Hong Kong built the most serious agave scene in Asia in under a decade, and one room did most of the building. Coa topped Asia’s 50 Best Bars three years running from 2021 through 2023, and its agave library of more than 200 bottlings remains the deepest shelf between Oaxaca and the Pacific.
Three rooms carry the scene in Hong Kong. The city cocktail hub and our best cocktail bars in Hong Kong guide cover the wider picture.
Three Rooms That Take Agave Seriously
"Coa did not just win awards. It taught a whole city how to sip agave instead of shooting it."
How to Drink Mezcal in Hong Kong
Start neat with an espadín in a copita and let the bartender talk; at Coa the staff treat every pour as a chance to teach a village or a producer. Wild agave bottlings like tobalá are the splurge tier, and the import math means they cost real money here.
The smart route runs downhill: queue for Coa at opening, book Te Quiero Mucho for the kitchen, and end below Lan Kwai Fong at Los Sotano when the night needs one more round.
Plan the Night
Sequence matters because Coa takes no bookings. Join the Shin Hing Street queue before doors and take the first seating; the room turns steadily and the early slot leaves the whole night open. Two drinks and one neat pour is the right order before moving on.
Walk eight minutes west to Sheung Wan for the food stop. Te Quiero Mucho takes reservations, which makes it the anchor you book in advance, and the kitchen runs later than most of the neighborhood. Share plates and keep the margaritas coming.
Finish below Lan Kwai Fong. Los Sotano peaks after midnight when the street above is loudest, and the basement rewards drinkers who arrive with a palate already warmed up. One experimental cocktail closes the loop the espadín opened.
Time the queue with the weather. Coa’s line forms on an uphill street with no cover, and a rainy Friday cuts it in half; the same logic crowds the basement at Los Sotano. Hong Kong drinks indoors when it pours, and the smart drinker uses that.
Keep one rule across all three rooms: the bartender’s recommendation beats the menu’s bestseller. The agave programs here turn over bottlings faster than any printed list tracks, and the pour they are excited about this week is the reason these rooms stay ahead.
Where the Scene Goes Next
Agave serves now appear on most serious lists in Central and Sheung Wan, and the bartenders who trained under Coa’s program keep opening rooms of their own. The scene deepens every year and the queue never gets shorter.
For context, our best mezcal bars in the world guide maps the category, and Mexico City’s mezcalerías show the tradition the whole region draws from.
The Verdict
Coa for the library and the lesson, Te Quiero Mucho for the table and the tacos, Los Sotano for the late basement round. Hong Kong’s agave scene is three rooms deep, all within a fifteen minute walk of each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Hong Kong bar has the best mezcal selection?
Coa on Shin Hing Street in Central holds more than 200 agave bottlings, the deepest mezcal and tequila library in Hong Kong and the room that topped Asia’s 50 Best Bars three years running.
Do you need a reservation at Coa?
Coa runs a walk in queue for its 40 seats and the line forms early on weekends. Arrive at opening or aim for a weeknight; the turnover is steady once you are inside.
Is mezcal expensive in Hong Kong?
Agave cocktails sit in standard Central cocktail territory, while rare bottlings climb with import costs. Entry espadín pours remain the fair way into the category.
