Why go
The distinction helps you plan an evening beyond a list of bars. Alcohol need not be part of a restaurant meal, while the named nightlife districts provide a more deliberate social outing. Tea offers another way to explore Hong Kong's drinking habits, including Chinese tea, milk tea and iced lemon tea.
The full story
Tea belongs to everyday eating in Hong Kong. Chinese teas sit alongside milk tea, while iced lemon tea provides a cold alternative. These choices make drinking culture relevant even if an evening in a bar has no appeal. A meal with tea is a different experience from seeking out nightlife, rather than a lesser version of it. For a bar evening, geography gives you a useful starting point. Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai are on Hong Kong Island; Knutsford Terrace offers a Kowloon counterpart. Their concentration of drinking venues distinguishes them from neighbourhoods where pubs and bars are less prominent. Pick the area that suits the rest of your evening, then check individual venues before setting out. Admission conditions, dress requirements and promotions belong to the particular establishment and can change; they are a poor basis for choosing an entire district.