2024 Revealed: 16 of the Best Speakeasy Bars in Hong Kong

Take it easy at the city’s hottest speakeasies.


2024-06-06

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2024 Revealed: 16 of the Best Speakeasy Bars in Hong Kong

For a one-of-a-kind Hong Kong experience, uncover the city’s hottest speakeasy bars in 2024. Wander through hidden corridors into hip underground spaces abuzz with music and chatter. Sip expert cocktails in dim booths or unwind in cosy lounges concealed behind these secret spots’ unmarked doors.

1. The Green Door

🍸 Opened in 2023: A speakeasy with a hidden entrance between market stalls, marked by a green door leading to a basement

Hong Kong Best Speakeasy - The Green Door interior
Photo Credit: The Green Door’s Instagram

First on the list is a new addition to the speakeasy scene in 2023 – The Green Door. True to its name, this hidden bar is tucked away behind the vendor stalls on Graham Street, right amidst the bustling fruit market. Who would have thought there was a hidden gem nestled among the busy market stalls?

Hong Kong Best Speakeasy - The Green Door interior seating

Once you enter that green door, you’ll be transported into a bar adorned with arches, pillars, and booth seats, much like an underground cellar. Enjoy their selection of Italian cocktails or savour delicious side dishes like the cracked potatoes. The steak is also worth a try, and you can finish off with an American Pie for dessert. While the cocktails are a bit pricey, this cool speakeasy is sure to impress your friends.

Address: LG/F, 97 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Thursday to Saturday, 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM; Closed on Sunday

Instagram: thegreendoor.bar

2. 001

🍸 From Graham Street to Tai Kwun – Hong Kong’s OG speakeasy returns behind a prison wall

Hong Kong’s first hidden bar, 001, has moved from Graham Street to the historic Tai Kwun in 2023 after a short hiatus. Finding it is a fun challenge, with its door blending seamlessly into the old prison setting. Look for the vintage doorbell, press it, and you’re in!

The bar’s familiar dim lighting, Jazz Age décor, and cosy suede seats create a nostalgic vibe. It’s like stepping into a time-submerged antique bar, where each bulb and every piece of furniture tells its own story in the bygone eras. The menu features 10 drinks, including the classic Earl Grey Marteani.

For bites, try the addictive crab tarts or the whipped brie.

Address: Tai Kwun, Hollywood Rd, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Thursday to Saturday, 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM; Closed on Sunday

Instagram: 001.hk

3. Diplomat

🍸 Hong Kong’s speakeasy held up by its city’s best burgers

The Diplomat, an American Tavern-styled speakeasy bar in Hong Kong, is a regular on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list. It offers an intimate atmosphere with high ceilings and good airflow, much unlike the typical claustrophobic feel of small bars. The main area features high tables, and a secret button in the hallway reveals an even cosier listening room.

While the drinks are delightful, The Diplomat is, perhaps, more famous for its exceptional burgers. Crafted by John Nugent, the Diplomat Burger features a soft, light bun, perfectly cooked fresh beef, and cheddar, served with pickles—a must-try classic that many consider the best in town.

Address: Shop 1, LG/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger St, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Closed on Sunday

Instagram: thediplomathk

4. Maggie Choo’s Hong Kong

🍸 Newly opened speakeasy with a Great Gatsby vibe above Iron Fairies

Looking for a secret spot where arts and entertainment collide? Check out Maggie Choo’s Hong Kong, a newly opened speakeasy bar in Central just above The Iron Fairies. This place oozes character—it feels like sipping a drink in a Bank House during Queen Victoria’s reign.

Before 10 PM, enjoy live jazz musicians; after that, it transforms into a nightclub with Chinese dancers. Treat yourself to signature drinks like “Driven by Her Dreams,” “Remains of Mystery,” and “Unfinished Business.” While the snacks and drinks are pricier than usual, you’re paying for exclusivity and top-notch service.

