Until recently, Hong Kong equated formality with status and sophistication. In recent years, however, the city’s drinking and dining scene has flourished, led by innovative establishments that have regional authenticity and a sense of cultural identity at their core.
Potato Head
Indonesian import Potato Head brings a relaxed Balinese vibe to Hong Kong’s hip Sai Ying Pun neighborhood.
Conceived as a multiconcept space, the achingly stylish space combines a retail store, a restaurant serving dishes from its native archipelago, and a bar where classic cocktails are given an aromatic twist, as in its Indo Bloody Mary, spiced with sambal, tamarind, and fresh red chili.
However, time is best spent in the music room, a “secret” space dedicated to acoustic integrity, where audiophiles will appreciate the extensive vinyl library, and aesthetes the Wes Anderson– inspired midcentury interiors.
The Old Man
Ernest Hemingway serves as the inspiration for The Old Man (a play on the writer’s The Old Man and the Sea), a compact cocktail bar from a trifecta of industry veterans: Roman Ghale, Agung Prabowo, and James Tamang.
An abstract mosaic in the novelist’s form watches over the bar, where masterful hands mix exceptional drinks, each of which is named for a Hemingway tale. Those lucky enough to get front-row seats should ask the bartenders to mix up some off-menu Hemingway favorites.
Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour
Don’t be put off by its shopping mall location. Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour is one of the city’s best hidden bars. Behind an unassuming door marked “Consulting Room,” staff in white lab coats wait to ensure that you receive proper treatment for whatever ails you in the form of a libation— gin-based, of course. With over 250 bottles to choose from, there is one for every palate, as well as impeccably executed versions of the classics
Stanley, Hong Kong | Alan Wong, List Sotheby’s International Realty
Experience 3 more of Hong Kong’s hot spots and much more in the latest issue of RESIDE.
