Aarohi Narain

While grabbing a brew from your nearest convenience store is easy, there's something uniquely satisfying about savouring locally crafted drinks. Drinking local means supporting small producers who use regional ingredients, reflect the character of their surroundings, and often prioritise sustainable practices. It’s a way to connect with the place you’re in. From gin and beer to artisanal tea-based cocktails, Hong Kong offers a diverse array of homegrown beverages to tantalize your taste buds. Whether you're into brewery visits, distillery tours, or intimate tasting salons, Hong Kong has a vibrant scene to explore. Dive into our guide for the best boozy experiences that this dynamic city has to offer. Pro tip: Check out our feature on Hong Kong's homegrown drinks scene. 1. Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery For juicy beers and island vibes From Ground Floor, Wing Hang Industrial Building, 13 Kwai Hei St, Kwai Chung, New Territories Book your brewery tour here Originally a small takeaway shack serving hand-bottled craft beer and two draft options on Lamma Island, Yardley Brothers has grown into a premier craft beer taproom. Tours run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. most Fridays. You can peek into the beer-making process, and explore the brewhouse, fermentation tanks, and barrel room. You'll also get to meet with the founder and head brewer and enjoy guided tastings of up to eight Yardley Brothers beers on draught, as well as a barrel-aged beer tasting and introduction to the barrel-aging process. "We get an amazing range of visitors for our tour, from people just looking for a different night out to hard-core craft beer enthusiasts from all over the world. I always enjoy the chance to talk with all of them about our beer and the beer-making process and to combine elements of learning about beer with lots of fun," says Chief Experience Officer Josh Abrams. "But my favorite part of the tour is getting to talk with everyone casually and share beers and see the gaps between different groups disappear through the shared experience." As for seasonal releases, Yardley has been rolling out bold, flavour-packed brews. A couple to look forward to include Death by Chocolate: Birthday Cake Edition, a rich, dessert-like stout with added vanilla and cake flavours and TangHulu, a 12.5% sour brewed with Vault City, an Edinburgh-based craft brewery known for experimental fruited sours. The latter pays tribute to the nostalgic Chinese candy with big, tart sweetness and a bold kick. 2. Plantation Tea Bar For creative tea-tails From per cocktail 18 Po Tuck St, Shek Tong Tsui, Hong Kong Island Make a reservation here (accepts walk-ins also) From syrupy sweet milk tea at cha chaan teng to crisp green and oolong teas guzzled down with dim sum, tea is a hallowed beverage here in Hong Kong. And to worship at the temple of tea, you'd best head to Plantation, a soothing tea salon and bar in Shek Tong Tsui, located on the far western side of Hong Kong Island. Here, you can sample a variety of tea-based cocktails. And if you're sober-curious, Plantation also offers sparkling teas, mocktails, and more. The Tea Bar is open every Wednesday to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. (last order is 11 p.m.). Cocktails are served 6 p.m. onwards every day. "My personal favourite tea changes over seasons, and right now I am enjoying something more fruity and sweet. Sundried Purple Buds Red from the tea flight menu is definitely on my favourite tea list right now," says Ka Kei Katy Ng, a member of the Plantation team. "For a tea cocktail, I always go for Cinnabar (black tea from Yunnan, umeshu, and more), a simple yet delicious drink to begin with, and of course, the fruity Drunken Guifei (ingredients include tea-infused gin, lychee liqueur, and grapefruit juice) is good for a hot summer day." 3. Two Moons Gin Distillery For homegrown gin (up to six people) Unit 9A, Kut Shing Bldg, No. 8 Kut Shing St, Chai Wan, Hong Kong Island Book your distillery tour here Two Moons offers private distillery tours for those interested in the art of gin-making. Each session, limited to a maximum of six people, allows participants to book the entire venue out for 90 minutes. Available in Cantonese and English, tours are offered Monday to Friday between 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., and on Saturdays at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m., with bookings opening one month in advance. Note that due to Hong Kong's laws, alcohol sales are not available on-site, so guests are encouraged to bring their own Two Moons Gin ("BYOG"). 4. Perfume Trees Gin For a gin masterclass From Unit 301, 45 Pak Tin Par St, Tsuen Wan, New Territories (inside The Mills) Book your tasting experience here Local gin brand Perfume Trees takes inspiration from Hong Kong's terroir, incorporating distinctive flavors like white champaca, sandalwood, and tangerine peel. During its gin tasting experience, held at Tankyu Distillery at The Mills in both English and Cantonese, you'll get to learn the history of gin and its place in the world and understand flavor profiles present in gin. The experience ends with making your own Perfume Trees gin and tonic -- our favorite part was sizzling up the garnish with a blowtorch! Perfume Trees has earned multiple international accolades since launching in 2018. Now, they’re expanding their vision to Japan, with a new Tankyu Distillery underway in Higashikawa, Hokkaido. Set among pristine water sources and backed by local government support, the new facility will lean on Japanese whisky-making traditions and aim to revitalise the area. 5. Deadman Brewery For community-driven craft beer From 2B, Lee Chung Industrial Building, 7 Tsat Po St, San Po Kong, Kowloon Book your brewery tour here We know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but how about a beer by its can art? With steampunk-y, outlandish designs bound to make you chuckle, Deadman is all about approachable craft beer with a personality. For an informative walkthrough of the brewing process, the opportunity to taste semi-finished products, and free-flow craft beer tasting, it's worth it to book a brewery tour. It's an engaging experience for anyone even vaguely interested in what goes into making a beer -- or just drinking beer, too. Frequently asked questions What's the drinking age in Hong Kong? The legal drinking age in Hong Kong is 18. Can I drink in public? Drinking in public places is allowed for individuals aged 18 and up. Do I need to book a tour in advance? Yes, you must book in advance. You can do so online through the official website of the brewery/distillery. Note that Plantation Tea Bar does not require reservations, although it may be good to book ahead. While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. This post was first published in August 2024, and last updated in May 2025.

Aarohi Narain

Drink Like a Local: Brewery and Distillery Tours, Plus Tastings

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