Best British pubs in Hong Kong post 1997

Much like its old colonial government, British pubs have come and gone in Hong Kong over the years. They're more popular with expats than local Hong Kongers, though plenty of the latter do pop in for an occasional pint and a pie, and they're perfect for ruminating on Hong Kong's administrative handover from Britain to China (on July 1, 1997), and what lies ahead. Here are a few of the best:

Chinnery

Once a gentleman's club and now one of the most refined drinking establishments, where wooden wall panels and leather armchairs recall the colonial era, the Chinnery Bar can be found at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. This cosy distinguished British pub has only a handful of tables, some separated by small screens, and is served from a small open bar counter, which is in part framed by the silver beer tankards that regulars keep hanging behind it. It has a serious single malt collection, and serves superior Brit pub fare.

1/F, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central, tel +852 2825 4001. www.mandarinoriental.com

Alfie's

Inspired by a similar gent’s club mold is newcomer Alfie's by Kee. Retro leather upholstery and black stone tabletops surround a more modern open bar, from which a DJ plays. It's housed in the Dunhill Home Shop in Central. Evoking the old regime is easily done here -- aided not only by the decor but also with the drinks list and menu. Sausage rolls do not come more refined, presented with a chunky house cherry tomato relish and salad; the cottage pie, with veal cheek and mashed potato just melts. Wrap-around windows overlooking glitzy fashion stores bring back present-day Hong Kong.

Mezzanine floor, Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, access through Dunhill Home Shop, on the ground floor, tel +852 2530 4422

The Globe

Towards the end of Brit rule in Hong Kong, gastro-pubs emerged in the UK serving elevated cuisine, in response to decades of sub-standard pub grub. At that time, the original version of The Globe pub on Hong Kong Island was a pretty basic barroom. It recently moved to a bigger contemporary cavernous canteen-like environment, re-inventing itself as a gastro-pub with better quality and internationally influenced food. Its pies and thick cut chips are impressive. Its list of draft and bottled British dark beer vies for one of Hong Kong’s largest at around 50-strong; the bottled ones frequently change. 

Bar George

During the 1997 handover, Kong Kong's party street of Lan Kwai Fong was as packed as any weekend night. Cast your mind back to the last hours of British rule on June 30 that year in this pub, Bar George, named after George Charles D'Aguilar, the 19th century commander-in-chief of the Royal forces and deputy governor of colonial Hong Kong. The lively barroom is fairly traditional, with a small dance floor and DJ booth. British bitter beer and ciders can be had, alongside an international drinks list. The menu is global -- which is a fair reflection of most mid-priced pubs in Britain today. Indian curries are available, as are pizza, nachos, burgers, and fish and chips.

46 D'Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, tel +852 2521 2202 www.epicurean.com.hk

The Trafalgar

The wood-decked upper floor terrace of The Trafalgar is a good place to raise a glass at post 1997 Hong Kong. A buzzing pub in itself, it overlooks the ever busy Lockhart Road bar strip in Wan Chai, where ageing go-go establishments sit shoulder to shoulder with a more recent breed of open-fronted places serving drinks and food. Beer here includes some lesser-seen U.K. varieties, such as Spitfire ale, on tap and in a long list of bottles, some Brit microbrews. A very large menu offers pies, steamed puddings, grilled and international dishes.

5/F, 54-62 Lockhart Road, The Broadway, Wan Chai, tel +852 2110 1535 www.trafalgar.com.hk