Where to drink in Hong Kong this October

October is breast cancer awareness month, and Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong’s popular rooftop cocktail bar, Red Sugar is collaborating with renowned mixologist Antonio Lai for a special cocktail menu, Drink Pink, in support of the cause. Ten percent of sales from these pink cocktails will be donated to Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation to help contribute to the research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure for the disease.  

Red Sugar’s bartender Simon Kwong, together with Antonio, crafted four pink libations that include Think Pink (made with Hennessy, yuzu, and hibiscus tea), and Pink Is In The Air (made with vodka, Cointreau, strawberry and kiwi with a fluffy fruity foam. Catch a special guest shift with Antonio on October 9, 7pm to 11pm, for the night, 60 percent of the pink cocktail sales will be donated to Breast Cancer Foundation. On October 10, 2.30pm to 3.30pm, Antonio will have a mixology masterclass that will cover tips and tricks in making a perfectly crafted cocktail. Participants will have the chance to craft their own version of the Pink Drinks and drink it in the al fresco area afterwards. 

Premium wine retailer Etc Wine Shops has just opened their new themed store in Central, providing customers with an immersive experience of the French wine region of Burgundy. Those who would like to traverse through this region – which is home to some of the most expensive wines in the world – can browse wines from Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, both of which are historically considered the most important wine regions in Burgundy. Housing one of the largest Burgundy wine collections in the city – with over 1,000 wines and access to an inventory of 6,000 bottles – the shop will appeal to seasoned oenophiles, hobbyists, sommeliers, and even wine beginners. The shop will also run scheduled food pairings, and wine appreciation workshops, so make sure to check out the space and enquire for updates on the events. 

Though still under development, we're looking forward to seeing the two new bars that will be set up by The Old Man's founders Agung Prabowo and Roman Ghale. Penicillin, the first bar set to open by mid-October, will be taking up the 1,520sq ft space of the former Buddha Lounge on Hollywood Road and is gearing up to be Hong Kong's first eco-conscious bar. The bar's cocktail menu is still to be unveiled, but by the sound of it, we may expect riffs of the Penicillin cocktail and drinks with an eco-friendly twist that will not only cure any cocktail fix but hopefully the bar industry's quandaries on sustainability. 

The other bar, Dead & (pronounced dead end), is a dive bar set to open in November and will take up a 500sq ft space at the end of Wo On Lane in Lan Kwai Fong. The bar will serve affordable drinks like beers, Aperol Spritz on tap, slushies, and will even have drink vending machines. Expect a party vibe that will spill out onto the streets of LKF.  

Duddell's cocktail programme is getting an overhaul as the bar introduces their new head mixologist and salon manager, Mario Calderone (formerly of Honi Honi Tiki Cocktail Lounge). Duddell's new menu will include reimagined classics in Mario's signature pre-Prohibition style recipes designed to complement Duddell's dim sum. The new menu will include a twist on Champagne Cobbler ($160) made with Veuve Clicquot Champagne mixed with fresh orange, lemon and pineapple, and a drop of maraschino liqueur; and Pearfectioned ($140), a pear-infused Hennessy VSOP mixed with Capovilla pear distillate, served with a side of caramelised pear. To pair with Duddell's dishes, Mario recommends Duddell's Sour ($140) made with citron vodka, Aperol, passion fruit, citrus juice, and egg white.

Celebrating two years in the business, Whisky & Words prepared a series of whisky-induced October events and launched their very first Whisky & Words exclusive private whisky bottling. The exclusive whisky bottle is a new addition to the bar's growing selection – currently over 350 bottles – of whisky bottles sourced around the world. The bottle is a 14-year-old Bruichladdich cask strength Islay single malt whisky matured in a first filled sherry cask bottled by Maltbarn – an independent bottler from Germany. The whisky has notes of roasted hazelnuts, a touch of chocolate with fruits and hints of spice and salted caramel finish. There are only 150 bottles released in the market, with around 70 bottles that will be available at Whisky and Words, and the rest will be sold in the European market. So, drop by for a 30ml dram ($120) or get your own bottle at $1,280 for members and $1,480 for non-members (send a message via WhatsApp 9889 8590 to enquire about membership).  

