Dive haunts to café-cocktail spots, these Hong Kong bars prove you don’t need a crypto portfolio to drink well in Asia’s most expensive city.
Hong Kong isn’t cheap. While those HK$200 cocktails can hit your wallet as hard as the morning after, a network of bars are keeping it real by proving that serious drinks don’t always need serious price tags. These stalwart spots and under-the-radar gems maintain the high standards Hong Kong is known for while keeping their serves under the HK$100 mark — proof that good taste doesn’t have to break the bank.
Tai Lung Fung
Before the ‘Wong Kar-wai aesthetic’ became a global bar trend, this understated gem was quietly channelling vintage Hong Kong vibes in the most authentic way possible. On a peaceful side street near the historic Blue House, Tai Lung Fung captures the essence of 1960s Hong Kong without laying it on thick: think subtle nostalgic touches rather than Instagram bait.
The real story here, though, is their steadfast commitment to keeping drinks accessible. While nearby bars regularly hike their prices, Tai Lung Fung’s local owners have held the line for years, maintaining happy hour cocktails at HK$65 and regular serves at HK$75. It’s a refreshing throwback not just in style but in spirit, proving that some spots still prioritise their community over maximising profits.
Cocktail prices: HK$65 HH, HK$75 NH
The Optimist
Near the stylish Star Street precinct – far from Wan Chai’s sleazy main strip – this sophisticated Spanish restaurant has evolved into one of the area’s most compelling cocktail destinations. The sprawling space channels laid-back Madrid vibes, with a ground-floor bar that’s become a legitimate hangout in its own right.
While the kitchen’s reputation for quality Spanish fare is well-established, it’s the surprisingly accessible cocktail program that’s been turning heads. Happy hour cocktails start at an almost unbelievable HK$48, with regular prices hovering around HK$100 – the kind of numbers that feel refreshingly out of place in today’s Hong Kong. In a neighbourhood increasingly defined by premium venues, The Optimist delivers style and substance without the steep price tag.
Cocktail prices: HK$48 HH, HK$100 NH
Fini’s
Since 2011, Fini’s has been doing its thing without the usual Hong Kong cocktail bar pretence, creating a vibe that feels more Lower East Side than Elgin Street. But don’t let the Italian-American restaurant facade fool you – their Soho branch has quietly become one of Hong Kong’s smartest plays for quality drinks without the wallet sting.
A slick bar counter, doors flung open to the street, and a killer soundtrack that slides from vintage soul to indie cuts – but the real kicker? Cocktails that start at HK$69 during happy hour and rarely break HK$100 even at regular prices — practically unheard of in a city where drinks almost always hit triple digits.
Cocktail prices: HK$69 HH, HK$100 NH
Blotto
Kennedy Town needed a spot like this — a neighbourhood hangout that feels both fresh and familiar, without trying too hard at either. This compact space has nailed that sweet spot between dive bar charm and new-school cool, serving up hot dogs alongside well-crafted cocktails.
While ‘hipster’ might be in the DNA, Blotto skips the pretence in favour of genuine good vibes, creating the kind of place where conversations flow as easily as the cocktails. The price point matches the attitude – straightforward and accessible, with drinks ranging from HK$75 to HK$105 all day long. No happy hour gimmicks needed when your regular prices are already this reasonable.
Cocktail prices: HK$75-105
Pete’s Place
On High Street, this Sai Ying Pun staple has quietly perfected the neighbourhood bar and restaurant vibe without ever trying to be more than that. It’s the kind of spot that feels instantly familiar – where the comfort food hits right, the drinks are dangerously well-priced (we’re talking HK$62 to HK$80 for cocktails), and the soundtrack is an unapologetic journey through vintage gold.
Split between a snug bar and casual dining space next door, the vibe stays consistently inviting, powered by a staff who treat regulars like family and newcomers like regulars. Behind the bar, you’ll find featuring everything from signature cocktails and rotating daiquiri of the day to perfectly balanced classics – the Pisco Sours in particular have earned a loyal following.
Cocktail prices: HK$62-80
Mr. Wolf
This sleek modern European bistro has quietly mastered the art of the urban terrace, creating one of Central’s most coveted outdoor drinking spaces. Floating above the chaos of Queen’s Road, the terrace hits that sweet spot between see-and-be-seen and actually-chill-enough-to-linger. Inside, it’s all modern continental energy – less Instagram bait, more genuine style.
The cocktail program keeps it real with classics done right, starting at HK$68 during happy hour and HK$100 regular, making it a rare Central find where the quality-to-price ratio actually makes sense. Dropping in for post-work spritzes or settling in for a proper evening session, like his namesake in Pulp Fiction, Mr. Wolf solves all.
Cocktail prices: HK$68 HH, HK$100 NH
The Pontiac
In a sea of carefully curated oxymoronic ‘high-end dive bars,’ The Pontiac still feels like the real deal. This Soho institution keeps it raw and unfussy – layers of graffiti and rock anthems blasting at exactly the right volume. Behind the stick, the hipster-cool bartenders brings serious cocktail credentials without the ego, crafting proper drinks that somehow hover as low as HK$38 at happy hour (and HK$100 at all other times) — shocking in a neighbourhood where prices only seem to go up.
It’s the kind of joint where off-duty industry pros, adventurous tourists, and local regulars all end up sharing stories at midnight, united by the universal language of strong drinks and zero pretence. In a city obsessed with the next big thing, Pontiac remains defiantly, gloriously itself.
Cocktail prices: HK$38 HH, HK$100 NH
Blend & Grind
Here’s a plot twist in Hong Kong’s drinking scene – this daytime coffee spot moonlights as one of the city’s smartest cocktail secrets. While the sun’s up, Blend & Grind does the expected specialty coffee and brunch thing with style. But as dusk settles, these airy cafes transform into something more interesting: laid-back cocktail spots that won’t demolish your wallet.
With branches spreading across Kennedy Town, Star Street, and Mid-Levels, they’ve cracked the code on casual neighborhood cocktails – cool terraces, zero bullshit, and all-night cocktail prices that’ll make you do a double-take (HK$70, seriously?). No speakeasy passwords or elaborate garnishes – just a place that makes you question why you’re still paying triple at that fancy cocktail bar down the street.
Cocktail prices: HK$70
