The craft beer craze is still in full swing, with new spots opening up left and right. We’re all for alternatives to Tsingtao and Carlsberg, and have hunted down a few of the best bars for craft beer in town.
WOFT
This Mong Kok joint is easily the most happening place on the block. Offering a long menu of international and local brews, pick your poison from the likes of Kagua (Japan), Feral (Australia), Steamworks (Canada) and Nine Dragons (Hong Kong). Enjoy it all in an open, ground-floor environment while digging into strange local snacks like fermented beancurd fondu.
G/F, 7-8D Yim Po Street, Mong Kok, 2116-1786.
Little Beer Room
The owners of The Little Bottle Shop in Sai Kung has since branched out with a foray on Bridges Street. The Little Beer Room is quaint indeed, but they’ve made plenty of room for taps — with at least 20 on hand. You’ll find representation from Young Masters Ales, Anderson Valley, Omnipollo, and dozens more esoteric bottles to boot. Unlike other craft beer bars, Little Beer Room actually has a great wine list as well as delicious artisan food, in case you’re trying to satisfy conflicting cravings.
Shop 1, Centre Stage, 15 Bridges Street, Central, 2799-4899.
TAP — The Ale Project
Mong Kok craft beer bar TAP — The Ale Project opened in 2014 to great fanfare. Expect to find a dozen or so brews on tap, including an extensive list of local beers produced right here in Hong Kong. Looks for the likes of the classic pale ale and rye on wood from Young Master Ales, alongside excellent imports like breakfast stout from Founders and Anderson Valley’s blood orange gose.
15 Hak Po Street, Mong Kok, 2468-2010.
Craft Brew & Co
There’s no stopping Craft Brew & Co. Following the opening of its original location in SoHo in 2014 the beer bar has rapidly expanded. Its second outlet opened within six months of the first just by the escalator in Sai Ying Pun — and its third branch in Kennedy Town opened its doors in 2016. The 15 or so beers on tap here rotate regularly, but you can often find brews from Mountain Goat, Anderson Valley and local Hong Kong bottles from Young Master Ales.
Various locations, including 27-31 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, 2246-8782.
BrewDog Bar
Scotland’s awesome BrewDog Brewery opened up a bar in Hong Kong smack in the middle of SoHo. The new digs sport industrial interiors with copper fixtures and a crazy number of taps, as well as graffiti interiors done by Edinburgh artist Craig Fisher. The brewery is known for its potent and experimental brews, so look for favorites such as Tokyo, Punk IPA, This.is.Lager and Dead Pony Pale Ale, as well as some seriously creative bar snacks.
15-19 Hollywood Road, Soho, Central, 2219-9905.
Tipping Point Brewing Co
You can’t miss Tipping Point — the popular joint is located on Wyndham Street and churns out craft brews sourced from all over the world, but that’s not all. Tipping Point functions as a micro-brewery — the signature Tipping Point Pale Ale and the Tipping Hazel Nut Brown Ale are brewed right here at the bar. What’s more, there’s a table upstairs with its own tap in the center and stellar bar food. Don’t go in the afternoon if you’re hungry though, as the kitchen takes a break from 3-6pm.
79 Wyndham Street, Central, 2868-2892.
Inn Side Out
Causeway Bay favorite Inn Side Out is known for its extensive list of craft brews. The extensive menu includes Belgian varieties, American microbrews, IPAs and many more. And, don’t worry: there’s even a “boring beers” section on the menu if you can’t bear to part with your Stella.
88 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, 2895-2900.
De België
Standing out from other boozy spots on Elgin Street with its storybook-like exterior, De België serves up a ton of hard-to-find craft brews alongside unique dishes. Opened in 2013, its biggest claim to fame in the competitive craft beer scene in Hong Kong is its collection of Trappist beers — a highly regarded group of beers produced in eight monasteries in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. You’d be hard-pressed to find them elsewhere in the city, so go to town.
21 Elgin Street, Central, 2869-8388.
Crafty Cow
Craft beer and steak take center stage at Crafty Cow. It takes its craft brews seriously — alongside IPAs and pale ales, there are pilsners and Belgian beers, and brown and red ales. If you’re into sweeter drinks, try the dessert-like stouts like the Rogue Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout from the US, with dark chocolate, caramel and toffee on the palate. While you’re there, be sure to try the fusion dishes, dubbed “third culture dining.”
3 Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan, 2915-8988.
The Roundhouse Taproom
Serving 25 types of craft beers on draught and an in-house taproom, the Roundhouse Taproom also specializes in Texan-style BBQ. The place gets packed fast — be sure to get there early in the evening or there’s not chance in hell you’re going to get a seat. Try the “beer platter”, which comes with six varieties of craft brews, and makes it easy to share.
62 Peel Street, Central, 2366-4880.
The Globe
SoHo mainstay The Globe has been around for some time, gaining a reputation as one of the best pubs in Hong Kong. Beers at The Globe change regularly, with the tap list changing every few days so you’ll never be bored with what’s on offer, although at times it’s frustrating if they’re constantly running out of your top choices. The taps change constantly, but familiar faces like Gweilo, Young Masters, Anchor, Mountain Goat, Kona and James Boag tend to make regular appearances. If you’re finding the menu hard to navigate, just follow Toby’s picks at the bottom of each page and you’ll fair pretty well. Head over during happy hour, which is pretty easy since it’s ridiculously long — from 9am to 8pm every day — for great deals on quality beers.
G/F, Garley Building, 45-53A Graham Street, Central, 2543-1941.
