Experience the essence of Hong Kong in a unique bar. Night walk in the Central area

Open the door in a narrow alley and enter a space lined with rhinoceros beetle specimens. Enjoy a special drink at a restaurant with no menu.

J. Boroski

J.Boroski is located in a narrow alley off Hollywood Road, which runs east to west through the Central area. When you open the door to this "hideaway"-like shop, you will be greeted by a unique interior space that will make you forget the outside world. Behind the counter with its beautiful smooth curves is a line of rhinoceros beetle specimens that stretch from the ceiling to the ceiling, and there are also spider specimens on display on the back wall.

The interior design was created by Ashley Sutton, a world-renowned Australian designer who has worked on a number of bars in Hong Kong. The interesting thing about this bar is that, despite the strange sight of the specimens lining the walls and ceiling, you will soon feel at ease. This may be due to the soft lighting and warm colors of the interior.

Along with its interior design, one of its unique features is that it does not have a cocktail menu. You can enjoy your favorite drink by telling the bartender the spirits, ingredients (such as fruits), and atmosphere you want to drink. Why not consult with top bartenders from all over the world and have them create a drink that will be a memorable memory of your trip?

A sacred ritual-like presentation by Hong Kong's top bartender

Quinary

Quinary was ranked 40th in the ranking "The World's 50 Best Bars 2017" published by Drinks International, a British magazine renowned for its bar and alcohol specialties. Opened in 2012 by Antonio Lai, who runs four bars in Hong Kong, Quinary faces Hollywood Road and is crowded with people every day.

The bar manager at Quinary is Samuel Kwok, who won the Hong Kong and Macau editions of the world's most prestigious bartender competition, World Class 2017. His gestures and behavior as he makes cocktails are like a sacred ritual, captivating the viewers.

A popular drink is the "Lavender Meringue Pie," a gin-based drink made with multiple liqueurs and topped with marshmallows roasted over a burner. Other interesting cocktails available include the "Earl Grey Caviar Martini," a martini-based drink accented with black tea processed into foam and granules using liquid nitrogen and a centrifuge.

At Quinary, we highly recommend the counter seats, where you can get a close-up look at the bartenders in action. However, because it is a popular bar, you may want to make a reservation or come with a small group to secure a seat at the counter. The area around the bar is also home to popular photo spots with bold mural art. The bar opens in the evening, so why not drop by there as well?

Marina's work is characterized by the depiction of everyday objects such as plates and cups that we use every day, as well as houses, windows, laundry, trees, and birds. The patterns are drawn simply and modernly with delicate brush strokes. Each piece is an original, one-of-a-kind piece.

Enjoy cutting-edge Hong Kong craft beer in a store that retains the atmosphere of Hong Kong in the 1970s and 1980s

65Peel He Lanzheng

If you want to enjoy craft beer in the Central district, where many bars are located, we recommend 65Peel Ho Lan Zheng. There are always 12 types of taps (spouts connected to beer barrels) available, mainly craft beers made in Hong Kong. One of the most popular is the Contemporary Pilsner, made by Young Master Brewery, one of the largest craft beer breweries in Hong Kong. It is easy to drink and has a mild taste.

A recommended non-beer alcoholic drink is the "Sweetened red bean" cocktail, which is based on the red bean drink "hongdoubin." This cocktail is made by adding rum and liqueur to red bean ice, which is loved by many people in the Chinese region, from children to adults.

Also, as the owner Lam Chun Wai said, "I want to update the good old Hong Kong style to the modern era," the interior atmosphere of the shop is reminiscent of Hong Kong in the 1970s and 1980s. The pink neon lights and tiles reminiscent of the old-style Chinese coffee shops called bing sum are eye-catching. It opens early on Sundays from 2pm and on other days from 4pm, making it the perfect place to take a break from walking around town.

Enter the secret password and head to the rooftop. A rooftop bar with a Chinese flair

Fu Lu Shou

Located in the heart of the Central district, where offices and department stores line the streets, Fu Lu Shou offers an open rooftop bar where you can enjoy drinks and meals. To enter the bar, you need to enter a password (PIN code) into the machine at the entrance, which is announced on the bar's official Facebook page. "Most old-fashioned Chinese buildings have a PIN code at the entrance for security reasons. We want to follow that culture as our original," says owner Jack Leung.

When you go up to the 7th floor where the shop is located from the approach that feels like entering a secret base, the first thing you see are three objects. These objects are the "Hong Kong version" of the god "Fukurokuju", one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japan, and are the origin of the shop's name. Each one governs "Fu (prosperity)", "Lu (status)", and "Shou (longevity)".

A must-try at this bar is the "Dong Ning Cha" 128, which is based on Wu Jia Pijiu, a type of Chinese wine. It is served in a sake bottle-like container with a straw. This bar's commitment to "Chinese style" is apparent throughout, including the counter made of mahjong tiles. You can also enjoy the pleasant night breeze, so it's recommended to stop by here as a second or third stop to cool down. This is a rare place where you can drink while surrounded by the mirage of Hong Kong.

Craft gin, which is showing signs of becoming a global trend, can be enjoyed at a bar renovated from a table tennis court

Ping Pong 129

Ping Pong 129 is a bar specializing in craft gin, located in the Sai Ying Pun area, two stations away from Central Station on the Hong Kong Railroad (MTR) Island Line. The bar was created by renovating a table tennis court, and is easily recognizable by its red exterior and a sign that means "table tennis court" in Japanese. The interior of the store is also enveloped in red-based lights, but one particularly eye-catching neon light reads "Train your body." This means "Let's train your body" in Japanese, and is a nod to the former table tennis court.

What you can enjoy at this bar is "craft gin," which is showing signs of becoming a global trend following craft beer. The owner of this bar, Juan Martínez Gregorio, is from Spain, one of the world's leading gin producing countries, and has been nurturing the gin boom in Hong Kong for a long time.

Juan's recommended cocktail is the "GIN TONIC MACARONESIAN." It is a gin and tonic made with gin from the Spanish Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean and Barcelona 1724 tonic water, topped with grapefruit peel. It has a sweet and easy-to-drink taste. There are a huge variety of gins available, so it might be fun to try different base gins and compare them to find your favorite cocktail.

As the owner is from Spain, there is a wide selection of Spanish food, including tapas. Inside the store, people can enjoy the space in their own way, whether it be at the tables enjoying a drink while eating, at the bar at the counter, or standing and drinking freely. If you want to experience the cutting edge of craft gin, be sure to come to Ping Pong 129.

Many of the establishments introduced here are located in the central area of Central. The demand for bars has increased as a place for local residents to spend the night, and the area has now grown into a bar hotspot that is attracting attention from around the world. Along with stylish establishments, there are also establishments with the concept of conveying the good old Hong Kong culture to the present. Bars may be one of the places where you can feel the hybrid charm of East and West most closely.

Takeshi Maruta

Born in Hokkaido in 1984. Raised in Obihiro. A tough, hard-working, nomadic person. Mainly engaged in media management and general production. Specialties are Asia, Central and South America, islands and drones around the world. Recent media management includes the Asian creative city guide "HereNow".

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HereNow is a city guide which can make your travel more exciting. You can find out what's hot in the city now. Cafes, bars, hotels, shops, art galleries, Music concerts etc...

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