with cocktails going for only $68, and most wines can be had under $100. If you’re not free from 3 pm till 7.30 pm, its regular priced drinks are still reasonable, especially its aperitif and digestif choices, which are all offered for under $100. What’s more, some of its drinks come in an adorable unicorn cup, so make sure to check with your waiter what you should order so you can drink out of this highly Instagrammable mug.
Tempo Tempo, The Sixteenth, 2/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay | (+852) 2788 3037
Coming in hot to go is The Pontiac, which doesn’t just provide a fun, inclusive environment, but cheap drinks to go along with it, too. Its cocktails are wholly original, and with the most expensive drink coming with a price tag of $108, you know you’re in for a boozy night. Even more economical are the “Ponty Hour” drinks, which are capped at $50 each. It also provides a rotation of craft beers, priced at $78 or lower, so ask the Pontiac staff if you’re interested.
The Pontiac, 13 Old Bailey Street, Central | (+852) 2521 3855
Punita is currently an English major at Durham University. As a longtime bookworm, she is passionate about all forms of storytelling. When she’s not stuck in a bookstore or cheering for a celebrity, you can always find her wandering the streets of Hong Kong on the lookout for stray cats.
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