Captain’s Bar

This is a review for the curry lunch. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and was even good value. We had the butter chicken, prawn madras & samosas all of which were excellent. The sofas made it feel cosy and as usual the service was first rate. I will definitely be back.

My favorite watering hole in Central Hong Kong. Dark woods and leather give it that old school private club feel. Servers dressed in white shirts, bow ties and vests are super attentive. It’s crowed most cocktail hour times, but the staff will find you a cozy chair to settle in and relax. Simple snacks are complimentary. Don’t conduct business there, just enjoy.

Stayed at Mandarin and started our evening here!
Few beers and some snacks can’t go wrong!

At the Captain’s Bar on the ground floor of the Mandarin Oriental you will find people doing work, just finishing work or dodging work all in one place. The Captain’s Bar feels like a real throwback: dark leather, wood paneling, and smartly dress waiters serving up carefully crafted drinks with impeccable service. I am partial to the Old Fashioned here — my pick for the best Old Fashioned in the city — which is served in a no-​nonsense manner with a simple twist and without any oranges or cherries to distract from the bourbon.
There is a full bar that I would imagine can whip up any cocktail you can think of, and a pretty solid beer selection to boot. Draft beers are famously served in metal tankards, which seems to keep them colder and give them a bit of a (pleasant) metallic tang. A popular happy hour spot with the business set, it can get crowded, so arrive by 6 or 6:30 to secure the comfortable couch seating along the perimeter.
Although probably not surprising because it is housed in the Mandarin Oriental, I have been surprised at how good the food is here. You have access to a fairly large menu, from bar snacks for sharing to meals fit for a full lunch or dinner. I tried the satay recently and it was well grilled, juicy and the peanut sauce was a nice compliment.
Because it is easy to run up a hefty bill here, the Captain’s Bar is best enjoyed for a good cocktail or two and a snack before moving on. There also is live jazz music played at times from a small stage in the corner, which may be a draw for some, but I actually find a bit too loud for my taste. It could be that’s because the stage is right next to my favorite table, but I tend to filter out as the band filters in.