Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo are arguably Hong Kong’s busiest nightlife districts, both buzzing with fashionable locals and trendy tourists seeking a cool place to hang out and enjoy a few drinks once the sun goes down. Lan Kwai Fong is a cobble-stoned maze of restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the middle of the Central Business District of Hong Kong.  

Also located in Central, SoHo offers a wide range of high-end multicultural restaurants and chic bars that are usually packed with Hong Kong’s elites. The district starts just south of Hollywood Road and meanders along Elgin Street, Shelley Street and Staunton Street. An abundance of global cuisine can be found here, including South American, Indian, European and Asian.

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    Lan Kwai Fong

    Lan Kwai Fong
    • Food
    • Nightlife

    Lively Lan Kwai Fong consists of a few streets in Hong Kong’s Central district, forming a rectangle that was previously used by hawkers before World War II. Surrounded by office buildings and swanky skyscrapers, this business zone is home to some of the best bars and clubs in Hong Kong. 

    There are over 90 bars, restaurants and nightclubs catering to all tastes, from casual watering holes to upmarket speakeasies. Most people – usually office workers and business execs – visit Lan Kwai Fong afterhours to enjoy the bars’ wide range of promos, especially all-night happy hours. 

    How to get there: Take a taxi or MTR to Central Station Exit D2 or the Airport Express to Hong Kong Station Exit B2. Parking is available on Arbuthnot Road.

    Map

    photo by Wiki.lkfa (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

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    SoHo Hong Kong

    SoHo Hong Kong
    • Food
    • Nightlife
    • Shoppers

    Vibrant SoHo is Hong Kong’s premier entertainment district and is also home to the Central-Mid-Levels Escalators, one of the world’s longest outdoor escalator systems. SoHo is a blend of Chinese and colonial architecture with modern additions, including the escalator and sleek restaurants.

    Visit during the day to visit its many fashion outlets, antique stores, and art galleries, before unwinding with a drink or meal at sundown. With a vibe that is decidedly more upmarket than Lan Kwai Fong, the neighbourhood draws mostly expats looking to enjoy a night on the town. Restaurants are open for lunch with deals often available between 2pm and 5pm.

    How to get there: Take the MTR Island Line to Central Station and Exit via D2. Walk along Queen’s Road and take the Central-Mid-Levels Escalators.

    Map

    photo by Rilsluioa (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

Paul Smith | Compulsive Traveller