Above the harbour: Hong Kong’s bars, the back story

About Above the harbour: Hong Kong’s bars, the back story

By the ULTIMATE Hong Kong Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Hong Kong drinks with a view. The Tourism Board’s list of rooftop bars runs from Ozone, on the 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre, to SKYE over Causeway Bay, Popinjays on The Murray and Sugar at EAST Hong Kong, while the grand hotels keep their bars low and lamplit, and the cocktail bars of Central and Sheung Wan hide behind unmarked doors.

High above the city

Ozone sits on the 118th floor of The Ritz-Carlton in the ICC, 480 metres above sea level, in HKTB’s figures; SKYE Roofbar & Grill crowns The Park Lane in Causeway Bay; Popinjays has a wide terrace on top of The Murray; Aqua looks across the harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui; eyebar is on the 30th floor of iSquare on Nathan Road.

The hotel bars

At the Mandarin Oriental, The Aubrey is an izakaya-style bar; at Rosewood, DarkSide has live jazz; The Peninsula keeps its own Bar.

Go up at sunset, when the harbour lights come on.

Central’s cocktail bars

Quinary, at 56–58 Hollywood Road, is known for its multisensory cocktails, such as the Earl Grey Caviar Martini (HKTB); COA serves Mexican-inspired cocktails in Central.

Before you go

Smart casual is the rule in the hotel bars. Rooftops close in bad weather and typhoon signals: check before you go.

Our advice: book a table for sunset at the rooftops, and walk the lanes of Central afterwards.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Above the harbour: Hong Kong’s bars, the back story before you go.