Hong Kong's Best Rooftop Bars: Sunsets Above the Harbour
After 32 years in Hong Kong I have a confession: my favourite way to end a tour day is not a temple, not a market — it's a slow drink high above the city while the sun melts into the harbour. I've brought countless guests up here after their tour or during a break, and every single one was stunned by the breathtaking views over the city and, most of all, the harbour — cruise guests often spot their own ship sitting in one of the two terminals below.
My favourite: the Eye Bar at iSquare
If you ask me for one rooftop bar, it's the Eye Bar on the 30th floor of iSquare on Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui — right opposite the Star Ferry pier. The reason is simple: it's genuinely open-air. No glass wall between you and the sunset. You can feel the breeze, watch the birds glide past at eye level — and yes, you can quite literally kiss the sunset through your glass of wine, as I did in the photo above.
The view sweeps across the whole of Hong Kong Island: the IFC, the harbour, the Peak. Drinks are honest Tsim Sha Tsui prices rather than hotel prices, the crowd is relaxed, and the terrace seats along the railing are the best free show in town. Come about an hour before sunset and stay for the city lights.
Hutong — northern Chinese food with a view
One escalator down in the same Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood, Hutong (1 Peking Road) pairs a spectacular harbour-facing dining room with fiery northern Chinese cuisine. It's more dinner destination than sundowner bar, but if you want the view and an unforgettable meal, this is the address. Book a window table and arrive at golden hour.
Aqua — cocktails with a 180-degree panorama
Aqua, also on Peking Road, is the glamour option: floor-to-ceiling windows, a long cocktail list and a wraparound view from Tsim Sha Tsui across the harbour. Perfect for a special occasion. Note it's indoors — gorgeous, but behind glass.
Ozone at the Ritz-Carlton — the highest bar in the world
On the 118th floor of the ICC in West Kowloon, the Ritz-Carlton's Ozone is literally one of the highest bars on the planet. It has both an indoor lounge and an outdoor terrace, and on a clear evening the whole city lies at your feet. Two honest warnings from your guide: there is a minimum charge (it changes, but expect hotel-level prices), and from the indoor seats you're watching the sunset through glass. Impressive — but a different feeling from the open air at the Eye Bar.
Eye Bar vs. Ozone — my honest comparison
- Eye Bar: open-air terrace, birds at eye level, no glass, relaxed prices, unbeatable sunset feeling. My personal winner.
- Ozone: sheer height and drama, but hotel prices, a minimum charge, and mostly behind glass.
- Hutong / Aqua: the best combos if you want dinner with the view rather than just drinks.
· Golden rule: arrive 60–75 minutes before sunset and keep your seat into the blue hour — the Symphony of Lights starts at 8pm.
· At the Eye Bar, ask for the terrace railing seats facing the Island side.
· Cruise guests: from TST rooftops you can often see your ship at Ocean Terminal or Kai Tak — bring binoculars if you have them.
· Hotel rooftops (Ozone, some Central bars) have minimum charges and dress codes — check before you go.
· A rooftop sundowner fits perfectly at the end of a tour day — tell me and I'll plan the timing so we arrive before the sunset rush.
👉 End your tour day with this view: my private Hong Kong tours
