Spring is on its way and with that comes new beginnings, so feast your eyes on our favourite new food and drink offers and openings around town.
Bon appétit!
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New Bars
PDT (Please Don’t Tell)
Oops, we told! If you’re looking to sip on exquisite cocktails and sink your teeth into top-notch hot dogs, then dial ‘1’ in the secret phone booth located on the mezzanine above MO Bar, and let yourself in on this stylish little secret. Returning to the Landmark Mandarin Oriental two years after appearing as a pop-up bar, the iconic New York joint is now here to stay. Staying true to its roots in the Big Apple, the walls are decorated with taxidermied animals playfully donning funky accessories, herringbone patterned wood ceiling panels, and a copper bar top. Here you can enjoy a menu of 15 cocktails including a mix of PDT classics and new creations crafted especially for Hong Kong.
Among the stars of the show, which are equally adventurous in name and flavour, are the
Bad Hunter ($158), made up of Chivas blended Scotch whisky, Fernet Hunter, lemon juice, dragon eye and Moë
t Brut Imperial Champagne, and the
Milky Tea Punch, composed of Ron Zacapa Centenario rum, Hennessy V.S.O.P. cognac, Rickshaw tea, condensed milk, Tayouran egg, and Angostura bitters. Gin lovers will no doubt enjoy the
Safari, which gives the classic G&T a Japanese twist by blending shiso and kabosu citrus, while bourbon fans can sink into one of PDT’s most famous creations, the
Benton Old Fashioned ($158), which puts a spin on the classic by substituting maple syrup for sugar and using bacon-infused Wild Turkey bourbon.
Wash this down with some gourmet comfort food prepared by Richard Ekkebus of Michelin-starred Amber, and you’re in for one delicious evening. New creations include the
Honkie Dog fried pork dog with sakura shrimp and XO mayo, and the not-to-be-missed
Takoyaki Tots ($98), a bowl of okonomiyaki style tatter tots topped with kewpie mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce, shredded nori, bonito shavings, and scallions.
Yum! Seating only 25 people at a time, PDT has certainly nailed the cosy speakeasy vibe, but as with all hyped new bars, only accepts reservations one week in advance (for parties of up to six), so call now and get in on the action.
PDT (Please Don’t Tell), The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, (+852) 2132 0110
Dear Lilly
Award-winning designer Ashley Sutton’s latest project, Dear Lilly, brings an air of lost romance back to our smartphone obsessed digital world. Located on the roof of ifc mall, the new Dining Concepts venue succeeds in transforming you into an enchanting, fairy tale world filled with floating love letters, fragrant blooms, and more vintage perfume bottles and trinkets than a Disney princess can shake a magic wand at.
Inspired by the dreamy hole-in-the-wall florists found along the quaint boulevards in Paris, as well as Sutton’s own fascination with the mysterious jewellery boxes kept by his female cousins when he was a kid, Lilly is a delight to all the senses — and thankfully, that includes taste. Guests can Instagram their way through a menu of French inspired cocktails, each beautifully presented and garnished with edible flowers and sprigs of lavender to match the decor. Highlights include the adorable
Mad Enchantment ($120) served in a Victorian style teacup fixed to a wine glass stem, and the
Mademoiselle Lilly ($120) with vodka, Kwai Feh liqueur, Lillet Blanc, cranberry juice, lime juice, raspberry puree, and homemade hibiscus.
If you're
feeling peckish, they serve contemporary European cuisine and offer both a set lunch (either a two-course or three-course meal) and à la carte menu. While portions are fairly small in size, they make up for it in flavour, with the
Tuna Poke ($138) and
Slow-Cooked Octopus ($128) standing out on the starters, and the
Corn Fed Chicken ($168) and
Chococaramel Tart ($68) stealing the show overall. Just make sure to look down and admire the striking heart-shaped marble inlays set into the floor, each engraved with extracts from touching love letters written by soldiers during World War I and II. Read our
full review.
Dear Lilly, Shop 4010, Podium Level 4, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, (+852) 2771 6060
The venue doesn’t take reservations, so arrive early to avoid missing out.
New Drink Offers
MEATS Happy Hour
We love a good happy hour involving food, and new kid on the SoHo block MEATS has rolled out one sweet deal with its latest 'Meats in Buns' offer. From 5pm to 7pm every day, the casual eatery is dishing up three delicious soft buns packed with meaty goodness, complimentary with any purchase of beer, wine, cocktail, or spirit. Guests can tuck into a deluxe Hot Dog with their first drink, a Pastrami Sandwich with their second, and a Porchetta Sandwich with their third. These meaty dishes team perfectly with simple yet satisfying sides, like the Glasgow Salad skinny fries with miso ketchup and chicken salt ($45). Wash it all down with a bourbon, bourbon-based cocktail, or craft beer and you’ve got a winner. The
Sage the Day cocktail ($95) is a delightfully refreshing option which isn't too heavy and blends house-spiced Cuban rum, sage, pineapple juice, and honey. The classic
Daiquiri isn't half bad either —definitely one to check out when you're next on the hunt for a post-work treat.
