10 Gay Bars in Hong Kong for a Fabulous Night Out
Andrea Lo
Tired of the same old haunts in Lan Kwai Fung and Wan Chai? Whether you’re looking for the best watering holes to meet some like-minded individuals — or, if you’re the token straight friend hoping for something unlike your usual boring nights out in Hong Kong — check out these LGBT-friendly spots in the city.
T:me Bar
If you’re looking for a quiet night with, say, two drinks max, T:me Bar is the place to be. Located in an unassuming alleyway in SoHo, the bar’s vibe is low-key and welcoming, and crowds tend to spill out to the street. You’ll be glad to know that wines are $50 per glass and mixed drinks start at around HK$72 — nothing that breaks the bank. Happy hour is until 9.30pm daily, and on Thursdays, there’s free vodka for guys from 8.30pm until it runs out. Get there early!
The crowd: Local and expat guys in their 20s and 30s — mostly worker bees from nearby Central coming down here for happy hour.
Good for: Laid-back weeknights, catching up with friends… and meeting new ones.
Zoo
Unleash your inner animal at Zoo, a high-energy watering hole tucked into the a corner of Sheung Wan, about 15 minutes’ walk from SoHo. It’s a sexy space decked out in black leather and mood lighting. On Mondays, take advantage of the buy-one-get-one-free deal on martinis; on Tuesdays, you get bottle beers for HK$33 each all night; and on Wednesdays and Thursdays, it’s HK$68 for a champagne mix, or $650 for a bottle of Piper Heidsieck or Moët & Chandon. The space gets busy from around 11pm, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays — but unlike the snooty hipster watering holes in and around Sheung Wan, the dress code here is a decidedly relaxed one (shorts are OK). The bar occasionally puts on theme nights (dress-up time!). Happy hour is from 7-10pm Monday to Saturday, and 7pm-1am on Sundays.
The crowd: A mix of locals and expats, though not exclusively the financier types who tend to congregate around LKF.
Good for: On weekends, the final destination at a bar crawl. On weeknights, a drink or two after dinner nearby.
FLM
The team behind now-defunct LGBT watering hole Volume BEAT runs FLM, which sits in the same location in Sheung Wan a stone’s throw away from Zoo. Stepping into the bar you’ll find a pumping dance floor with live DJ beats, while upstairs is a more relaxed space good for people-watching and fine conversation. A standard house drink will set you back HK$75, and you can expect to pay $20 less during happy hour from 7-10pm, Monday through Saturday. Check out the FLM Express promotion, which offers free drinks from 9-10pm from Mondays to Thursdays!
The crowd: An international crowd — a mix of visitors, expats, and locals of all ages.
Good for: Big night out over the weekend.
Linq
Perch yourself on the precarious steps of Pottinger Street outside Linq, which sees huge crowds almost every night of the week. Strictly speaking, Linq is not a gay bar — though Guy’s Night on Wednesdays, which offers free vodka from 10pm to midnight, attracts folks of all ages, professions and of sexual orientation. It’s just around the corner from good ol’ Lan Kwai Fong, so it’s not hard to understand its popularity. Wines are HK$68 per glass; beers HK$60 and cocktails HK$90. During happy hour from 5-8pm daily, these drop to HK$48, HK$45, and HK$70 respectively.
The crowd: Young, broke and fabulous guys with their straight, female hangers-on.
Good for: Pre-drinking before heading out, or a nightcap before calling it a day.
Bing Bing HK
Causeway Bay cocktail lounge and dance club Bing Bing HK (formerly known as Circo) is one of the newer additions to the scene, and it stands out with incredible views of the city. While it makes for a good spot to kick back with a few drinks on its inviting couches, the bar also hosts regular special events that really get the crowd going: think a Songkran water fight special (a splashy affair observing Thailand’s New Year celebrations). Drink prices are a bit on the steep side: cocktails are anything from HK$108 to HK$148. Thankfully there’s a daily happy hour from 6-8.30 pm, with 30 percent off drinks.
