Ink Seafood Bar: Craft Beer, Chips & Guac, & One Hell of a View

Find me a better view of Victoria Harbour and the always regal Hong Kong Island skyline, and I’ll show you a liar. At least once a week, I break into an incoherent rant to whoever has unfortunately found themselves within earshot about how there is a disappointing lack of restaurants, cafes, and bars with views of either the Hong Kong or Kowloon cityscape. 

But there is one saving grace that keeps me sane (moderately sane). A place that does it all. A Power Rangers Megazord humanoid machine of the food and beverage industry with a view – Ink Seafood Bar. This is my go-to post-work safe haven (and Sunday-hangover haunt) to soak in indisputably the best skyline in the world over an IPA (and espressos), chips and guac, and fish and chips. 

Ink is also a prime spot to start the night if you are going to one of the countless events at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre or post up for a recap on the way back from a hike in Kowloon or New Territories. 

Here’s a little bit about why I love this seafood bar and cafe, along with some pictures (that I actually took).

Location & The View (Not the Television Show)

Website, Address, & Details: https://inkcafe.com.hk 

Location: G/F, nearby Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong Museum Of Art, 10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui

The view, the vibe, the view (one more time). Day or night, this is the spot to be if you want an al fresco restaurant and/or cafe with a direct view of Victoria Harbor and the skyline. When I have rough days at work, I will hop on the Star Ferry over to Tsim Sha Tsui and make the short 5-minute walk over to the Avenue of the Stars, decompress, and remember a big reason why I moved back to this city – because of the way it makes me feel. 

Nothing makes me step back and reflect on the 5-plus years I spent working to get back to this city than this one-of-a-kind vantage point overlooking the enlivened boats skipping their way across the harbor, the razor-sharp, triangular Bank of China tower illuminating the night sky, and AIA Ferris wheel rotating in soothing parallax. 

I think this view even edges out the view of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from The Peak, as you’re positioned at ground level and genuinely feel like you are in the hustle and bustle. 

I should also add that I frequently come here on Sundays (and occasionally during the day in the week) to post up on my laptop, slug a few espressos, and get some vitamin D. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Make sure to check out my guide breaking down the best laptop-friendly cafes in Hong Kong to work from. 

Craft Beer & Assorted Drinks

If you’ve read any of my craft beer guides on Saigon (aka what I consider the ‘beer capital’ of Asia), then you know that Heart of Darkness beer (and the novella) is near and dear to my heart. I can’t attest to if it is currently on tap or not (as it is rotating), but the fact that Ink had Heart of Darkness beer on tap for an extended period of time won me over. 

I do know for sure that the primary beer they have on tap is by ‘Gweilo Beer’, a local craft brewery serving up English-style IPAs and pale ales that are crisp, sessionable (comparatively, at 4.5% and 4.8% respectively), and citrusy. Gweilo Beer will go toe-to-toe with any brewery in Hong Kong when it comes to nailing the basics. 

While you aren’t in for a raspberry cheesecake sour or full-bodied stout, you always know that you are getting – a great, drinkable IPA or pale ale. But that isn’t all. Ink boasts a monthly guest tap that is sure to keep your palate guessing (likely why I was able to snag a few Heart of Darkness beers here).

Ink also serves up an English-style cider (by Aspall Cyder) which is a nice beer alternative for those especially hot and humid Hong Kong days. I started mixing these into my drink repertoire at Ink as I often found myself becoming all-consumed by the glorious view and drinking quicker because of it. 

And for the non-beer drinkers, you can always find a never-ending supply of prosecco, chardonnays, pinot noirs, and signature cocktails (I recommend trying their ‘Vodka Ginger Lime Mule’ or ‘Iron Goddess Whiskey Highball’). 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: I should probably update my list and add this spot to my list of fun date ideas in Hong Kong since it is a perfect stop before the ballet, K11 Musea, or M+ Art Museum. 

The Snacks: Oysters, Chips & Guac, & Customizable Protein Bowls

While Ink has an all-day menu filled with customizable protein (tuna toro, soft shell crab, Atlantic salmon) and starch options (udon noodles, black fried rice, tortillas), I typically come here for a select few things – oysters by the dozen, fish and chips, and chips and guac. I’ve been to Ink roughly 50-plus times now, so I feel relatively confident in what I like, what I think they do well, and what I steer clear from.

The oysters do not come exactly cheap (HKD 95 for 3 or HKD 330 for 12) but are a nice little appetizer to whet the lips before a night out. This isn’t a ‘buck a shuck’ spot at all but nothing really is in Hong Kong. As I’m not British, I’m sure my fish and chip palette is still considered in its infancy. However, Ink does serve up a formidable fish and chips that is firm and flaky and doesn’t commit the cardinal sin of being over-oily. 

I also constantly rant about how there is a lack of good guacamole in Hong Kong (other than the recipe I learned from Barefoot Contessa when I had to move back in with my mother at age 24). Ink passes muster and actually serves up a guacamole that is a healthy balance of smooth and chunky, and doesn’t have that ‘paste-taste’ that I frequently stumble upon here in Asia.

Other favorites include the salt and pepper squid and smashed avocado (although, it is not one of my favorite avocado toasts in Hong Kong). 

While the food isn’t the star of the show, it still adds to the depth of this spot by solidifying it as more than just a ‘drinks-only’ hangout and holds you over while you soak in the view.

Final Thoughts on Ink Seafood Bar

Give me a fantastic view, light, and a beer and I’m one of the happiest Big Bodies in the world. Ink Seafood Bar has served as one of my most frequented hangout spots, Sunday confessional booths, and launching points for nights out in TST, and will continue to do so. 

If you want a no-frills, seafood-heavy, craft-beer (and wine)-centric outdoor terrace to take in one of the best city skyline views across the world, all at an affordable price, this is your place. Also, make sure to either take the Star Ferry over to TST or back to Hong Kong Island (if you are living or staying there) for additional views. 

Writing this has provided a much-needed reminder of why I love this city so much and why I plan on continuing to make it my home (for the foreseeable future). Let me know in the comments or by email if you make your way over to Ink and any other spots in Hong Kong that you think have the best view of the harbor!

Best and be grand,

Big Body