Second Draft is definitely one of the best gastropubs in Hong Kong. Beer geeks or food enthusiasts should not miss this. Whether you are going as a couple or in a group of friends, it will be a chilled, fun and comfortable experience for your lunch, drinking parties or dinner.

 Second Draft is a collaboration between Young Master Ales, a local craft brewery and May Chow, the Best Female Chef by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. You shall recognize the pub by the brick walls and the big black window panes. The interior design plays with the 70’s Hong Kong’s motifs – the little square green tiles, the fonts, local Cha Chaan Teng (茶餐廳) style table matching with colonial British long wooden bars. Not only is it fun to the eyes, it is also comfortably spaced. It is enjoyable whether you are drinking by the bar or sitting on the side tables looking out through the windows. 

There are said to be 16 taps, mostly local craft beers of various styles and a few guest taps from all over the world on rotation. Beer choices ranging from popular IPA styles, clean tasting Pilsner or Berliner Weisse, to playful ones like the Comfortably Numb, which is mixed with Sichuan peppercorn and lime juice. My personal favourite is Rye on Wood, an ale with added oaked rye.

Besides the interesting selection of beers, it would not be called a Gastropub if there is no amazing food. It is a fascinating attempt to turn the common pub food into exciting dishes with clever Asian twists. For example, the Tai Hang fries are mixed with dried chili, dried fermented vegetable takana, and cumin dust.  The Fried Chicken comes with a dip made with Mayo and Nam Yu (南乳), a fermented bean curd which is cheesy and distinctively fragrant. These hot, spicy and salty munchies go perfectly well with gulps of beer.

Take a nice after meal walk around the (大坑) neighbourhood. More food and drinks are around the corners. On normal weekdays or weekends, there is no need to book a table in advance. Except for Mid-Autumn Festival, where a fire dragon dance would take place in the community and the whole Tai Hang will be packed.