The Old Man

What a gem! This funky little bar might have limited seating, but that just adds to its charm. We absolutely loved it! The atmosphere is super cool and intimate—definitely a must-visit if you're into great cocktails. The menu is creative and packed with standout drinks. Every cocktail we tried was unique and expertly made. It’s easy to see why this place is voted one of the 50 best bars in Asia. If you’re in town, make sure to snag a seat—you won’t be disappointed!

Secluded cosy little bar. May easily missed the entrance as it is not situated on the main road. Serve interesting cocktails. Bartenders are friendly and eager to explain drinks options. The seating area is small and may get crowded very fast at night. It's worth popping in if nearby the area.

I was supposed to bar hop that night, but I ended up staying at this bar until closing. There was just something about it – the energy, the warmth, the way it felt like everyone knew each other’s story. It’s the warmest bar in HK. I loved the cocktails, but honestly, I loved the bartenders even more. Thank you ate Michelle, Seto, Josh for an amazing experience. You turned what was meant to be just another bar stop into one of my favourite nights in the city.🥰

The Old Man is a stylish and bustling bar, great for cocktail enthusiasts. It has a cool, intimate vibe, though it can get quite packed and noisy on weekends. The cocktails are creative and well-crafted, with thoughtful flavor combinations- with drinks that perfectly balances boldness and finesse. Great energy, great drinks—definitely worth a visit.

We were thrilled to return to the Old Man, our favorite spot for drinks in Hong Kong. Tonight, the service was outstanding, and Joshua, Chris, and Asta were incredibly friendly, engaging us in great conversations. I highly recommend this place for catching up with friends while enjoying amazing and unique drinks.

This is one of the most impressive cocktail bars I’ve ever been to. You can really see how much time and effort goes into the conception of each cocktail. The flavors, techniques and presentation are extremely well thought out and amazingly executed. Service is also excellent with drinks coming out very quickly despite a packed bar. Would highly recommend to anyone that appreciates great cocktails.

Cozy and small place and really worth a visit. Drinks are carefully crafted and the the talents of the bartenders are without questions. Highly recommend!

I had a great experience at the bar. I was the first guest when it opened, and although I had heard about the rush at peak times, I was initially unsure if I had chosen the right time to visit. However, my doubts were quickly dispelled. The staff were enchanting, kind, attentive, and bright, making me feel welcome from the start. The bar filled up quickly, interestingly enough, mostly with ladies. I tried two different cocktails, both prepared with care and competence, and they were fantastic! I sat comfortably at a nice high table in front of the bar, where I had very good conversations with other guests. The music was also great, adding to the overall enjoyable atmosphere.

@theoldman_hk 「Listed as Asia's best bar in 2019」 The cocktails are excellent & unique and the bartenders are very friendly. Wroth going even just for one drink. . . . #drinks #cocktails #cocktailbar #hkcocktailbar #theoldman #theoldmanandthesea #theoldmanhk #novels #winningnovel #bartender #香港好去處 #中環酒吧 #centralbar #香港酒吧 #hkplace #hongkongbar #hongkongplacestogo #hkfoodie #hkgirl #hkig #asiabest50bars #asiabestbar

When it's raining cats and dogs in Hong Kong, why not duck into a bar for a drink and wait until the rain lets up? This is what we did in the middle of a thunderstorm. Go up Aberdeen street, walk past PMQ and there are stairs going down from the street. That's where The Old Man is. I found this bar because SO loves bars and it's apparently Fobes' 50 Best Bars in the world and listed at #10. The bar wasn't crowded on a Friday and we sat down on the velvet couch. I'm not a cocktail expert but SO said the drinks were well crafted and our bartender/server Dylan (who's a lovely Canadian) was so nice to recommend drinks for us. I really enjoyed The Old Man, the drinks and bartenders were great and I'd love to go back again when we are not soaked through like drowned rats and enjoy it even more.

