The Aubrey

The Aubrey, Hong Kong: Should You Book?

The Omakase Cocktail Experience at The Aubrey seats just four people — and that constraint tells you a lot about how this venue operates. Most of the 25th floor of Mandarin Oriental is open and animated, but the most sought-after experience in the building is deliberately small, quiet, and hard to share. If you want that four-seat bar, book it before anything else, because it fills well ahead of the rest.

The Aubrey replaced Pierre, one of Hong Kong's most decorated fine-dining rooms, on the same panoramic floor of the same hotel. That is a difficult inheritance, and the answer from the Maximal Concepts group was to build something categorically different rather than comparable. The result is a Japanese izakaya concept framed around serious drinking — shochu, awamori, umeshu, champagne, sake , with food that supports the drinks rather than competing with them for attention. If you are coming for a meal-first experience, adjust expectations accordingly. If you are coming for a considered evening where cocktails and Japanese small plates coexist, this is one of the better rooms in Central to do it.

Atmosphere is the first thing to get right. The main bar uses dark wood, brass accents, warm lighting, and 140 period artworks sourced specifically for this venue, referencing the Aubrey Beardsley art nouveau aesthetic and Japanisme style. On Friday and Saturday evenings there is a DJ; on other nights the playlist stays upbeat but controlled. The Curio Lounge runs louder and livelier , better for groups who want energy. Cozy corners are available throughout the space for anyone who needs to hold a conversation without raising their voice. For a date or a business dinner where tone matters, arrive early in the week and request a quieter corner. Weekend evenings skew social and louder after 9 PM.

The Drinks Program

Beverage director Devender Sehgal runs one of Hong Kong's more considered Japanese spirits lists. The cocktail menu takes its names from chess , the Two Bishops (aged rum, rye whiskey, matcha, milk) and the Endgame (tequila blanco, Campari, vermouth) are among the signatures. Each shochu bottle on the list is distinct; no two are alike by design. The Champagne and Sake Bar in the Curio Lounge carries more than 50 champagne labels and 25 sakes including three sparkling sakes, plus a house champagne produced in collaboration with maison Hostomme in Chouilly. That level of programme specificity , a custom champagne, a curated shochu selection, a four-seat omakase bar , puts The Aubrey in a different category from hotel bars that treat wine and spirits as afterthoughts. For comparison, if you are looking for depth on the wine side rather than cocktails and Japanese spirits, Amber and Caprice both run more classically structured wine lists. The Aubrey's strength is spirits and sake, not bottles.

The Food

The kitchen draws on Ginza izakaya tradition and Edomae sushi-making techniques. At lunch, the bento served in a handcrafted box is the practical choice , a broad sample of the kitchen's range in a single order. The à la carte menu uses sustainably sourced ingredients and covers the standard range of Japanese small plates. The food is not the reason to visit The Aubrey ahead of other options in Hong Kong , Ta Vie and Forum both prioritise the plate in ways The Aubrey does not. Come here when the drinks program and the room are the draw, and treat the food as complementary. For a Japanese izakaya comparison outside Hong Kong, Flippers in Tokyo and Touhichi in Osaka give a sense of what the izakaya format looks like in its home context.

Booking and Practical Details

The Aubrey is one of the more accessible venues at this level in Hong Kong. Reservations: Book one to two weeks out for standard tables; the four-seat Omakase Cocktail Experience requires more lead time and should be arranged directly through the hotel. Dress: Smart casual is enforced , no shorts, torn jeans, singlets, flip-flops, or sandals for men. Location: 25/F, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Road Central , direct to reach from MTR Hong Kong or Central stations. Google rating: 4.3 from 258 reviews. Leading for: Date nights, corporate entertaining, and groups who want a drink-led evening with food that holds up. Less suited to diners who want the kitchen to be the main event.

For a broader look at where The Aubrey sits among Central's options, see our full Hong Kong restaurants guide, our Hong Kong bars guide, and our Hong Kong hotels guide. If you want to explore the izakaya format in other cities, Budonoki in Los Angeles and Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya in San Francisco are worth checking.

FAQ

• How far ahead should I book The Aubrey? One to two weeks is enough for standard tables on most nights. The four-seat Omakase Cocktail Experience is the exception , treat that like a tasting-menu reservation and book as early as possible, ideally three or more weeks out. Friday and Saturday evenings fill faster than midweek.
• What should a first-timer know about The Aubrey? Come for the drinks program first. The cocktail list, sake selection, and Omakase Cocktail Experience are what differentiate this venue. The food is solid Japanese izakaya but not the headline act. The room replaced the long-running Pierre on the same floor, so the setting is genuinely special , panoramic 25th-floor views, art nouveau interiors, 140 period artworks. At lunch, the bento box is the easiest way in.
• What should I order at The Aubrey? On the drinks side, the Omakase Cocktail Experience is the most distinctive offering if you can get the four-seat bar. Among the signature cocktails, the Two Bishops and the Endgame are the most-cited. At the Champagne and Sake Bar, the sparkling sakes are worth trying if you have not had them before. For food, the handcrafted bento box at lunch is the practical starting point; at dinner, the à la carte menu covers Edomae sushi and izakaya small plates using sustainably sourced ingredients.
• What should I wear to The Aubrey? Smart casual, and the dress code is actively enforced. No shorts, torn jeans, singlets, flip-flops, or sandals for men. A shirt and clean trousers for men, smart casual equivalents for women. This is a Mandarin Oriental venue on the 25th floor , dress accordingly and you will not have an issue.
• Is The Aubrey good for solo dining? Yes, particularly at the bar. Solo diners are well served at the Main Bar, where staff engagement is part of the experience and the counter format suits a single guest. The Omakase Cocktail Experience is a four-seat bar, so solo diners may be seated alongside others. For a solo meal-focused evening in Hong Kong, Le Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon in Central is an alternative if the kitchen matters more than the bar.
• Can The Aubrey accommodate groups? Yes. The Curio Lounge is the better space for larger groups who want energy and volume; cozy corners throughout the venue work for smaller groups who need to hold a conversation. The venue does not publish a private dining room, so for groups requiring full privacy, confirm arrangements directly with the hotel. The DJ programming on Friday and Saturday evenings suits social groups better than business entertaining.
• Does The Aubrey handle dietary restrictions? The menu draws on traditional Japanese techniques and uses fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients across a broad à la carte range, which typically accommodates a variety of dietary needs. Confirm specifics when booking, as izakaya menus often include soy, fish, and shellfish throughout. Contact the Mandarin Oriental directly for detailed dietary information rather than assuming from the menu description.