Drinking in Hong Kong: Gay and lesbian nightlife

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Gay bars and clubs are concentrated in Central, Sheung Wan, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui (TST). The quality of these venues varies considerably and will perhaps disappoint those expecting something similar to London, Paris or New York. There is certainly no gay area as there are in many Western cities. Dim Sum magazine, available for free in most cafes, eateries bars and clubs, is Hong Kong bilingual's GLBT magazine which gives a pretty good idea about gay and lesbian parties and events happening in Hong Kong. There's also a gay and lesbian section in HK Magazine (free, only in English) and TimeOut Hong Kong.

• Club 1997, 9 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, ☎ +852 2186-1897, www.ninetysevengroup.com. has a gay happy hour on Fridays between 19:00 and 21:00. Expats and locals like to meet up here for a drink or two before starting off their weekend. Free entrance.

• Fruit-i-licious, Rockschool, 2/F The Phoenix, 21-25 Luard Rd., Wanchai, ☎ +852 2510-7339 (fruitilicious.hk@gmail.com), www.facebook.com/fruitiliciousHK. is the new kid on the block that welcomes everybody, gay or straight, who wants to have a good time before the weekend starts. An event held usually every third-Thursday of the month, Fruit-i-licious is the city only straight-friendly social evening, with drag act, live performance, burlesque shows. $50 entrance, incl. one standard drink, all proceeds goes to a women's project empowering women in the Southeast Asian region charity; door opens at 8pm, gets busy at about 9pm.

• Fruits in Suits, www.fruitsinsuits.com.hk. is not a bar per se, but a social evening that takes place once a month, usually on the second or third Tuesday and they change their venue from time to time. Check out their website for more information. It attracts a mixed crowd of expats and local, and you don't have to be in suit to attend. Entrance is usually less then $100.

• Kolours, 16 Arbuthnot Rd., Central, (kolourshk@gmail.com). took over from its former site where DYMK used to be. The newly opened bar with two floors attracts a younger Asian crowd.

• New Wally Matt Lounge, 5A Humphrey's Ave., Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), ☎ +852 2721-2568, www.wallymatt.com. originally known as Waltzing Matilda, the lounge is now probably the oldest gay bar in Hong Kong, according to its website, and certainly the only one over on the Kowloon side. It caters mainly to the local crowd. Free Entrance.

• Propaganda, 1 Hollywood Rd., Central, ☎ +852 2868-1316. This is the sister nightclub to Works that attracts a fair number of travellers. The entrance can be hard to locate, so you can follow the crowd that migrates along Hollywood Road when Works starts to fade. PP, as the locals like to call it, is popular and attracts a good selection of people. Do not expect it to get busy until after midnight. Entrance fee, as of Dec 2009, is $280.00 (cheaper before 11PM and after 3AM).

• Volume, 83-85 Hollywood Rd., Central, ☎ +852 2857-7683, www.volume.com.hk. is a Hong Kong gay bar with a big attitude, plenty of room to dance and a few dark nooks for getting to know someone better. Co-owners Joseph Chan and Evan Steer (aka DJ Stonedog) go out of their ways to make every visitor to Volume feel welcome. For newcomers, there's no better deal in the city than the free vodka doled out every "New Arrivals Wednesday." before 9PM. The bar gets busy at around 11:30PM until 2AM and is popular with expats and locals alike. Free entrance, unless if they have special event.

• Works. (closed for renovation at the time or writing, and is expected to reopen early 2010) is located approximately 2 mins away from Lan Kwai Fong. Before the renovation, the bar was frequented by older gentlemen and got busy at around 11PM. On Fridays, an entrance to Works may also buy you a free ticket to their sister club Propaganda.

• Zoo Bar, 33 Jervois Rd, Sheungwan, ☎ +852 3583-1200 (enquiry@zoobar.com.hk), www.zoobar.com.hk. located in the low-key, discreet residential district of Sheung Wan, the bar's relaxed atmosphere is a good place to meet up with friends or to get a drink before headed out for a more hardcore night. You can typically expect around 20 percent of the customers to be western people. Thursday nights are bear nights, and is popular among Asian bears. Free Entrance.