MEATS, 28-30 Staunton Street, Central, (+852) 2711 1812
From 5pm to 7pm, Monday to Sunday
Absolut Elyx Cocktails in Copper Owls
As if we needed another reason to swing by recently vandalised bar, Le Boudoir, to check out the amazing edgy makeover by cheeky street artist
Szabotage, now we can sip on handcrafted Absolut Elyx presented in stunning copper owl drinking vessels. The highly Instagrammable owls are also available at Potato Head, VEA, Fish Bar, Red Sugar, and Vibes, with each bar offering their own unique cocktails featuring the spirit. And that's not all, as each concoction is presented on wooden coasters designed by local artist Jason Tommy, and engraved with punny phrases like
It’s Owl Good, Owl We Need Is Love, Owlsome, and
Owl Night Long. While you can't take these hefty owls home with you (they're
way too heavy anyway, trust us), the coasters are yours to keep and sure to be a hoot at your next dinner party!
#OwlNightLong
Le Boudoir, Basement, 65 Wyndham Street, Central (and other bars listed above)
New Cocktails at Sol Sotano
Underground Mexican bar and restaurant Los Sotano is whipping up a menu of gorgeous seasonal cocktails inspired by the travels of head bartender and tequila guru Robert Kariakin. Whether you like sweet or spicy cocktails, or something with a kick, there's something to please everyone on this new menu of treats. Those with a romantic side will love the sweet but potent
A Rose By Any Other Name ($160), served with Casamigos Blanco Tequila, raspberries, house rose liqueur, fresh lemon, soda, and egg white, topped with pretty rose petals. Hardcore drinkers, on the other hand, might prefer the
Slow Burn ($150) which, as the name suggests, will blow your socks off with a combination of Szechuan chili infused Casamigos Anejo Tequila, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, fresh citrus, and agave — perfect for killing a cold! Whatever you go for, it's worth mentioning that Los Sotano serves possibly
the best guacamole in the world – or at least Hong Kong – and some pretty mean street tacos too, so you'll have plenty of treats to wash all that tequila down with! Find out more about their menu
here.
Los Sotano, 21 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central
(Find the barrel entrance on Wing Wah Lane!)
New Afternoon Teas
Palm Court at The Langham
Smell and flavour go hand in hand, and The Langham has teamed up with luxury fragrance brand Cochine to create the
Sweet Blossom Afternoon Tea, inspired by its new collection of hand creams. Available in four scents, the creams capture the floral notes of Saigon which the hotel's talented pastry chefs have transformed into bite-sized treats served at the decadent Palm Court lobby lounge. Nibbles include the Vietnamese Cassava coconut dacquoise with green jasmine mousse, inspired by the White Jasmine and Gardenia cream, and the Girl with the Tuberose, a choux pastry filled with wild fig and Sicilian lemon compote which echoes the Tuberose and Wild Fig. The real star, however, is the adorable edible mini scented candle, made from white chocolate and green cardamom mousse, which resembles Cochine’s signature vanilla product.
Savoury treats include the Mini “Bánh Mì” Brioche and Slow Cooked Roulade of Organic Chicken on Homemade Pesto Bread, which pay homage to old Saigon. From Friday to Sunday, every purchase of a tea set for two will receive an exclusive Cochine gift set with a 8ml bottle of Eau de Parfum and 5ml White Jasmine and Gardenia hand cream. Guests can also enter a lucky draw for a chance to win a limited edition premium gift box, including $1,000 hotel dining voucher, a 4-wick Cochine scented candle, 1 bottle of Perrier-Jouët Champagne, and more. But hurry up, as this tea set is only available until
May 13.
Palm Court at The Langham, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, (+852) 2375 6611
$348 for one person and $598 for two, (w
eekdays 3pm - 5.30pm, weekends and public holidays 2.15 – 4.15pm or 4.30 – 6.30pm)
GREEN at Hotel ICON
What could be more enjoyable than indulging in a spot of afternoon tea in the sunlit lobby of one of Hong Kong’s most popular hotels? Well, how about indulging in unlimited
GODIVA soft serve chocolate ice cream? The new scrumptious afternoon tea experience at GREEN is every sweet tooth’s dream, serving up freshly baked pastries and as much chocolatey goodness as they can handle.
Diners can enjoy a steaming pot of tea or coffee before whetting their appetites with chocolate-dipped strawberries, mango panna cotta
(cleverly disguised as an egg!), chocolate pops, and the show-stealing cupcake topped with soft serve. While the sweets definitely take centre stage, the savouries aren’t bad either, with delights such as Parma ham with figs, and Scottish smoked salmon with horseradish cream gracing the stand. Just make sure you leave room for the warm, fluffy scones served with clotted cream and homemade jam — as well as the cheeky complimentary GODIVA chocolate gift you get to take home. Sound like your idea of heaven? Well, get in there quick as this sweet deal is only available until
April 30.
GREEN at Hotel ICON, 7 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, (+852) 3400 1300
$288 per person or $546 for two, (3pm – 5.30pm)
Read more! Check out our Food & Drink section, and these mouth-watering Happy Hour deals around Hong Kong.
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