New Bars: Where to drink in Hong Kong this November

Following their exit from The Old Man, Agung Prabowo and Roman Ghale have teamed up with their partners, Laura Prabowo and Katy Ghale, to debut two new concepts—the larger and more conceptual of which is Penicillin, a “closed-loop” bar which prioritises sustainability and local heritage. The bar, which derives its name from both the medical discovery and a famous whiskey-based cocktail, takes a scientific, experimental approach towards mixology. Think foraged and fermented ingredients, interesting extraction processes, and innovative, resourceful uses of “scraps.”

The theme is carried through into the Betty Ng-designed space, which evokes vintage laboratories and apothecaries with its white tiles, scientific equipment, and raw natural materials. For a cocktail that tastes good and does good, try the One Penicillin, One Tree ($110)—for every order, one native tree gets planted in the endangered Kalimantan rainforest in Borneo.

Penicillin, L/G, 23 Hollywood Road, Central | (+852) 9880 7995

Tucked away in a little back street behind Hollywood Road is Hong Kong’s premier homage to yeehaw culture itself, Honky Tonk’s Tavern. (We’re joking, but also… not really?) This much-anticipated second opening from The Shady Acres’ team has only been in the soft opening phase for a few weeks, but it’s already drawn in plenty of customers with its ever-so-drinkable cocktails, raucous-yet-welcoming atmosphere, and finger-licking Southern food.

The Shady Acres’ cheeky and irreverent humour is dialled up to 11 here, with menu items like White Trash (a chicken, bacon, and jalapeno pizza topped with cool ranch Dorito dust; $110) and Don’t Drink the Water (a cocktail of tequila, mezcal, elderflower, lime, and mandarin-vinegar syrup; $95). There’s also an entire menu of fried chicken, which includes tenders ($85), wings ($75), and a Honky McChicken burger ($100)—and just for added temptation, Honky Tonk’s Tavern will donate $10 to local charities for children and young adults with disabilities for every order of chicken or pizza.

Honky Tonk’s Tavern, 75 Hollywood Road, Central (entrance on Man Hing Lane)

Despite the confusing name, this month-long cocktail event is a pretty exciting addition to Hong Kong’s drinks calendar—this is the first time that the city has ever had a cocktail week! (Let alone four in one go, which others might call... a month). Semantics aside, the list of participating bars and restaurants is stacked with the likes of The Wise King, Tell Camellia, 001, and Terrible Baby—all of which we would recommend visiting.

Each partner outlet has created bespoke limited-edition cocktails for the event, and each week of the event will feature drinks created around a different spirit—with almost 100 cocktails being created especially for this event. To enjoy the drinks, all you have to do is buy an entry pass online—either the bar hopper pass ($298), which gets you three drink tokens, or the bar runner pass ($458), which covers five drink tokens, both of which include a goodie bag from the bar of your choice.

Check out the full list of participating bars here, or read more about the exact mechanics of the token system here.

While we never need a reason to visit Terrible Baby, we are intrigued by the new drinks menu being spearheaded by the recently joined manager, Axel Gonzalez, who previously headed up the bars at Buenos Aires Polo Club and Taqueria Super Macho. Gonzalez is making his debut with two Hong Kong-inspired cocktails—the Osmanthus Fizz ($85), a gin fizz spiked with chamomile tea syrup and osmanthus tea, and the Fallen Spritz ($85), made with light Cuban rum, cynar (an Italian amaro-style liqueur), grapefruit juice, pomelo, orange-vinegar syrup, and prosecco. Both are light and refreshing enough to be—to borrow beer terminology—extremely sessionable, making them the perfect drinks with which to while away a night on Terrible Baby’s distinctly un-terrible terrace.

Terrible Baby, 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei | (+852) 2710 1866