Starting October 3, every Sunday from 4pm, Whisky & Words will host free-flow Sundays for $280 per head. Be sure to take advantage of the two and a half-hour worth of Old Fashioned, highball, white and red wine, and beer servings, alongside shots of vodka, gin, and rum. On October 5, from 5pm to 9pm, guests will receive a complimentary cocktail upon ordering two drinks, and on October 12, 5pm to 9pm, a complimentary glass of whisky upon ordering two drinks per guest. If you would like to learn about Speyside Macallan whisky, history and the range, the bar is holding a masterclass at $350 for non-members.

If you're looking for a breezy escape in Causeway Bay, Lounge Hakuba, located in Tower 535, has an al fresco cocktail lounge serving Japanese-inspired cocktails and servings of sake, whisky, and shochu. Cocktails include house signature G&T Morning Dew ($138) using Italicus Rosolio Bergamot Liqueur and shiso liqueur, and Akori Cherry Blossom Gin-based Purple Ski ($128), using a dash of sake, lavender rose syrup, and lemon, topped off with a creamy layer of egg white foam. From Sunday to Thursday, 3pm to 7pm, shisha lovers can enjoy a shisha combination package available at $498 which includes one shisha use, two beers, house spirits, or wines, with one snack. 

Watch out for a special bar shift this October. Dr Fern’s Gin Parlour's former bartender Paul Chan and founder of Hong Kong inspired gin Perfume Trees Kit Cheung will be taking over the bar and mixing their special limited-time cocktails. Follow Loung Hakuba on Instagram for updates. 

Room 309 followed up their recent gin collaboration with Two Moons Distillery with a Mystic Tarot card themed pop-up that guests can enjoy until November 14. Choose from any of the Tarot cards presented as a menu to order your selection of enchanted cocktails. Make sure to have your Instagram ready for the preparation of The Full Moon Ritual ($160), crafted by bartender Jo Lo, the cocktail uses gin, ginger liqueur, grapefruit, black walnut bitters, served with a butterfly pea flower tea ice sphere prepared with a luminous spritz. If you're looking for a cure for whatever ails you, try the Wild Intuitives ($160), prepared by bartender Chaster Ma, the drink uses gin, cedarwood cordial, traditional herbal remedy Pei Pa Koa, served with an iris blossom.  

Drop by at the bar every other Wednesday evening to meet Hong Kong's first female distiller Dimple Yuen and co-founder Ivan Chang. Since the pop-up is a tarot themed cocktail experience, it wouldn't be complete without the mystical readings of tarot card reader Olivia Luk, who will make weekly appearances at the bar every Thursday from 6pm to 7.30pm.   

The bar will only take walk-ins so make sure to drop by early because seats might get full.

Michelin-star restaurant Roganic is bringing in Hong Kong's best bartenders under their roof for a culinary food and drink pairing dinner. Craft & Spirit bar takeover will feature four seasoned bartenders for one night on various schedules from October until November showcasing one mocktail and two cocktails available to order a la carte ($120 each) which perfectly complements the seasonal dishes at Roganic prepared by executive chef Oli Marlow and head chef Ash Salmon. Guests dining-in can opt for the restaurant's signature Long Tasting Menu ($1,100) that comes with one craft cocktail.   

Catch The Diplomat's co-founder and head mixologist John Nugent on October 8, followed by Rosewood Hong Kong's bar director Arkadiusz Rybak on October 22, Coa’s co-owner and head mixologist Jay Khan on November 5, and The Old Man Hong Kong's co-owner and head mixologist Agung Prabowo on November 18. 

During the takeovers, guests can also chow down on exclusive snacks at the Roganic bar. Enjoy quality bites like pig and eel croquettes ($60/two pcs) and truffle pudding glazed in birch sap with Berkswell cheddar ($60/pcs). So, don't forget to bookmark these dates! Reserve early and book your seats via this link. 

For a sensory cocktail experience, head to JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong's Bar Q88 on October 8 until the 31st (5pm to 8pm daily). Artisenses Bespoke Perfumery will transform the bar into an experimental perfumery and present a fragrant evening with cocktails and perfumes for the launch of their exclusive cocktail-inspired Eau De Toilette series, which includes Whisky Green Tea, Long Island Ice Tea, Gin and Tonic, Pink Vanilla Martini, and Mojito. Indulge in classic cocktails ($98 per glass) prepared Bar Q88’s head mixologist, Bryson Rivera, at the same time explore a concoction of your own signature scent by the Artisenses' scent bar and take home a complimentary bottle of Artisenses Eau De Toilette Cocktail Series.