The world’s best bartenders to shake up Hong Kong in July with guest shifts, exclusive cocktails and classes as city hosts Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards
- Hong Kong is hosting the awards for the first time, and will play host to some of the world’s top bartenders who will be mixing it up all over the city
- From Quinary to Salisterra, as well as the Rosewood hotel, which is hosting the awards ceremony, mixologists will be pouring their hearts out
Some of the world’s best bartenders will make their way to Hong Kong’s Rosewood hotel on July 18 as the city hosts the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony – the eighth edition – for the first time.
Hong Kong has been named home to Asia’s No. 1 bar on three occasions, with Oaxacan-inspired Coa taking first place in 2021 and 2022.
Seven other Hong Kong bars – including Argo, DarkSide and Quinary – also made the top 50 in 2022.
To celebrate, guest bartender shifts will take place all over the city. Here’s where you can join in the festivities.
The World Mixology Masters Showcase at Quinary
July 13-20
On July 13, Shelley Tai from Singapore’s Nutmeg & Clove will serve up cocktail creations at Quinary.
Kate Gerwin, owner of Happy Accidents in Albuquerque, in the US, will make an appearance on July 16, while Simone Caporale, co-founder of Spain’s Sips Drinkery, will be behind the counter on July 17.
Iain McPherson, founder of Panda & Sons in Scotland, will share his mixology expertise and experimental techniques on July 20.
Can’t make it? Quinary will select a drink from each guest shift and feature it throughout July.
Quinary, 56-58 Hollywood Road, Central
‘Staging Best of the Best: Meet the Elite Mixologists’ at Island Shangri-La
July 13-20
From July 13 to 15, Tokyo’s The SG Club owner Shingo Gokan will share his bartending expertise, followed by Gina Barbachano from Mexico’s Hanky Panky from July 16 to 17. July 18 to 20 will feature Volkan Ibil, Shangri-La Group’s director of bars.
Lobster Bar, Level 6, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admiralty
Allegory at Terrible Baby
July 14-16
Washington speakeasy Allegory will have a pop-up for three nights, bringing creative director Deke Dunne to Terrible Baby. Guests can sample creative takes on classic drinks made using techniques like spherification.
Terrible Baby, 4/F, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan
Smoke & Mirrors at Salisterra
July 15
Mel Chavez from Singapore’s Smoke and Mirrors will serve up blends of the familiar and traditional, from My Butter Half to The Katong Laksa. His creations will be available for one night only.
Salisterra, Level 49, The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
Leading Nation’s ‘Good Vibes and Great Times’
July 15-18
On July 15, Rogerio Igarashi of Tokyo’s Bar Trench will be at Kaen Teppanyaki, while Chanel Adams, head mixologist of The Bamboo Bar at Thailand’s Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok will be behind the bar at The Diplomat.
Adams will move on to a guest shift at PDT at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental on July 20-21.
Simone Caporale and Stefano Catino from Sydney’s Maybe Sammy and Dean & Nancy, respectively, will be at The Diplomat on July 17.
Various locations
Hydrosols, fat washing, ‘rotovaps’: mixologists raid the lab for cocktails
1930 at Testina
July 16
Mixologist Benjamin Cavagna from Milan’s 1930 will be behind the bar at Testina, serving up classic Italian cocktails like the Aperitivo Milanese.
His bar in Italy is known for its exclusivity and was ranked number 35 in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2022.
Testina, 3/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
Experimental Cocktail Club at The St Regis Bar
July 16
Eric Sabloniere, senior bartender of Paris’s Experimental Cocktail Club and brand ambassador for Scrappy’s Bitters, will present four twists on classic cocktails, bringing a unique French touch to The St Regis Bar.
The St Regis Bar, 2/F, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai
Singular Concepts’ guest shifts
July 16-17
Rum bar The Daily Tot will welcome bartender Joshua Ivanovic of Malaysia’s Junglebird and Black Tot Rum ambassador Mitch Wilson on July 16, then Arathorn Grey, head bartender of Tippling Club in Singapore, and Edriane Lim, from Singapore’s 15 Stamford, will take over on July 17.
At Tell Camellia, bartenders Yangdup Lama and Lopsang Lama of New Delhi-based Sidecar will mix things up on July 16 before passing the baton to Kris Du of Shanghai’s Speak Low the next night.
The Daily Tot, Shop E, LG/F, Felicity Building, 58 Hollywood Road, Central
Tell Camellia, LG/F, H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
Paradiso at DarkSide
July 16-17
Taste a sip of 2022’s best of the best: Giacomo Giannotti of Barcelona speakeasy cocktail bar Paradiso, ranked number one in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2022, will have a pop-up at DarkSide.
DarkSide, Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
‘The Big 6’ at The Old Man
July 16-21
To celebrate its sixth birthday, Ernest Hemingway-inspired The Old Man is bringing LPM Hong Kong beverage manager Benjamin Boyce and LPM Dubai’s Tibor Krascenics to the bar on July 16.
On July 19, bar manager Noppasate “Depp” Hirunwathit and bartender Tanapoom “Poom” Likhitkriangkrai of Bangkok’s Rabbit Hole – number 31 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars Award 2020 – will join The Old Man.
On July 21, there’ll be “6 Hours of Madness”, a guest shift including, but not limited to, Filippo Sanchi from Lennon’s Bar in the Rosewood Bangkok; Terry Kim, Mason Park and Leo Kim from Seoul’s Lewis Carroll-inspired Alice; and Davide Sambo from Zuma Bangkok.
The Old Man, LG/F, 37-39 Aberdeen Street, Central
Bar Yakoboku and Lamp Bar at Mizunara: The Library
July 17
Mizunara: The Library will feature Shinya Koba, World Class 2021 Japan winner and bartender of Yakoboku, in Kumamoto, Japan, as well as Yoshifumi Yasunaka, the head bartender of Lamp Bar, in Nara, Japan.
Mizunara: The Library, Kiu Yin Commercial Building, 361-363 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai
‘Unapologetic Rage’ at The Pontiac
July 17
The Pontiac will host a line-up of female bartenders from across the world.
The team will be joined by Happy Accidents’ Kate Gerwin and Lolita Goh from Malaysia’s Junglebird, Ezra Star from Hong Kong’s Mostly Harmless, Hope & Sesame Shenzhen’s head bartender Lola Lau, and Australian award-winning bartender Millie Tang.
The Pontiac, 13 Old Bailey Street, Central
Millie Tang at Shady Acres
July 19
Millie Tang will also take over the Shady Acres bar for one night only.
She’ll share speciality cocktails, giving guests an exclusive preview of the “Down the Rabbit Hole” campaign with Peddlers Gin.
Shady Acres, 46 Peel Street, Central
“Tastemakers’ Izakaya Playground” at Zuma
July 19-21
On July 19, Neon Pigeon Singapore bar manager Mario la Pietra will join Zuma to serve up four Tokyo-inspired cocktails.
Italian mixologist Dennis Zoppi will bring his innovative spin on three classic Zuma cocktails on July 20, offering both a masterclass and a guest shift.
Zuma, Landmark, Level 5 & 6, 15 Queen’s Road Central
‘A Sense of Taste’ bar hopping journey at Rosewood Hong Kong
July 20 to September 30
Rosewood Hong Kong will offer a bar hopping experience across seven of its bar venues. Each feature a different theme, from DarkSide’s “The Art of Mahjong” to Chaat’s “Colours of India”.
Customers can select either a three-bar hop – Henry, Bayfare Social and Asaya Kitchen, or DarkSide, The Dining Room and BluHouse – or the full seven-bar hop.
Rosewood Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