Address: G/F, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, Hollywood Rd, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 6:00 PM – 3:00 AM; Sunday to Tuesday, 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Website: https://www.maggiechoos.com.hk/

Instagram: maggiechooshk

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5. The Old Man

🍸 Hemingway-inspired speakeasy tucked away in Soho’s unassuming stairs

Photo Credit: The Old Man

Hidden off Aberdeen Street in a small alley, The Old Man is a critically acclaimed speakeasy bar in Hong Kong that pays homage to Ernest Hemingway and his Havana days. Since its inception, this bar has garnered awards such as Tatler’s Best Cocktail Award and Best Bar in Asia, serving as a testament to the craftsmanship and quality of its products.

If you’re eager to taste intriguing signature drinks like “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” be sure to visit this bar. While sipping your cocktail, you can also enjoy the Hemingway memorabilia adorning the space. The freezing strip, designed for guests to place their cocktails on in lieu of coasters to keep drinks icy cold, is a nice surprise for imbibers.

Address: Lower G/F, 37-39 Aberdeen Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Sunday to Wednesday, 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Website: https://theoldmanhongkong.com/

Instagram: theoldman_hk

6. Artifact

🍸 Jardine House’s new speakeasy inspired by underground water reservoirs

Photo Credit: Artifact

Just like the Green Door, Artifact is a newcomer to the speakeasy scene in Hong Kong and a fresh addition to BaseHall 02 in Jardine House, where 12 independent food and drink spots come together. Step through that unassuming door and you’ll find yourself in a space inspired by underground water reservoirs with a touch of dystopian brutalism.

Their drinks, crafted by an all-star team, focus on brown spirits and the magic of oak aging. Try their signature highballs like The American, a blend of Westward Single Malt Whiskey, Singha soda, and orange oil. These bespoke highballs are served tableside for $150 each.

Address: LG/F, Jardine House, No, 1 & 2, Shop 5 & 7, 1 Connaught Pl, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Tuesday, 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Wednesday to Saturday, 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM; Closed on Sunday and Monday

Instagram: artifact_bar

7. Hugger Mugger

🍸 British-style clandestine hideaway bar down in the basement

Hugger Mugger is a hidden gem concealed behind an unassuming door and down a sky-lit staircase. If you miss the feels of London, you don’t need to travel far. Step through the red door set against a blue-painted brick wall, hidden behind a bookshelf, and immerse yourself in a posh atmosphere. The teacups on display hint at the bar’s British charm.

Photo Credit: Hugger Mugger’s Website

This bar boasts a wide selection of cocktails, including Pressed for Thyme, Manuel’s Paloma, and Green Mule. Happy hours are a great deal at Hugger Mugger, running daily from 5 to 8 pm, and offering a late-night allure Thu-Sun from 9 to 11 pm. Drinks start at HK$48 only.

Address: Basement, 43-55 Wyndham St, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Website: https://huggermugger.hk/

Hours: Daily 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Happy hours: Daily 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Instagram: huggermuggerhk

8. Mostly Harmless Bar

🍸 Perfectly harmless speakeasy using locally sourced ingredients

Photo Credit: Mostly Harmless Bar via Facebook

Mostly Harmless Bar perfectly captures its owners’ vision of community in every sense. With cocktails crafted from locally sourced ingredients, this bar is all about fostering connections—within the bar itself, the neighbourhood, and the local produce scene. The drink menu changes daily, depending on what’s in season, with items casually written across a white-tiled wall, embodying a minimalist, nonchalant vibe that resonates with today’s youth.

This hidden gem blends neon lights, glass windows, white tiles, and industrial elements to create a unique atmosphere. Sip your drinks while enjoying the quirky messages and drawings on the white tiles. But be prepared for a youthful, lively crowd—it’s not your typical quiet, elegant speakeasy. With its rambunctious frat party vibe infused with sleek style, this bar is the ultimate hot spot for anyone craving a high-energy scene in an intimate setting, making friends along the way.

