Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong

Lan Kwai Fong is a small cluster of narrow, cobblestone streets in Central Hong Kong — one of the city’s most famous districts for dining, drinking and nightlife. Historically, before the Second World War, the area was home to hawkers and street vendors. In its earlier days, the lanes of Lan Kwai Fong were better known as a place where female match-makers worked — arranging marriages for families — so the area was sometimes called “Matchmaker’s Lane”.

The transformation that turned Lan Kwai Fong into the nightlife hotspot began in the late 1970s and early 1980s. One key moment came in 1983, when entrepreneur Allan Zeman — often called “the Father of Lan Kwai Fong” — opened a Western-style restaurant called “California”. What started as a casual dining venue quickly evolved and Zeman went on to purchase entire blocks in the area, helping to reshape its image and lay the foundation for the lively bar and club district it is nowadays.

Today Lan Kwai Fong is packed with bars, restaurants, clubs and live-music venues. You can visit “The Iron Fairies” — a bar filled with wrought-iron decor and a scene for live jazz, blues and DJ-driven nights. For a more club-style outing, “Dragon-i” brings energetic dance music, often drawing a mix of locals, expats and night-owl travelers.

Tip:
For the best experience consider arriving before 9 PM, when many venues still offer “happy hour” pricing and the crowds haven’t yet peaked.