Hong Kong: Hotel Bar Crawl Featuring Lobster Bar, Artesian at the Langham and Room 309
Lobster Bar at Island Shangri-La Hotel
By sheer luck, I found the Lobster Bar as it was next door to the Conrad where I was checking out the Asia Contemporary Art Fair. It was a Friday night around 8 p.m. so it was very busy at the bar. They allowed me to stand while waiting for a spot to open up. I discovered Hong Kong bars all provided snacks (while the American imports did not).
I quite enjoyed the snacks and my drink and was almost done when a spot opened up at the bar. There were guest bartenders that evening from London and I didn’t want to get sucked into a long night at this bar as it was only my first stop. So I headed out with some regrets. I bet this bar has lots of stories to tell.
Super Fresh – Tequila Ocho, Pisco Tabenero, gentian, calamansi
Lobster Bar at Island Shangri-La Hotel
6/F, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, Two Pacific Place, 88 Queensway金鐘道88號太古廣場二座港島香格里拉酒店6樓
Hong Kong — 852 2820 8560
MTR: Admiralty, Hong Kong Island
Dim Sum Old Fashioned
While I was on the Kowloon side in Tsim Sha Tsui, I took the opportunity to check out the Artesian bar at the Langham Hotel. I felt welcomed at the bar and enjoyed a quiet drink listening to a singer and piano player covering 1990s songs. I was completely full but had some of the olives and nuts. I was beginning to dig this bar snacks trend. The olives were excellent.
Dim Sum Old Fashioned – Ezra Brooks bourbon, Ezra Brooks rye, maraschino cherry liqueur, aromatic bitters, old fashioned bitters
Artesian at the Langham Hotel
8 Peking Road北京道8號
Hong Kong — 852 2375 1133
MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Room 309 at the Pottiger Hotel
The last hotel bar I checked out was Room 309 at The Pottinger. To access this speakeasy, check in with the Envoy bar and get a room key.
Room 309 opened about two months ago. The current menu features “invisible” drinks or clarified cocktails. It’s printed on clear plastic with white ink. Hold it over the cover of the menu so you can read it.
I opted for the “Where’s my whisky sour,” which is one of their invisible drinks. The bartender explained to me the invisible drinks are re-distilled. I sampled the peanut one meant for Crystal Old Fashioned. It was really nice and if you like peanut butter, you’ll love it. The reason why I love bourbon is the nuttiness and this enhanced it so much.
I probably should have stopped in for a drink at the Envoy but I had a few more bars to get to in Hong Kong and had to move on.
Where’s My Whisky Sour – bourbon re-distillation, clarified peach tea cordial, aromatic bitters, freeze-dried peach
Room 309 at the Pottinger Hotel
74 Queen’s Road Central皇后大道中74号
Hong Kong — 852 2308 3188
MTR: Central, Hong Kong Island
© 2018 The Minty
*** For my Hong Kong posts, I will provide the address in both English and Chinese as well as the MTR (subway) stop if available.