2/F Chater House, 8 Connaught Road, Central. Tel: 3583 2828. The 5,000-sq-ft terrace is the star of the show at the sister bar to Armani/Aqua restaurant; take in the views from cosy, candlelit seating. Not so impressed by the signature cocktails, the classy wine and spirits selection more than compensated, especially a pinot grigio and an aged rum. Recommended: Dom Perignon Oenotheque 1996 (HK$5,200 a bottle).

California Vintage

77 Wyndham St, Central. Tel: 2525 0808. This Wyndham Street wine bar has partnered with more than 20 Californian wineries, offering more than 80 tipples from around the Golden State. Recommended: the pinot noir 2007 Fritz Reserve from Russian River (HK$140).

Casa Lounge

1/F Wo On Building, 8-12 Wo On Lane, Central. Tel: 2525 3599. An atmospheric, whimsical place with eccentric touches, the lounge's drinks list is extensive, with a champagne list that stretches to a HK$17,800 bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Some cocktails hit the spot but others were a little sickly sweet and there are interesting aged spirits. Recommended: the G6 (HK$90), a blend of raspberries, vodka, Chambord and pineapple puree.

Dickens Bar

The Excelsior, 281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2837 6782. This unpretentious English-style sports bar with unobtrusive TVs is a great if noisy place for conversation, drinks and food. Recommended: the Peachy Ice tea is a potent trip round the top shelf of the bar.

Envie

G/F, 48 Wyndham St, Central. Tel: 2522 8318. A breezy, inviting space in neutral and beige tones that feels intimate, the bar has a wine-heavy, girly cocktail-dominated drinks list balanced by a few heavy duty drinks such as the Contemporary Fashioned (a new twist on the Old Fashioned with 23-year-old Ron Zacapa rum). Recommended: Lambloch Estate's South Australian Shiraz (HK$52).

Flutes

27 Elgin Street, SoHo, Central. Tel: 2810 0005. What could beat an unpretentious atmosphere in a prominent SoHo spot (below)? The extensive drinks list that includes many champagnes, wines and cocktails is a strong lure but the wines are generally a safer bet than the cocktails, although the Flute is a deceptively potent champagne and fruit drink. Recommended: the Domaine Magellan Merlot 2007 (HK$70).

Fringe Club

2 Lower Albert Rd, Central. Tel: 2521 7251. The ground-floor bar is a hip hangout for the city's arty crowd, regularly offering great live music, while the roof bar is a bit rough around the edges but offers a casual alternative for those wanting to enjoy the nighttime sky. Recommended: the evening tapas menu offering chorizo, Thai fish cakes and braised wings.

The Globe

Garley Building, 45-53 Graham Street, Central. Tel: 2543 1941. The Globe is a smart English pub, with one of the widest and best selections of beers in Hong Kong, as well as excellent pub fare. Recommended: Typhoon T8, which is brewed on Lantau Island.

Goldfinch Restaurant

13-15, G/F Lan Fong Road, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2577 7981. Made internationally famous by its role in a Wong Kar-wai film, it has been serving Hong Kong-style diner classics since 1962. It has kept its charms and its provision of privacy in comfortable booths for all that time. Recommended: any of the classic cocktails at HK$39 each.

Habitat Lounge

29/F QRE Plaza, 202 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Tel: 2907 0888. Habitat Lounge tries (too) hard to please but can be a romantic spot for a date, if you like old-school hip hop and carp projected on to the floor. Over 100 cocktails, many of them fresh and fruity. Recommended: Richito (HK$70), made with light rum, lychee liqueur and Yakult.

Hard Rock Cafe

LG/F LKF Tower, 55 D'Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong. Tel: 2111 3777. The Hard Rock Cafe's return to Hong Kong is music to the ears of local rock fans. Recommended: the Hurricane, with Bacardi Superior rum, Captain Morgan dark rum and Disaronno Amaretto plus grenadine, orange, mango and pineapple juice.

