Two of Hong Kong's most established bars have just dropped new cocktail programmes worth crossing town for. Hutong has turned its bar list into a game of mahjong, and The Pontiac is marking eleven years in business with a menu built around '90s club culture. Here's what to order at each, where to find them, and how much to budget.
Hutong: Tale of Mahjong
Hutong (胡同)
See the full Hutong venue listing for hours and contact details. Rather than handing over a printed list, Hutong's new "Tale of Mahjong" programme has guests draw a custom tile from a wooden case to determine their drink — turning ordering into a small ritual of chance. The 16-cocktail menu is split into four chapters that mirror the flow of a mahjong game, opening with "Qǐ" (Shuffle The Tiles), four zero-proof drinks inspired by the Four Winds. The programme launched globally on 28 August 2026 and is running simultaneously across Hutong's Hong Kong, London, Dubai, New York and Miami locations.
The Pontiac: NEON LIT
The Pontiac
See the full The Pontiac venue listing for hours and contact details. To mark 11 years in business, The Pontiac has built a menu of six new riffs on '90s club-style favourites. Midnight Sun (Compass Box whisky, blackberry-shiitake cordial) nods to a historic San Francisco gay bar; Kick at the Dark (mezcal, jalapeño, cilantro) channels rock-and-roll energy; and Teaches of Peaches (rum, minted peach, verjus) is a tribute to the feminist musician. The menu keeps six greatest hits in rotation too, including the Hobnail (whisky, ginger, Averna), a house staple since 2015, alongside rotating classics, shots and low-ABV options.
Both menus at a glance
Hutong vs The Pontiac: new menus compared
| Bar | Area | Menu theme | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hutong | Tsim Sha Tsui | Mahjong-themed, tile-draw ordering | 28 August 2026 |
| The Pontiac | Central | '90s club culture, 11th anniversary | September 2026 |
Why now?
September has quietly become a launch month for Hong Kong's cocktail scene, with bars timing new menus to autumn's rebound in restaurant bookings after the summer lull. Both of these programmes lean into storytelling rather than just new ingredients — Hutong gamifies the order itself, while The Pontiac uses its anniversary to look back at eleven years of Soho nightlife. For more of the city's best drinking spots, see our guides to Hong Kong's best cocktail bars and hidden bars and speakeasies.
For more of Soho's cocktail scene, read our guide to Lan Kwai Fong and Soho nightlife, and for Tsim Sha Tsui's harbourfront dining and drinking, see our roundup of the best jazz bars in Hong Kong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan your crawl
A game of chance in Tsim Sha Tsui, a nostalgia trip in Central — these are two of the most inventive new cocktail menus in Hong Kong this September.
Insider tip: at Hutong, ask your server which chapter of the mahjong menu suits your mood before you draw — the four chapters range from zero-proof to spirit-forward, so a quick steer avoids an unwanted surprise.