With a thriving nightlife to cater for the work hard, play hard philosophers; Central Hong Kong is certainly not short of bars. Whether it’s date night, girly cocktails or after work drinks, there will always be a busy bar for you to huddle into. However, if you’re pining to escape the hustle and bustle, break the mould and venture into the unknown there are a bevy of quirky hideouts with your name on them.
Jaa Bar
Where:1 Pak Tze Lane (off Peel Street), Central
Tasty tipple: The Q – a delicious amaretto-based after dinner cocktail – be warned, it goes down very easily!
Tucked away off the beaten track of Peel Street lies a true gem waiting to be discovered; offering the warmth and coziness of a home, Jaa Bar has created the perfect blend of comfortable intimacy with a friendly yet exclusive environment in which to enjoy quality time. Decorated with fine, contemporary art this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a girly catch up. Be sure to check out the wooden bar, specially designed in keeping with the living room theme, to look like a chest of drawers.
The Blck Brd
Where: 6/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
Tasty Tipple: Villiera Brut – a tasty sparkling, as good as any champers
Despite the dress code (no flip flops) The Blck Brd offers an unpretentious (also, no ties!) hideaway above the busy yet convenient Lyndhurst Terrace. Oozing cool, this industrial-style bar boasts a popular spacious terrace with an impressive selection of drinks. Whiskeys for the men and vinos for the girls, it’s an ideal after-work venue with a mix of tasty hams, breads and cheeses to tide you over before supper! I particularly love their vintage leather sofas; bag one in the corner and it is the perfect place to relax and unwind!
The Blind Pig
Where: Hidden corner of Lily & Bloom, 6/F, LKF Tower, Lan Kwai Fong
Tasty Tipple: The Old Fashioned for guys (23 yr old Zacapa), the Eastside for gals (refreshing gin, cucumber & mint) – damn fine cocktails here!
Blink and you could easily miss out on discovering the wonders of The Blind Pig. This man cave, nestled within the ever-popular Lily & Bloom, gives the men the perfect excuse to escape and discuss ‘serious matters’, whilst us ladies reside in the comfort of the bar. A concealed cigar room that boasts a stunning cigar collection and private lockers made from old shipping crates in a setting likened to that of the early 20th century. With a classic selection of cocktails, an ingenious ordering system (a phone linked to Lily) and a hidden serving hatch, The Blind Pig is your go-to bar if you want a taster of little Paris in Hong Kong.
Life Café
Where: 10 Shelley Street (next to the Mid-Levels Escalator), Soho
Tasty Tipple: Take a pick of any of the yummy smoothies – you’ll feel like a better person for it!
Life Cafe, in the heart of SoHo, is best known for its healthy, homemade salads, breads and sarnies. However, with a fine range of organic wines and beers and a sneaky rooftop terrace – it offers a relaxing, al-fresco escape from the hectic streets below. It’s an eco-friendly retreat that caters for our inner health demons as well as to those looking for a refreshing glass of wine!
Feather Boa
Where: 38 Staunton Street (behind a curtain – no clear signage), Soho
Tasty Tipple: Strawberry Daiquiri
Hidden behind an uninviting, velvet curtain, you would never expect to discover the treasure that is Feather Boa. Bringing a quirky, vintage theme to Hong Kong, it is the perfect venue for visitors, provided you can nab a seat! Don’t be fooled by its size, the strawberry daiquiri’s are larger than life with a delicious mix of fruit and chocolate frosting – a liquid dessert! One word of advice, avoid sampling these delights on a ‘school night’, my friends and I certainly found this out the hard way!
Speakeasy 001
Where: That’s for you to find out – we’re sworn to secrecy!
Tasty Tipple: The Earl Grey Martini
Transporting you back to the 1930’s New York streets, this concealed and mysterious speakeasy oozes class from every one of its dark corners. Hidden beneath the trodden path of Wellington Street, 001 offers clandestine wining and dining, a refined food and beverage menu whilst casually wooing you with classic jazz tunes. Dubbed a secret saloon, with no signage and a doorbell to enter, it brings a touch of class and relaxed exclusivity to Hong Kong. The cocktails are known for being some of the best in town; get there early to bag a booth!
Want to know where 001 is? Shhh… we’ll email you the address if you promise not to tell!
Love it and very impressed .. Informative but reflective too … You paint a great picture in words … Is Jaa PH’s creation ?
Oh these sound fun, especially those overstuffed chairs at the Blind Pig.
Great post!
As a Chinese living in Hong Kong for about 10 years and subsequently moving to London for a good 6 years, I am appalled by the decision to add the Feather Boa to your list of Hidden Jems.
I’ve found from my past experiences, that they are extremely racist with Chinese people, and trust me when I say I never have issues with this in the past, not even in the UK. My expat friends absolutely love it here and I would grit my teeth and be persuaded to go with them, but time after time I have found that this has not only occurred to me, but also to a few Chinese acquaintances who work on high level jobs. Working in the f&b business you would expect them to be courteous – but it seems like they only have one thing in mind, be rude to the Chinese.
Sorry, I love your site Sassy but I had to vent! Glad that Jaa is up there, Ann and crew and truly gems!!!
Hi Christine – ugh, we have heard rumours of this in the past and now it seems that your experience confirms that Feather Boa does indeed have a racist door policy.
I’m going to keep this entry on the post only because I know that people ALWAYS read the comments on our posts and so it’s worth spreading the word this way that while the daiquiris are delicious, you might want to give the bar itself a wide berth!
… I must agree with a Rockstar that staff is extremely
rude to the costumers…I think its not a racial thing, they just pure RUDE . I am caucasian went there
with 2 friends on a Thursday night into empty Feather Boa
we wanted to take one photo there and the manager
older chinesse lady started to freak out and act very rude
towards us…. she said that I might copy her bar if I take
a pic….(???).. she keepd raising her voice and I said this is
not the way to treat costumer .. it escalated even more, we
went to Soriee after this ‘drama’ and were treated like a costumer with RESPECT.
lets see how long this bar last open- bad word spread even faster …
would never go back..
001 has the BEST grilled cheese and the 1 hour wait for their mac and cheese is worth the wait!!!
“Whiskeys for the men, vinos for the girls” – pretty sexist no?