A Guide to Nightlife in Hong Kong

Consistently voted one of the top clubs in Hong Kong’s premier nightlife hotspot, Lan Kwai Fong, Volar has been attracting the cream of local and international DJs since it first opened in 2004, including Diplo, DJ Hype and Laurent Garnier. This stylish basement club is spread over two main rooms. The first mostly spins hip-hop and the other house and techno. The crowd tends to be a mixed bag, ranging from music enthusiasts to celebrities, fashionistas and regular partygoers. Great music, a state-of-the-art sound system, stylish interiors and a fun-loving atmosphere have cemented Volar’s position as one of the hottest dance-centric nightclubs in town. It gets extremely busy on weekends and is often full by 1am, so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Located on the 25th floor of the California Tower in Central, CÉ LA VI is the place to go to experience the high life in this skyscraper city. Start by enjoying a few sundowner cocktails on the Sky Deck, where you can take in stunning views of the city by night. Follow this with a trip one floor below to the Club Lounge, where a host of resident and celebrity DJs keep the local party set dancing into the early hours. The music ranges from party pop and big-room anthems on Fridays to house music and bass-heavy beats at weekends. Wednesdays are ladies’ nights and free bubbles are on offer.

PLAY, located in the heart of Hong Kong’s SoHo, offers one of the largest dance floors in the city. It’s a vast space, and there’s no excuse not to dance. Music varies from predominantly hip-hop and R&B on weeknights to big bass drops at the weekends. There’s even room for a champagne lounge, offering Dom Pérignon alongside cocktails and a decent food menu. DJs such as Skrillex and Afrojack have played here, too.

This basement club in Central has become something of a nightlife institution in Hong Kong and the club of choice for those who love to dance. It’s a simple, no-frills set-up: an excellent sound system and a small bar, with local DJs and a few international guest acts serving up the city’s best house, techno and underground beats.

Ever since it opened in Central in 2000, Drop has established itself as one of Hong Kong’s most authentic clubs. Offering a fantastic selection of electronic beats, it’s been nicknamed “Hong Kong’s home of house”. With just one dance floor and a central bar offering a wonderful selection of cocktails, it’s got a great vibe and is refreshingly unpretentious. For real lovers of house and techno, it’s the perfect spot to come and dance to some great tunes in the company of a good crowd.

Frequented by the city’s rich and beautiful – models, celebrities, CEOs and the like – Dragon-i is the club to see and be seen. There’s a door rule that you must have style to enter. Once you do get in, expect stunning interior decor, a lot of champagne, great food and a stylish crowd. Music tends to be mainstream with a mix of commercial hip-hop, R&B and EDM tracks.