Baijiu, whisky bars & Hong Kong's spirits scene

Alongside the craft beer scene already covered in our craft beer guide, Hong Kong has developed a genuinely serious spirits culture, spanning traditional Chinese baijiu, an enthusiastic whisky-collecting scene, and internationally recognised cocktail bars.

Baijiu at the table

A strong, clear grain spirit, baijiu remains a fixture at formal Chinese banquets and toasts (see our banquet guide), traditionally drunk in small cups for repeated toasts rather than sipped slowly like a Western spirit.

Whisky culture

Hong Kong has become one of Asia's more significant whisky markets, with a dedicated collector and enthusiast scene, specialist bars, and periodic whisky auctions and tasting events — a somewhat unexpected but genuine niche given the city's small size.

Cocktail bars

Several Hong Kong cocktail bars have gained international recognition in recent years, often blending Western technique with Cantonese and regional Chinese ingredients — a genuine point of pride and creative overlap with the modern Cantonese dining scene covered in our fusion dining guide.

Where to find it

Central and Sheung Wan hold the highest concentration of serious cocktail and whisky bars, generally clustered near (but distinct from) the more casual nightlife strips covered in our nightlife guide.