Hive 101

Shop A, 101/F International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon. Tel: 2972 2666. Once found, this quiet bar with glorious views (right) is a tranquil spot for conversation. Cocktails blend Canadian ice wines with Japanese spirits and plenty of fruit and the wine and shooters are pretty good too. Recommended: the blend of ice wine, Yoichi whisky, cranberry juice and lemon called a Maple Route.

Hush

G/F, 2 Gleanealy, Central. Tel: 2537 2281. This chill-out bar away from the hubbub of nearby Lan Kwai Fong and Wyndham Street offers a casual place to unwind, particularly on the outdoor rattan lounges. Recommended: the impressive molecular cocktails such as the Mr Grey (HK$110), a refreshing martini made of crushed cucumber, apple juice, Earl Grey tea, gin and elderflower syrup.

Hyde

2-3/F Lyndhurst Tower, 1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. Tel: 2522 2608. Spread over two floors, this New York loft-style venue incorporates a lounge, club and terraces spread over 12,000 sq ft. Classy but unpretentious. Recommended: the vintage Macallan whisky.

Inn Side Out

Sunning Plaza, 10 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2895 2900. The peanut husk-strewn floor and throngs of regulars make for a relaxed atmosphere in a crowded beer hall with an extensive outdoor seating area. Come for a wide range of great, relatively cheap beer and great drinking food to match. Recommended: Trappist Westmalle Tripel Belgian beer (HK$42).

Latitude 22

G/F, 40 Staunton Street, Central. Tel: 2522 8329. Unstylish but somehow inviting and cosy in atmosphere, the bar offers a fairly standard mix of cocktails, beers and wines. The wine list has a few misses but some notable hits, such as a Louis Latour chardonnay and a McGuigan Shiraz. Beer drinkers will enjoy the Kronenbourg Blanc. Recommended: the Brazilian caipirinha, made with real cachaca (HK$58).

Le Boudoir

B/F, 65 Wyndham St, Central Tel: 2530 3870. This atmospheric basement bar modelled on 19th-century Parisian salons is dark and lovely, with one of the best cocktail menus in town: Recommended: the Unconventional martini (HK$95), blending gin, lemon juice, mint and kaffir lime syrup.

Lei Dou

G/F, 20-22 D'Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong, Central. Tel: 2525 6628. Yes it's in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong but still manages to feel like a hidden gem, with its low lighting and down-tempo jazz. Recommended: the espresso martini cannot be missed.

The Lawn Bar

1/F The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. Tel: 3968 1107. The large, swanky outdoor space with plenty of furniture to sprawl on offers a wide variety of wines to choose from and a few of master mixologist Sam Jeveons' innovative cocktails. Recommended: the Elderflower Collins, made with elderflower syrup, Tanqueray gin, fresh lime juice, fresh grapes and soda (HK$110).

Mamoz

27-28/F Cubus, 1 Hoi Ping Rd, Causeway Bay. Tel: 2890 3182. Occupying roughly 5,000 sq ft in Cubus, Mamoz offers a panoramic view of the area, as well as glimpses of Victoria Harbour. Recommended: the Southside Fizz (HK$88), a combination of Tanqueray No Ten, fresh lime, mint and soda.

Ozone

118/F Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon. Tel: 2263 2263. The highest bar in the world doesn't disappoint with its bird's-eye view of the city. Prices here are as steep as the venue, but then you're paying for that view. Recommended: wines are the main attraction, with a choice of several by the glass (HK$90-HK$170) and scores of reds and whites by the bottle.

Phonograph

2 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Tel: 2730 6622. Phonograph isn't a music venue but is one frequented by musicians. Staff don't mind plugging your iPod into the sound system while you sip a Yakult cocktail. Recommended: any of the Yakult cocktails.

Sevva

25/F Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central. Tel: 2537 1388. Indoor and (spacious) outdoor seating gives Sevva a nice edge, particularly given the incredible skyscraper views. Recommended: at Sevva it's the desserts which will steal your heart.

Yumla

Lower Basement, 79 Wyndham St, Central. Tel: 2147 2383. This popular bar attracts the music obsessives and is best known for its ear-bleeding sound system and top-quality DJs. Recommended: the mojito (HK$85) is one of the best in town, with freshly muddled mint served with Cuban rum in a classic highball glass.