Aqua Spirit
Aqua Spirit has arguably the finest view of any bar in the world. Through the vast, two-storey floor-to-ceiling windows, the Hong Kong island skyline stretches out before you (on a clear day, that is). But it’s not all about the view. Aqua has recently launched a new cocktail menu created by Portuguese mixologist Paolo Figueiredo including new concoctions to complement the dramatic setting of the bar. Try the Aqua Tokyo (sake, honey, apple juice and yuzu syrup garnished with grapes stuffed with blue cheese) or the Time Out cocktail (you’ll have to wait until our next issue for this one though). On the weekend, Aqua goes partying, with regular DJs turning on the house to get the crowd into a fluid mood and send the party well into the night. 30/F, 1 Peking Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 3427 2288. www.aqua.com.hk.

Sevva
Hyped and derided in equal measures, this Central hotspot seems to divide opinions more than Britney Spears. What’s beyond debate, however, is that Sevva offers one of the most spectacular vistas in Hong Kong. From its 360-degree outdoor terrace, the views of Central, Admiralty, Tsim Sha Tsui and the harbour are sensational, while the décor is just the right side of swanky indulgence. Much like tea at The Peninsula and ice-cream at The Peak, a suitably pricey drink at Sevva is has made it onto the must-do list for anyone entertaining overseas visitors. 25/F, Princes Bldg, Central, 2537 1388, www.sevvahk.com.

Bubble La Villa 37
Sure it’s over the top. Perhaps you could even describe it as tacky. But this new bar, for all its flaws, is an experience. The entire bar – including the walls and ceiling – have been fitted with wacky fluorescent lights that morph slightly in colour, making the space glow with eerie perkiness. Named after the strange glassware hovering from the central ceiling, Bubble features one of only a handful of enomatic wine machines in the city as well as the one of the most ridiculously sized high-definition screens that you’re likely to see. If all of this exceeds your garish threshold, you can always rely on the all-surrounding view which, from 37 floors up, is quite spectacular. 37/F Times Tower, 393 Jaffe Rd, Causeway Bay. www.lavilla.hk.

Habitat
Opened at the end of last year, this unique new space hovers 29 floors above Queens Road East, offering views across Wan Chai and an all-too rare indoor/outdoor ambience. Sparsely furnished with languid couches and cane tables, the roofless wooden deck attaches to the open bar area, bringing in the professional crowd in their twenties and thirties. If you’re in need of something even more chilled, head up to the rooftop where several quiet tables await, and look down on the party on the airy deck below. 29/F, QRE Plaza, 202 Queen’s Rd East, Wan Chai, 2907 0888.

Penthouse Skylounge
We know that karaoke isn’t particularly cool. It’s like fast food and reality TV: everyone indulges every now and then, but no one’s particularly proud of it. But if you’re at all inclined to singing along with the bouncing ball, Penthouse Skylounge is a decent bet. Compared to most dingy, claustrophobic establishments hidden in the clouds, Penthouse sprawls into numerous vibrantly glowing areas, all featuring couches galore. The panoramic vistas across to Tsim Sha Tsui and the eastern district make for a welcome distraction from the high-pitched Cantopop wailings of the mainly local crowd that roll in here – but if you make it here, you’re probably partial to it as well. Grab the mic, pick the ballad of your choice, and join in. 29/F, Silver Base Centre, 200 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, 2833 9992, www.penthouseskylounge.com.

Find your watering hole:
Music bars
Proper pubs
Classy bars
Get away bars
Bars with a view
Specialty bars
Chilled out bars
Sports bars
Incognito bars
Party bars
Guilty pleasure bars
Arty bars

See also:
Blasts from the past