Bar manager Gerry Olino. All photos courtesy of the bar mentioned.
Hidden away in Central’s chic Landmark mall, Dr. Fern’s boasts a 250-label-strong spirit collection, special stemware, and hand-cut ice for the perfect G&T. Be sure to try your favorite gin cocktail with either Belgian Blind Tiger Imperial gin or English Truffle gin, both of which are not available anywhere else in Hong Kong.
Bartender Jameel Frith
The second Asian outpost of the famed New York watering hole, Employees Only recently opened in Lan Kwai Fong. Two favorites on the classics-inspired menu are the signature EO Gimlet with house-made lime cordial, agave, and kaffir lime leaf; and Ready Fire Aim, with smoky mezcal, lime juice, pineapple, and spicy bitters.
One of the drinks served at Employees Only, Thunder in Paradise.
Wahtiki Island Lounge Bar
There are tiki bars, and then there’s Wahtiki, which stands out for its giant rum cocktails, exuberant decor, and crisp service. The venue takes its name from veteran mixologist Shi Wah Lee, who has headed up some of the world’s greatest tiki bars such as Trader Vic’s at the London Hilton. Be sure to try the original Mai Tai, or for something headier, the Shark’s Tooth, which comes in an ice-molded volcano.
Over in SoHo, Aberdeen Street is the setting for a brand-new Hemingway-inspired bar helmed by three of Hong Kong’s top mixologists: Agung Prabowo, James Tamang, and Roman Ghale. Asian-accented cocktails here include A Farewell to Arms, a concoction of butter-washed gin, dry vermouth, sous-vide nori, and salted Pernod.
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2017 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“The Guide: Where to Drink Now”).