Address: 110, Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Wednesday, 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Thursday to Sunday, 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Closed on Monday to Tuesday

Instagram: Mostly Harmless Bar

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9. Please Don’t Tell

🍸Please don’t tell anyone about this secret NYC-style hotel speakeasy (hush hush)

Photo Credit: Please Don’t Tell

Please Don’t Tell (PDT) in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is a bar within a bar, discreetly located on the mezzanine level of MO Bar. To find this intimate spot, enter through the secret phone booth. This Hong Kong location is a collaboration with the iconic New York cocktail bar of the same name.

While the cocktails are fantastic, the real stars are the hotdogs—with soft buns, melty cheese, and creative toppings that will absolutely melt your mind.

PDT is the perfect spot for impressing a friend or date when you’re looking for something less rambunctious and are willing to splurge a little. After all, it’s the Mandarin Oriental—need we say more?

Address: 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Sunday to Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Thursday to Saturday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Website: Please Don’t Tell

10. Stockton

🍸 Where the only thing more hidden than the entrance is the disdain for your Jägerbomb order

Photo Credit: Stockton via Facebook

Down a dark alleyway, look for the lightbulb—that’s your sign for Stockton, a secret hideaway on Wyndham Street with a Victorian-era ambience. The entrance is unmarked, except for a distinctive lightbulb outside. This is the bar to visit if you want to feel like an old British detective, cigar in hand, during the bygone days. Settle into a huge leather sofa or cosy up near old books and lampshades.

This hidden bar is for those with a sense of humour and a touch of decorum. Stockton celebrates the art of the tipple, so don’t even think about ordering a Jägerbomb—such requests will likely be met with disdain and a possible request for your immediate departure.

Address: 32 Wyndham St, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Friday to Saturday: 5:00 PM – 4:00 AM; Closed on Sunday to Monday

Website: https://www.stockton.com.hk/

Instagram: stocktonhk

11. The Wise King

🍸 Soho’s secret cocktail haven channelling the mystique of 13th-century Spain

Photo Credit: The Wise King via Facebook

The Wise King is a hidden cocktail den in Staunton Street that offers an intimate escape to a bygone era. Tucked away in Soho, this candlelit hideaway is adorned with books and regal decor, exuding old-world allure. Vintage mirrors, leather chairs, and flickering candles transport you to 13th-century Spain and the court of King Alfonso X.

This secret gem has been topping Asia’s 50 Best Bars list since 2019. Sample the menu’s liquid tales, conjured with top-shelf spirits and exotic ingredients featuring quirky names that nod to history and literature. Try “The Majes” with bourbon, matcha, and cinnamon, “MONOCHROME” blending coffee and vodka, or the smoky “NORTH BEACH NEIGHBOURHOOD” with its Scotch base.

Address: 25 Staunton Street, Basement in Tsung Wing Lane, Soho, Central (Google Maps)

Hours: Monday to Thursday: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Friday to Saturday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Closed on Sundays

Instagram: thewisekinghk

12. The POET

🍸 Hidden boutique cocktail bar serving classics with a twist at a heritage site

Photo Credit: The Poet via Instagram

Located on Staunton Street, at the original site of the Hong Kong headquarters of XingZhongHui (興中會) founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, The Poet is a small, hidden cocktail haven marked by a quiet-luxury golden elevator door set against an eye-catching blue wall.

Beyond the covert façade, The Poet crafts quality concoctions with creative twists on classics. Try tempting signatures perfected by the bar’s cocktail pairing prowess, from their covert menu only available to those in the know. With its sleek, stylish interior, The Poet makes an ideal spot for a girls’ night out or intimate date.

You can bring home the experience with their online shop, which features signatures like the Shiso Gin Tonic and exclusive candles that capture the bar’s sophisticated vibe.

Address: G/F, 13 Staunton St, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Sunday to Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM; Thursday to Saturday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Closed on Mondays to Tuesdays

Instagram: thepoet_bar

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13. Penicillin

🍸 Hong Kong’s first sustainable speakeasy serving up eco-conscious cocktail experience

Photo Credit: Penicillin via Facebook

Behind innocuous white tiles lies Penicillin – Hong Kong’s first sustainable cocktail bar. True to its namesake, Penicillin crafts signature elixirs out of discarded ingredients in a closed-loop production model. For each signature ordered, they plant a tree, making this 2023 World’s 50 Best Bars honoree a must-visit.

