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Header images courtesy of Maksym Fesenko (via Shutterstock) and The St Regis Hong Kong
Bloody Marys are very much the Marmite of the cocktail world—you either get those who absolutely love it, or you get people who gag at the thought of drinking a spiked, savoury tomato juice. Thankfully, we fall firmly into the first category, and no amount of nay-saying will change our love for this punchy, boozy drink, so here are some places where you can get the best Bloody Marys in Hong Kong—if you are nursing a hangover, read on!
We don’t claim to be able to argue the contentious origins of this drink, but one legend has it that the Bloody Mary was created by head bartender Fernand Petiot at the St Regis New York back in 1934. It should therefore be a given that the St Regis Hong Kong is your first port of call when searching for this tipple, available here as a recreation of the King Cole Bar original in the Red Snapper ($148). However, our choice would be their innovative local twist on the classic—the Canto Mary ($148) interestingly contains a five-spice mix, dried tangerine peel (橙皮; caang2 pei4), and soy sauce!
The St Regis Bar, 2/F, The St Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive, Wan Chai
Soho’s worst-kept speakeasy has rehauled its menu, but we’re super glad to see that it has retained a favourite crowd-pleaser from the old drinks list. A Moveable Feast ($120) remains one of the most interesting Bloody Marys we’ve ever had because it’s clear. That’s right—a mix of colourless spiced cherry tomato water, coconut, basil-tomato seeds, and oyster leaf garnish goes into the creation of this fascinating and delicious tipple. We knew there was a reason we keep getting drawn back to The Old Man time and again.
The Old Man, LG/F, 37–39 Aberdeen Street, Soho, Central | (+852) 2703 1899
Beloved gastropub mainstay The Globe does a fan favourite Bloody Mary that is famous for being generous with the tomatoes. Concocted with fresh cherry tomatoes, vodka, tomato juice, pepperoncini, and a secret homemade spicy mix, they say Pat’s Fierce Bloody Mary ($85) is guaranteed to take the edge off even the most violent of hangovers.
The Globe, G/F, Garley Building, 45–53 Graham Street, Soho, Central | (+852) 2543 1941
While its famous kimchi-laced Bloody Kim Jong Il seems to have disappeared from the cocktail menu, Yardbird evidently still carries a torch for the Bloody Mary. Its latest rendition is the CBC Caesar ($95), made with Masumi “Sumi 25” shochu, Flagrant Harbour hot sauce, clam dashi, and tomato. Although containing distilled Japanese spirit rather than vodka as is traditional, this drink is full of umami flavours with a good spicy kick.
Yardbird, G/F, 154–158 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2547 9273
This relaxed Aussie dining spot in Kennedy Town was recommended to us by a Bloody Mary addict, so we know it’s bound to be good. Spicy, thick, and satisfying, Catch’s tomato-y tipple is kept simple and classic—the best accompaniment for the brunch menu, in particular the phenomenal crab fries.
Catch, G/F, 95 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town | (+852) 2855 1289
Quinary’s award-winning team are always experimenting with new concepts and flavours that are a treat to the eyes as much as to the palate. We love their fantastic range of Asian food-inspired cocktails, and it makes perfect sense for them to have given the Bloody Mary a similar local twist.
The Bloody Quinary ($140) is made with sesame-redistilled vodka, a local vinegar spicy mix, umami-laden Shaoxing wine, house-blended clamato, and dried scallops, then garnished with dried shrimp—super moreish.
There is also La Tomatina ($160), named after the tomato fight festival in Spain, and concocted with olive-redistilled gin, tomato shrub, dry sherry, mezcal, dry peel tincture, and sea salt, served vibrantly with chorizo, pickles, and vegetables arranged on top.
Quinary, G/F, 56–58 Hollywood Road, Central | (+852) 2851 3223
Even though it is technically a wine bar more than anything, our favourite Soho watering hole does this cocktail bloody well—mixologist Ryan Nightingale actually created the Low Tide Bloody Mary for Fish School when he was still with Ham & Sherry.
On the brunch menu, the Bloody Mary ($75) is simply described as including vodka, tomato juice which is “technically a fruit juice,” and just “some spices and pickles”—no matter, because it’s completely delicious. During Covid lockdown times, Shady Acres even bottled this cocktail for takeaway, which is exactly the kind of energy we love.
Shady Acres, G/F, 46 Peel Street, Soho, Central
Brunch is one of the very few legitimate reasons to be dragged out of bed over the weekend, and Beef & Liberty makes this choice easier with its Bloody Marys. Made with Tito’s vodka and a house spice mix, the Bloody Mary ($89) is normally on the à la carte drinks menu, but during brunch, diners can choose to top up $108 for an hour’s worth of free-flow drinks, or $178 for two, which includes the tomato-based cocktail. That’s what we call a no-brainer!
Our favourite Sai Ying Pun restaurant serves up top-notch Balinese food, and even its cocktails are similarly Southeast Asian-inspired. The Indo Bloody Mary ($125) blends Balinese long pepper-infused vodka, tomato, beetroot and carrot juices, red pepper, and citrus, with black pepper, sea salt, spices such as tamarind, clove, and even a hint of sambal. If there’s ever a drink that immediately transports you to an ocean-drenched beach in Indonesia, this is it.
Potato Head, G/F, 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun | (+852) 2858 6066
This quirky eatery, which specialises in pork-led classics, even manages to sneak some of its fervour for pork into the drinks menu! The Bacon Bloody Mary ($88) is one of its signature cocktails and is made with a special bacon-infused spice mix. What’s even better is that the drink comes with an actual piece of bacon in the glass. Celery who? This is quite likely the only garnish we will accept in our Bloody Marys from now on!
Catharina has recently returned to her hometown of Hong Kong after spending her formative years in Singapore and the UK. She enjoys scouring the city for under-the-radar things to do, see, and eat, and is committed to finding the perfect foundation that will withstand Hong Kong’s heat. She is also an aspiring polyglot, a firm advocate for feminist and LGBTQIA+ issues, and a huge lover of animals. You can find her belting out show-tunes in karaoke, or in bookstores adding new tomes to her ever-growing collection.
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