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Header image courtesy of Mudita (via Facebook)
Originally published by Tara Prakash. Last updated by Alisa Chau.
Have you ever walked into a club or bar in Hong Kong and they are still playing the same hits from 2012 and you can’t help but want to plug in your headphones? Well, we feel ya, and we know exactly where to go for a remedy. Beyond music to treat your ears, these spots offer an alternative to traditional nightclubs, where people can come together, boogey like no one’s watching, and enjoy a cocktail or two (or three, or four, or five)—you get the point. We’ve put together a list of the best nightclubs in Hong Kong to escape to, just for all you adventurous folks.
The Chinese radical in its name a reference to its status as a “safe space” for all, Mihn focuses on building a community of audiophiles with carefully selected acts from Europe, the US, and all pockets of Asia, including Hong Kong’s most loved DJs as well as artists of their own self-titled record label.
This is a place where flashy branded outfits, labels, and judgment simply dissipate into thin air, with the one shared priority being to have a good time with some great tunes. With a strict “no photos, no dress code, feel free to feel free” mantra, this 100-capacity venue has disrupted the city’s music scene with a passion for bringing various breeds of electronic music to the Hong Kong crowd.
Unlike most clubs, you will find the co-owners on the floor, behind the decks, and at the door, personally curating the space for you to boogey to some banging tunes.
For fans of: Ben Klock, Soichi Terada, Daphni, Sunsiare
Mihn 宀, 4/F, 279 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan | (+852) 5918 3870
Designed to create vivid memories of live music and smoky libations, Mudita is a den where you can revel in the sweet pleasures of contemporary jazzy funk, deep house, and electronica of all varieties. There are themed events aplenty, with previous happenings ranging from a tear-stained throwback emo night to a sultry Latino fiesta that conjures up balmy salsa nights.
With mixologists stationed in the centre of this dark parlour to make the bar accessible from all sides of the retrofitted space, there is plenty of room to wiggle on the dance floor. Take advantage of their Mudita-hours between 5 pm until closing time, during which you can get your first drink for a whopping $18 only, with every drink purchased after at half price—what a steal.
For fans of: Joey Negro, Lone, Boris Brejcha, Fjaak
Mudita, G/F, 24–30 Ice House Street, Central | (+852) 2810 9902
Through a small door in the wall of a dark alley in a covert nook of Soho, there lies Hong Kong’s original house and techno bunker. Oma is a key player in the city’s underground electronic music scene, with local legends playing there on the regular and new talent stirring up a whirlwind every week. Don’t let its small size fool you; the nights are big, the energy is high, the crowd is diverse. Give this one a try to experience an authentic and vast musical landscape, courtesy of some real masterminds.
For fans of: Kettama, Sam Binga, Djoko, Park Hye Jin
Oma, Lower Basement, 79 Wyndham Street (entrance from Pottinger Street), Central | (+852) 2521 8815
Enter the locker room and you’ll find an evening of upbeat, punchy fun that hits the right spot. An intriguing combination of a sports pub and a fight club, Paper Street is your ticket to a night of roaring social upheaval. When the sun goes down, this personal boxing gym and pool bar transforms into a playground of smooth cocktails set to the soundtrack of bangers from the realm between hip hop, its predecessors of soul and funk, at times venturing into the chill side of house. If you like to start your night on a full stomach, swing by on a Tuesday from 6 pm to 9 pm for a mouth-watering chicken wing free-flow with two drinks included.
For fans of: Purple Disco Machine, ODB, Kaytranada, The Trammps
Paper Street, Basement, 22–26 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan | (+852) 3590 2296
Blink and you might just miss it—this is a venue that gives you the ambience of a warehouse show but with an upgraded feel. A loft-style space overlooking the Stanley Street market, Social Room has been designed to expand and enhance the underground music experience in the city.
The location has two conjoined areas, a relaxed bar with seating that leads you to a large dance floor with a raised stage that is home to many DJs in Hong Kong. The brick walls, vintage leather sofas, and stellar sound system are part and parcel of the experimental soundscapes provided by the talent of the night, with flashing imagery projected on the wall as an additional sensory complement.
Consistently showcasing Hong Kong’s up-and-coming musical geniuses, Social Room has never failed to bring people together to discover new music in the heart of the city.
For fans of: Mall Grab, Amelie Lens, Merkaba, Overmono
Social Room, 3/F, Won Hing Building, 74–78 Stanley Street, Central | (+852) 2915 0373
Formerly the upper floor section to Zentral, this palatial venue is the new kid on the California Tower block, bringing grand visuals and atmospheric sounds to Lan Kwai Fong's most iconic hotspot.
A departure from its neighbours, the sonic offerings at Void showcase the broad and varied spectrum of house music, with Thursdays popping off pulsing hip-hop and R&B beats. Step inside this expansive depot shrouded in flashing colours and lights, ready to dance the night away.
For fans of: Mr Fingers, Camelphat, Eats Everything, Logic1000
Void, 5/F California Tower, 30–32 D’Aguilar Street, Central | (+852) 9451 7503
Where European sensibilities meet tropical flair, where retro treasures meet cutting-edge cool, Cassio is a spot that delights as it keeps you on your toes. The vision of Hong Kong nightlife powerhouse Gilbert Yeung, with the tailored stylings of Fabrizio Casiraghi, the ample and beautifully arranged lounge space is transformed into an epic dance floor once the sun goes down and the buzz kicks in.
If it isn’t the glitz and classy charisma of the location that does so, the electrifying tunes of deep house, French house, R&B, salsa, disco, as well as funk will transport you to the golden era of the 1980s, filling the air with opulent liveliness. To catch the drift of their sound waves, have a peek at their featured track recommendations on their Instagram.
For fans of: Daft Punk, Peggy Gou, Groove Armada, Dennis Cruz
Cassio, 2/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central | (+852) 3792 0129
Return to the roots of dance with the groovy numbers and music that have cemented themselves into the discography of queer nightlife. Not simply a place that exclusively caters to the LGBTQIA+ community, the gorgeous Lambda Lounge is a bright and open dance floor that welcomes people from any background to let loose, no matter your label or identity. As you are shrouded in their uplifting ambience amidst their gilded interiors, boogie to the uplifting sounds of funk, soul, Chicago house, disco, oldies, and more.
For fans of: Crystal Waters, Azealia Banks, Honey Dijon, Horse Meat Disco
Lambda Lounge, 108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan | (+852) 9020 7338
Covering the hottest new eats, the best places to play, offbeat takes on local culture, and so much more, Localiiz is every Hongkonger’s destination for how to live a well-rounded life in our vibrant city. Why the strange spelling? Well, Localiiz is designed to be your “local eyes”—and for that, you need two i’s.
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