Descend past the inconspicuous entrance and discover an atmosphere blending industrial chic and natural elements. Space is limited without reservations, so arrive early to secure a seat. Even regulars agonize over the options, with new bottled drinks joining the menu like One Penicillin, One Tree, and When the Rivers Run Dry. At this one-of-a-kind sustainable speakeasy, imbibe handcrafted drinks that are as good for the planet as they are delightfully complex.

Address: Amber Lodge, L/G, 23 Hollywood Rd, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM; Sunday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM (no reservations)

Website: https://penicillinbar.com/

Instagram: penicillin_bar

14. Apothecary

🍸 Apothecary-inspired speakeasy with innovative cocktails featuring bold flavours of herbs and spices

Apothecary is a speakeasy bar that transports you to 18th-century Europe through vintage decor and inventive “potions.” Overlooking Hollywood Road, this charming hideaway blends modern and antique elements for an old-world pharmacy feel. Marvel at the antique apothecary cabinet and scales, weighing out imaginative ingredients for your next elixir.

At Apothecary, herbs and spices are the star attraction, reinventing how these botanicals are used in cocktails. Sip the Salt-kissed Daikon cocktail, where chicken broth makes a savoury, umami appearance. Or try the Scallion Ramos, innovatively harnessing the understated scallion in a refreshing twist. Pull up a leather stool, and let their mixologists work their magic, with imaginative elixirs delivering a wholly unique drinking experience.

Address: 3A, Carfield Commercial Building, 75-77 Wyndham St, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Tuesday – Thursday & Sunday: 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM; Friday – Saturday: 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM; Closed on Mondays

Website: https://www.apothecaryhk.com/

Instagram: apothecary_hk

15. Ping Pong 129

🍸 Hong Kong-style local speakeasy with a neighbourhood hangout vibe

Ping Pong 129 via Instagram

At first glance, Ping Pong 129 appears to be just another nondescript shop along the street. But pull open the door and venture down the stairs to discover a hidden basement gin haven with a storied past.

This laidback haunt used to secretly house a ping pong club in the space – hence the name! Nowadays, it attracts gin lovers, tapas aficionados, and Hong Kong art enthusiasts seeking a relaxed night out. Walk through the small doorway into a cavernous hall with bare ceilings and industrial chic.

With its speakeasy vibe, Ping Pong 129 is the perfect place to unwind over crafted gin and tonics. Peruse their extensive list – will you go for the refreshing Raspberry G&T or classic Master’s London G&T?

Address: L/G Nam Cheong House, 129 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Tuesday, 5:00 PM – 12:30 AM; Wednesday to Saturday, 5:00 PM – 1:30 AM; Closed on Sunday and Monday

Instagram: Ping Pong 129

16. Room 309

🍸 Hidden bar in a hidden room at The Pottinger Hotel

Photo Credit: Room 309 via Facebook

Behind an unassuming door in The Pottinger Hotel lies Room 309, a speakeasy accessible only to those in the know. Secure your keycard from The Envoy next door to gain entry to this exclusive spot.

Room 309 transports you to Victorian-era glamour, but only for up to 20 guests at a time. Sink into a leather chair amidst rich mahogany and amber hues.

Now, the real experience begins – the drinks. Indulge in signatures like the herbaceous “Dew You See What I See” or the aptly named “Deep Sea” Martini. Relish the secrecy of it all, and the tales waiting to be told over these expertly crafted cocktails.

Address: 3/F The Pottinger Hong Kong, 74 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong (Google Maps)

Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM (no reservations)

Website: https://www.room309.hk/

Instagram: room309hk

Each of these speakeasy bars offers a unique experience to anyone visiting. Enjoy their signature cocktail drinks and indulge in some mouth-watering meals. Have a great time in these secret spots and create memories worth sharing!


Our reviews and recommendations are honest and not influenced by compensation or sponsorship. Unless stated otherwise, we do not receive payment or free products for positive reviews. Any compensation or products received for reviews will be disclosed in the relevant post.


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