Startle

Since most Hong Kongers consider clocking out of the office before 9 p.m. an early night and bars can stay open until dawn, it’s no wonder that Hong Kong’s nightlife carries a high-caliber reputation. Options run from divey British pubs and candlelit wine bars to trendy lounges and members-only clubs. Central still lays claim to the hottest clubs in Hong Kong, but other areas are joining the scene. Kowloon has become a popular after-hours location thanks to an influx of new and revamped hotels like the W Hotel, The Mira and The Peninsula. Likewise, Wan Chai, once famous for its red-light entertainment venues, has experienced a revival recently, drawing new pubs, wine bars and lounges to the neighborhood, along with a more mainstream crowd. Like in many cities around the globe, smoking was banned in all public places in Hong Kong in 2009, but there is yet to be a rule about being a set distance from building entrances, so it is quite common to see clusters of puffers huddled around bar doorways.