wow to think i did the old man and the sea as a literature text back then.......... no re-collection whatsoever just like how i will be after a tipple too many here! not so easy to find, hidden off the right bank of the steep slope up aberdeen street. yes, then stumble down a steep flight of steps in a dark alleyway........ boo! most will then fumble with the tiny flushed handle of their dark wooden door. some will just knock in hope someone will kindly let them in from within. the atmosphere changes almost immediately as you step in. the kind of cool man cave that i would like to build for myself(cue the men screams from the heineken ad). the bar counter is the place to be if seats are available, else for bigger groups they will usher you to the back end cosy seating lounge area away from the bartending show. i have been, on some unlucky occasion, in standing room only situations, that is, saturday night on hk7s weekend! the drinks are unique, tastily so, masking it's strength and tempting you to imbibe more. the staff are super friendly and enthusiastically so. able to pander to the crowd even when it's more than just a crowd. not exactly good for a hot date but may well be a good place to meet and chat up that new one! the favourite drink for this old man has to be the one that tasted like the sea! (check out my photos to find out which one it is)

Nestled in the heart of Central where Soho meets the Mid-Levels, The Old Man is one of HK's quietest cocktail bars. It is among the city's newer speakeasies and certainly a solid venue to get away from the city's hustle and bustle. Nightlife copy cats in this part of town are rarely well executed, but this place has the cocktail game down well. Ever since The Old Man opened a year and ago and some change, it seems that word has gotten out and many folks have packed this place night in and out. Make no mistake, this place can get so busy during the weekends that coming on week nights are likely the best bet. Nothing wrong with sitting at the bar per se, but the cushiony exteriors are where it's at. All drinks are $120HKD, which is expected at places like this. I've enjoyed the visual presentation of the Garden of Eden (truly lit!), the sweetness of the To Have And Have Not, and the fanciness of the Movable Feast! (The latter of which could really be better if there was simply more) I haven't tried all of the cocktails unfortunately, which will be my goal come the next visit. Lastly, the service is good but not great. I realize the cocktails and the ambiance play a far more pivotal role here, but I can't help but feel the the bartenders / cocktail servers could do a little more, by being more engaging with a professional attitude. Also, a smile here and there wouldn't hurt.

In a little alley off a small street in Soho, this small hidden bar has become rated as the 10th best bar in the World in just two years. Hype? So I assumed, but no this is the real deal. A truly amazing bar with creative cocktails. An ode to Ernest Hemingway, this bar really is a treat and we will be back.

Well. It was ranked Asia's #1 bar, so I had to try it. --- Cocktails --- Tried the Garden of Eden first. Absolute pleasure. Sipped a strawberry based cocktail next, definitely delightful. Ventured to a third cocktail, a whiskey based cocktail with a charcoal laced glass, definitely the lowlight, but still alright. --- Service --- Polite and efficient staff. Enjoyable. --- Overall --- Amazing experience. Great cocktails. Great service. Id skip the potato chips, a bit lame for a place like this to serve them. Location is definitely a bit of a hike, but worth it. The biggest downside is how small the venue is. Handful of seats at the bar, and a super small sitting area. I'm fine with small bars, but the sitting area was just uncomfortable. Hence the 4 rating.

The Old Man is the perfect place to go whether you're starting or ending the night out. I also recommend it if you're looking for a quiet place to catch up with a friend. The current cocktails are inspired by Ernest Hemingway, and they all have intriguing names and interesting ingredients. During my last visit, I tried "The Green Hills of Africa", which involved a rosemary infused Pisco, turmeric & tamarind cordial, with citrus. I was expecting something a little bit spicy and heavy, but this drink turned out more on the fruity and lighter side. I also didn't find it too strong, and after 2 I didn't even have a buzz. However, I have tried their Manhattan and it does pack a punch so don't be afraid to ask if you're craving something strong. Their pricing is simple: $90HK + 10% service charge per drink, making it about $100HK per cocktail - so easy to do the alcohol math when handling the bill between your besties or frenemies! I also find the pricing fair, considering the quality of the drinks and their location in between Soho and Mid-Levels.

