Mark Tjhung

The past decade has been all about wine, wine, wine. The abolition of taxes last year, as well as the momentum behind wine has seen it creep up on the brown spirits as a leader in our local industry. But while vino has been dominating, beer has been left behind. With the boutique and luxury beer market worldwide burgeoning, Hong Kong has largely been left drinking San Miguel, Heineken, and Carlsberg by the bucket, with the occasional Sol for those feeling exotic. What’s been lacking is a real beer culture and a widely accessible range of decent brews. So, when a new bar like Trafalgar opens with a palpable dedication to the lager, ale and stout cause, it’s a little bit exciting. The guys behind Trafalgar take their beer seriously, demonstrated by the 11 varieties available on tap. Indeed, few – if any – beer dens in Hong Kong can boast a greater selection. The creamy, hoppy Spitfire Smooth is arguably the highlight of the draught beers ($54/pint) – a beer that Trafalgar management claims isn’t available on draft anywhere else in Wan Chai. Of the near 50 beers offered at Trafalgar, the wonderfully dark and potent Thomas Hardy Vintage Ale is one of the standouts, both because of its rareness and its $118 price tag. The Trashy Blond, Punk IPA, and RIP Tide ($50), a trio of beers from Scottish microbrewer Brewdog, are also a welcome surprise, providing a more artisan, boutique twist to the traditional ale-dominated list. Despite its clear enthusiasm for the amber liquid, there’

The vibe Cage-enclosed chandeliers hang from the high ceiling in this narrow, chic bar – hence the name. Taking up the entire block from Mee Lun St to Shin Hing St, plush purple couches and high-stools dominate the interior, together with an enormous, sprawling mirror – perfect for admiring yourself in. The drink After buying a vast wine collection from French restaurant Qing, which formerly occupied the premises, Cage stocks a great wine list, ranging from its impressive twelve that are served by the glass, to its bottles of 1973 Chateau Petrus, going for a ‘mere’ $12,000 each. The entertainment There’s occasionally live music on Wednesday nights, but otherwise the entertainment is of your own making – like making endless jokes about what to do in cages, or watching the locals roll down the cobblestone street outside. The regulars The Cage crowd changes throughout the night, from the local suits looking for a post-work drink to the diners (Vietnamese fusion served until midnight) that pop in between 8pm and 11pm. Come the weekend, the place gets ready to heat up, particularly on Friday, where a more gay-friendly crowd rolls in. Mark Tjhung

There’s no shortage of bars on Peel Street. Below Staunton, little indie and arty bars like Peel Fresco, Joyce Is Not Here and Makumba have revelled in its relative quiet, creating a cool, tucked-away corner of Soho. But, for some reason, the little building next to the temple has continually missed out. You know the one – the square looking building that was formerly the Temple Bar and, before that, Om Lounge. Just recently, another bar’s moved in, hoping that history won’t repeat itself – it’s called Déjà Vu. In contrast to the watering holes around it, Déjà Vu is a tiny, shiny bar, aimed at the stylish professional crowd. Through the eerie glow emanating from its exterior (you really can’t miss it), and its sliding front door, the bar opens out into a tiny paved garden courtyard – a small haven for smokers. Beyond is the slick lounge, dominated by red and black, featuring high ceilings and an enormous mirror that helps Déjà Vu’s drinkers from being choked by claustrophobia. For such a minute space, this is a decent achievement. Along the main wall runs a simple, elevated couch – the extent of the bar’s seating – above which hangs an impressively large Annie Leibovitz print. Generally speaking, Déjà Vu is finished well, although a couple of ‘loungy’ seating options would make the area feel a little more inviting. When it comes to drinks, Déjà Vu refreshingly doesn’t trot out the same old same old. The cocktail menu features some varied and innovative drinks, which is a welc