Live Music
Hong Kong does not have the kind of jazz-, rock-, or blues-club scene that many other cities do. On the other hand, live music is such a standard feature of many restaurants, hotel cocktail lounges, and bars, that it would be hard not to hear live music in the SAR. Although a few establishments levy a cover charge, most charge absolutely nothing.
Bars, lounges, and clubs offering live music include Hard Rock Cafe, Lobby Lounge (in the Hotel InterContinental Hong Kong), and Ned Kelly's Last Stand, all in Kowloon; the Captain's Bar, The Cavern, and Insomnia in Central; Dusk til Dawn, Fenwick, JJ's, and The Wanch in Wan Chai; and ToTT's Asian Grill & Bar in Causeway Bay.
Otherwise, the Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Rd., Central (tel. 852/2521 7251; www.hkfringeclub.com; MTR: Central), Hong Kong's best-known venue for alternative events, offers live music most Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30pm at its Fringe Gallery, including jazz, funk, folk, and blues, as well as other musical programs other days of the week. The cover for most events is HK$80 (US$10/£5.70). Call for an updated listing, visit its website, or pick up the Fringe Club's monthly calendar.
Dance Clubs
With only a couple of exceptions, most nightclubs in Hong Kong are small, simple bars that metamorphose into miniature discos late at night or on weekends, as well as trendy clubs that cater mostly to their in-crowd members but may occasionally allow nonmembers on slow nights (the best plan of action to get into a membership club is to dress smartly, come on a weeknight or early in the evening, and be nice to the doorman). Discos and dance clubs in Hong Kong generally charge more on weekend nights, but the admission price usually includes one or two free drinks. After that, beer and mixed drinks are often priced the same. Bars, whether with DJs or live music, rarely charge cover.
In addition to the clubs listed, some bars, pubs and lounges offer dancing. These include Bahama Mama's and Delaney's in Kowloon; Al's Diner, California, Captain's Bar, The Cavern, Club 97, Curve, D'Apartment, Dragon-i, Insomnia, and Lux in Central; Joe Bananas and Klong in Wan Chai; and ToTT's Asian Grill & Bar in Causeway Bay.