After traveling to three countries, the best bar that we went to had to be The Old Man. We got here right as they opened, and enjoyed three really great and unique cocktails. Our bartender was super chill and very easy to talk to, and the unlimited amount of bar snacks makes it easy to hang out for a long time. I had the Winner Take Nothing and loved it, and my husband had the A Clean Well-Lighted Place and For Whom The Bell Tolls. The place is small, so get cozy with your neighbors. The ice insert on the bar to keep your drinks cold is one of the coolest things I've seen, and their scientific approach to cocktails is fascinating to hear. Definitely ask the bartender to explain how they come up with their drinks.

This bar was absolutely stellar. We were looking for a quick stop-off before we had to head back to the hotel and get to our flight, and it was probably the perfect finisher for our vacation. Nestled in a little alleyway, it was a little tough to find, but had a wonderful retro-style vibe to it. The owners took some time to explain the cocktails and the backstory behind the bar, and the bartender making the drinks himself was an absolute artist. It definitely featured a bunch of combinations I would have never expected, and the two that we ordered were knockout good. I had the Little Wax Puppy, a beeswax-infused Michter's small batch with some eucalyptus honey and bitters. The texture and smell alone were smooth and delightful, and the taste was both unique and delicious. To top that off, the "coaster" for the bar is a strip that runs down the middle which is a chilled metal plate -- it doesn't really do a ton to keep the actual drink cold, but it's a really nice touch to the bar that shows that they clearly have a lot of attention for the small details. The quiet, cozy setup consists of a few tables and a bar running down the middle where you can sit across from each other and talk, and the people running the place were great. I would highly recommend this place -- it was a great find and so far I have recommended it to all my friends stopping through Hong Kong.

+trendy, they say +not too dark +open on Sunday +best overpriced soho speakeasy concept inspired by a nobel-prize winning 20th century american novelist -drinks 30% too expensive, 40% too fussy, 50% not tasty enough -solo bartender overwhelmed by seating capacity & menu complexity -pretty far uphill (past PMQ) -the woods is better, quieter, easier to find, and lower in elevation -can't picture hemingway going here

Wow. Unreal cocktails. They were so accommodating and proud of what they do for very good reason. The cocktail menu is the most adventurous I've ever seen and I've been to some top notch award winning places in Los Angeles, London and Berlin. The cocktails are strong and I'm only human so I was only able to try three. I'm going back for more ASAP. Look at this menu!

I love the Old Man - hip and trendy Hong Kong crowd, dim lighting, small space, and brightly lit bartender's space. They really make the bartender the star of the show. I see a few less-than-stellar reviews down below, which I chalk up to not liking the concept. Once you embrace that you're going to be paying an exorbitant price for a crazy drink, it all falls into place. I love bringing friends here for the first time because we are all equally intrigued by the strip of cold steel running down the middle of the bar table - allegedly there to keep your drink cold - but if you've got something like a classic cocktail glass with a stem, I'm not sure how good that will do. I can guarantee you won't have heard of half the ingredients in your cocktail, and notes of things like black salt and smoke will appear when you taste, but that's all part of the appeal. It's mostly standing room only once it gets crowded, though, which I could see bothering some people. If you're with the right company, you'll barely notice. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will bring you chips to munch on (as many times as you'd want, as I unabashedly found out).

Super cozy bar that feels like you're hanging out in a friends living room or at a small house party. The drinks here are some of the most complex I've ever tasted. The blends the mixologist designs for the drink list are brilliant! I can see why this place landed in the top 50 bars in the world list. It was a little hard to find since it was tucked away from the Main Street but I think that's also what allowed us to find a table to sit at during normal peak hours. So glad we got the chance to stop by here for a couple drinks.

Unique spot. If you are lucky enough to find it, and manage to get inside then you're in luck. Get there early or you won't have a seat. We were seated right next to the bar and got to watch everything up close and chat with the staff which was extremely friendly and talented. Tried a few drinks and all were good. Some very different flavors and ingredients you would never think of. Worth a trip to check it out for sure.

Awesome hidden spot that takes some hiking to get to. extremely friendly host and bartender.

