Being such a vertical city, there’s no shortage of stunning views to be had in Hong Kong. We’ve picked our favourite rooftop bars where you can make the most of what the city has to offer – from relaxed, spacious patios upon which to languidly pass the evening, to stylish sky-high establishments in the heart of the city.
Popinjays
It takes two consecutive lift rides to reach bar-restaurant Popinjays, situated at the top of luxury hotel The Murray. The view from the outdoor wraparound bar more than repays the effort, with an unobstructed vista extending from the Mid-Levels to Government House, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, and the banks of Central. Quench your thirst with the Flight of Fancy before heading indoors for modern European fare by Chef Didier Quennouelle.
22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central; Popinjays
ALTO
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The Rooftop, which forms part of the ALTO steakhouse, is situated on the 31st floor of V Point Tower and offers a mesmerising view of the harbour. Offering an attractive selection of artisanal cocktails, such as the punny ‘At 31st’, a concoction of gin, basil, peach, citrus and prosecco alongside a premium wine selection, you will be spoilt for choice all night long. Fitting an impressive number of 250 people standing, get your groove on to the live DJ music which makes an appearance every weekend.
31/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung St, Causeway Bay; ALTO
OZONE
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Crowned the tallest bar in the world, the impressive OZONE rooftop bar sits on the 118th floor at The Ritz-Carlton hotel. The panoramic view of the skyline, alongside blue-toned lighting and contemporary interiors create the perfect environment to enjoy your unique cocktails and Asian tapas. OZONE’s special menu offers 5 drinks, each inspired by an element, with unique combinations such as Earth which features a Shiitake mushroom-infused rum mixed with Seedlip Garden and pandan syrup whilst Fire offers some heat with its Thai chilli, carrot, blood orange and elderflower mixture.
International Commerce Centre (ICC), 118/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, 1 Austin Rd W, Tsim Sha Tsui; ozonebarhongkong.com
SKYE
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Perched on the 27th floor of The Park Lane Hotel in vibrant Causeway Bay, SKYE Rooftop Bar is characterised by its sleekness and modern architectural design. Bathed in vibrant, cool tones of blue in the evening, sit back as you enjoy the beats of the bar’s in-house DJ and wash down a few uniquely crafted cocktails in the 8,000 sq ft. space. Be sure to grab a seat in good time as the bar has a walk-in policy!
27/F, 310 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay; parklane.com.hk
Aqua
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Voted Time Out’s Best Rooftop Bar in 2022, Aqua’s stunning rooftop terrace offers guests an unparalleled drinking experience with its mesmerising panoramic vistas of Victoria Harbour. Select from the carefully crafted cocktails, premium spirits and the finest variety of wines as you sway to the rhythms of the live DJ music – the perfect opportunity to unwind after work or to admire the city’s spectacular firework show.
17/F, H Zentre, 15 Middle Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui; aqua.com.hk
Eyebar
Nestled on the 30th floor of iSquare in Tsim Sha Tsui, EyeBar’s interiors centre around a Chinese-inspired maritime theme, whilst its patio is adorned with illuminated tables. To take a better look at the famed skyline, there is a telescope to admire the city’s prominent skyscrapers. Sample the quirky named drinks such as the Mango Mama with a vodka base, or the gin-based Grape Expectations.
iSQUARE, 63 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui; EyeBar
Red Sugar
Located on the eastern corner of Kowloon in Hung Hom, the Kerry Hotel’s Red Sugar is the perfect spot for watching the sunset in the evenings. Their terrace is surrounded by Victoria Harbour with 270-degree views of twinkling lights and water. At the weekend, they have a Sundown Session that includes free flow tapas and drinks, plus a live musician. As well as a cocktail menu that takes guests on a nostalgic journey to 1960s Hong Kong.
7/F, Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom; Red Sugar
Terrible Baby
While Terrible Baby has no harbour views to boast of (its name, by the way, is derived from the French enfant terrible), the bar’s sprawling patio at the Eaton Hotel lends it a special charm. Sat on rattan sofas between thickets of banana leaves, guests will be mesmerised, if not by the glowing bubble lifts climbing up and down the hotel’s facade, then by the hulking, neon-bathed tenement building on the other side of Nathan Road. From the tongue-in-cheek menu, we recommend the #Busy (aperol, Ford’s gin, Fernet Hunter and yuzu juice).
4/F, Eaton Hotel, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan; terriblebaby.com
ICHU Peru
Another of H Queen’s watering holes is ICHU Peru, the Peruvian restaurant opened by Chef Virgilio Martínez of Central fame. ICHU’s terrazza is a rare oasis in the city, evoking the Amazon rainforest by way of the garden wall and planters of broad-leafed plants. Mixologist Massimo Petovello’s cocktails mirror the geography of Peru; the El Nino Effect conjures the coast with pisco, sake, gentian and plankton, while the Espinoso is inspired by the country’s desert regions with its recipe of blanco tequila, cactus, Szechuan button, and aloe vera.
3/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central; ichu.com.hk
Cruise
Off the beaten path in North Point’s sleek Hotel VIC, Cruise is a bar-restaurant that boasts a rooftop patio offering another perspective of the harbour, with views towards Hung Hom and East Kowloon. Spacious seating, imaginative cocktails and two locally inspired house beers make for a relaxed lounge experience at a noticeably slower pace than the more well-trodden watering holes out west.
23/F, Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour, 1 North Point Estate Lane; hyatt.com
SEVVA
No survey of the city’s rooftop bars is complete without tastemaker Bonnae Gokson’s bar-restaurant, SEVVA. Its expansive wraparound terrace atop Prince’s Building is the haunt of Hong Kong’s fashionable crowd, thanks to unbeatable views of Statue Square, Legco and the the Bank of China Tower. With a cocktail in hand and bathed in the luminous glow of the adjacent HSBC Building, it’s easy for residents and visitors alike to be swayed by the charms of Hong Kong for the first time, or all over again.
25/F, Landmark Prince’s, 10 Chater Road, Central; sevva.hk
Portico
For plenty of outdoor space and the feeling that you are in the beating heart of Hong Kong though, this is the perfect spot. Located on Queen’s Road Central, the bar is attached to Italian fine-dining restaurant SPIGA, and pulls in an after-work crowd of city slickers. Join them for classic cocktails — barrel-aged negronis, old fashioneds and cosmopolitans — served at low blue-and-white sofas that feel more beach club than city-centre terrace. On a steamy night, there’s a lively buzz in the air with honking taxis and the sounds of Hong Kong in the distance, the only reminder that guests are not, in fact, on holiday.
Central, 3/F, LHT Tower, 31 Queens Road, Central, Hong Kong; SPIGA
Editor
Christy Lam and Gavin YeungCredit
Lead Image: Courtesy of Kerry Hotel