The crowd: The bar tends to draw in hot Asians, but that doesn’t mean it’s closed-off to others. Everyone’s welcome — it’s by no means an LGBT-only venue.
Good for: Anything from a classy evening of cocktails to twerk-happy nights out.
Boo Bar
For something a little off-grid, try Boo Bar, a karaoke joint in Jordan on Kowloon side. Boo Bar’s clientele consists mostly of bears (hairy, muscular, mature men) as well as chasers (those who are into bears), and is one of the only LGBT-friendly joints in the city that specifically targets the subgroup. Here you can choose from a large catalogue of music — from cheesy classics to top 40 hits. Karaoke not your thing? On the last Saturday of every month there’s a live DJ behind decks spinning dance beats. Drinks are around HK$68-78 — order a drink and you can sing for as long as you want. Before 9pm, there’s a buy-one-get-one-free deal and after that, it’s buy-three-get one free (!).
The crowd: Bears, bears and bears…oh and chasers as well as friends.
Good for: Singing your heart out, meeting bears or their admirers.
Petticoat Lane
https://www.instagram.com/petticoatlanehk/
Located in a hot new venue in California Tower in the heart of Central, Petticoat Lane is one of Hong Kong’s most popular gay bars. The glamorous bar and club is known, in particular, for its drag performances from some of Hong Kong’s favourite queens. This all-inclusive bar is the perfect place to shake off the mid-week blues with a cocktail, delicious bites, dazzling views across Lan Kwai Fong, plus a lively drag show experience you won’t soon forget!
The crowd: Friendly, open-minded and diverse crowd of locals and expats.
Good for: A lively atmosphere and the best drag shows in town
Virus Restaurant & Bar
https://www.instagram.com/virus_restaurant_and_bar/
Located in Causeway Bay, Virus is a stylish lounge bar with cosy couches and an easy-going atmosphere. Established in 1997, Virus is a long-time Hong Kong favourite offering excellent happy hours, BBQ bites, and karaoke for those who love to belt out a tune. Although more gender-inclusive these days, this HK Island spot is more widely known as one of two remaining lesbian bars in Hong Kong.
The crowd: Social and like-minded ladies
Good for: After work, all you can drink happy hour and a little karaoke, of course
Wink
With a minimal black interior and hot pink neon lights, Wink is Sheung Wan’s friendliest neighbourhood gay bar. Open late and offering an array of drinks specials and happy hours, Wink is intimate, playful, and popular amongst locals. The bar is best known for its exciting selection of unique cocktails, with a range of premium wines, champagnes and spirits also available. The bustling HK gay bar is also a haven for karaoke lovers, with an occasional karaoke competition for those confident in their singing abilities.
The crowd: Fun-loving professionals in their 20s and 30s
Good for: Cocktails and singing the night away seven days a week
Vibranium
https://www.instagram.com/vibraniumhk/
Vibranium is a chic Causeway Bay cocktail bar located in the same building as Bing Bing. Open till 3 am on weekdays and 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays, the vibrant bar is perfect for a late-night boogie on the spacious dance floor. First opening its doors in 2020, Vibranium is relatively new to the Hong Kong gay bar and club scene, but it’s already a favourite amongst internationals and locals. The bar also boasts epic Sunday sessions with hard to beat drinks specials, with all standard cocktails, house wine and prosecco costing between $10 – $40 per glass from 2 pm.
The crowd: Young and fun locals and expats
Good for: Late night revellers and Sunday afternoon sessions
Andrea Lo is a freelance journalist and translator based in Hong Kong. After cutting her teeth in the industry as a staff writer at a lifestyle magazine, she embraced the freelance life in 2015 and hasn’t looked back. She spends her time exploring the best of Hong Kong’s dining and nightlife scene, trialling new fitness trends, and travelling to exotic locales – all in the name of “research”.