We stopped by The Old Man for a few drinks in our last night in Hong Kong, as it was open on Sundays (unlike some of the other notable bars). If you're not from around the area (such as myself), you may spend a little time figuring out where exactly to go. There's an alleyway just before the apartment / office building that is #37, and when you go down the stairs, you'll find a nondescript entrance that leads you right inside. Even on a rainy Sunday evening, the bar was pretty crowded, with only a couple of spare seats at the communal table in front of the 'bar' available. It's a pretty cozy setting, with some small tables to share/sit at in the back, and the table at the front, which seats around 10 people or so. It didn't occur to me until I saw the mosaic behind the bar, but the theme is simple here - it's based around Hemingway, which should have occurred to me a bit more quickly when I was looking at the drink list online, as they are all named after his books and short stories. The bartender was quite friendly, explaining the drinks and even letting people come behind the bar to take photos...definitely a place that makes itself casual and accessible without being pretentious. There's only a limited food menu consisting of a few items, but we went with the small pepperoni pizza, which, while it's not the greatest pizza ever, was surprisingly satisfying and was a nice respite from the loads of Chinese food we had been consuming. As for the drinks, it's great to see the preparation up front, and the drinks on balance were good, although I felt the style of the drinks, as well as their mouthfeel / texture, were all pretty similar. My favorite drink was the somewhat unnatural-looking 'The Sun Also Rises', which gets its green sheen from having vermouth infused with pandan leaves. I definitely enjoyed the very chill hour or so that we spent here, and I'd definitely like to come back and try out the rest of the menu. That said, I did think our first cocktail bar we hit up (Quinary) was better overall, and one of the limitations of having such a specific theme is that it seems like it will make it harder to expand / try out new drinks in the future. It's still a great spot to come for a beverage, nonetheless, even if I might not wait for a lengthy period of time if it's filled up.

Honestly, there is really not a whole lot I can say about this place. Words cannot do just to the quality of cocktails that the bartenders are churning out here. Simply put, these are the most unique, flavorful, and cleaver cocktails I have ever had. My wife in I dropped in on a rainy night and enjoyed 2 cocktails a piece. It was sort of hidden, which kept the vibe much more chill than other bars in the area. We had planned to visit a few others that night but found no need to bar hop after we had our first sip. Stop in, order a few, and plan to stay awhile. I cannot wait to visit again when we return to HK. Also, huge shout out to the wait staff who were attentive, professional, and were obviously passionate about their jobs and product.

My fiancée and I stopped by here on our last trip to Hong Kong, I found it on some list for good cocktail bars and figured it would be a good pit stop for a drink before moving on. We ended up spending close to two hours here and drank everything on the menu. Incredibly inventive cocktails that you won't forget until your next visit, in a delightful bar with a cool theme, hidden in a back alley. What more could you ask for!

I love this place !!!! Everyone is so friendly and accommodating and the drinks are amazing. Really tasty and they do the trick. I will come back.

Had drinks few days back. Firstly, it was very difficult to find this place. Seats are super uncomfortable. You sit there for 10 minutes and your back hurts. Drinks are very mediocre. Infact, some drinks taste like cough syrups. Really bad. There were several people who out of politeness did not return the drinks, but we could overhear them, that they are never going back. We are never going back either. Total waste of money and time.

Strange cocktails with funny tastes (beware before drinking!) in a nice atmosphere and friendly bartender. Nice addition to the HK cocktail scene.

Decent drinks, but not wowed. I'd give them the fact that the drinks are unique... but generally unbalanced. Place is extremely small and uncomfortable seating. I came with a group of 6 so we were able to try most of the menu. Honestly, this place would be 3 stars in my book if not for the fact that I came home and checked my bank statement with my bar receipt and noticed this bar charged me in USD and used their own exchange rate. This equated to me paying about $8 usd more than equivalent local currency for 6 drinks. What's worse is that I remember that weird check and having the currency options and thinking default is HKD so I just tipped and signed without much thought. Wow what a mistake. This unclassy bar charged me in USD even though I never told them to. Not something to expect of such an expensive and high end bar. Go to Quinary instead if you're in the area and you don't feel like being cheated.