Bar review: Brew ’n Chew in Sheung Wan – well-made, good value drinks in a casual setting

The vibe: casual neighbourhood bar and grill in the grittier part of Sheung Wan, open daily from breakfast until late evening. The decor is simple, seating is comfortable and there’s a rooftop space. The kind of place where you feel at ease popping in for a quick drink and staying as long as you want, it attracts an agreeably eclectic mix of locals and visitors. Our neighbours included a runner in full gear grabbing some post-exercise carbs, a group of foreign tourists and a young man who managed to drink his beer without taking his eyes off his phone.

The drinks: house cocktails, priced at HK$68 (HK$55 during happy hour) are of the old-fashioned “comfort food” variety. This is the bar equivalent of Italian restaurants with red and white tablecloths and candles stuck in straw-covered Chianti bottles – and none the worse for that. I tried a lime daiquiri and an Old Fashioned – both were well-made, no-nonsense traditional versions of these classic drinks and, with no stinting on the alcohol, excellent value.

My companion was sticking to mocktails (because of pregnancy, not teetotalism) and enjoyed her Virgin Colada and a specially requested Virgin Mojito. Both were freshly made, the Colada nicely creamy and the Mojito packed with mint – as she said, wistfully eyeing my Old Fashioned, it tasted just like a Mojito should, except without the rum.

There’s a decent selection of beers and wines, and if you want something more upmarket, there are premium spirit choices including some good whiskies.