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Of all the gin joints…
We here at Sassy Mama love us some gin. Always our drink of choice, a classic G&T served up with some lime or cucumber on a hot summer’s day is pure perfection. But a mean gin cocktail is also a sure-fire way to our hearts! Cool, crisp and refreshing, it’s not hard to understand why this spirit is oh-so popular.
It was a tough job, but we did the legwork (and drinking!) for you (you’re welcome), and rounded up some of our very favourite gin cocktails available now in the 852. Bottoms up, ladies!
Read more: What’s New In The 852: Promos, Deals and New Places To Eat
Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour
A little hidden gem within The Landmark, Dr.Fern’s is a must try for gin lovers. Using organic and locally sourced ingredients and botanicals, along with premium gin, the cocktails here are sure to cure any ailment!
Taking this as a perfect excuse for us to try more than just one, we tasted our fair share of the menu, but our favourite was the Blind Tiger Gin & Fever Tree Tonic, which is garnished with grated lime and rosemary. Along with the set menu, Dr. Fern’s also whips up seasonal cocktails, which change on a daily basis, and if you can’t decide what to go for, the doctor is always there to prescribe something strong!
Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour, Shop B31A, First Basement Floor, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, www.drfernshk.com
Tiffany’s New York Bar, at The InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong
This old-school hotel bar may be known for its huge and varied selection of whisky, but the gin here is just as impressive! Check out the Gin & Jazz evenings (held every second Friday), for live music, a cosy speak-easy atmosphere and a short and sweet menu of fantastic gin cocktails. We loved the Elderflower, a refreshing blend of gin, tonic, elderflower and lime, or go for the Gin Re-Fashioned for a gin lovers twist on the classic Old Fashioned (perfect for the non-whisky drinkers out there, like me!).
Tiffany’s New York Bar, The InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, 70 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.hongkong.intercontinental.com/en/hotel-restaurant-and-bar/tiffany-new-york-bar
Ori-Gin
For a quirky and Insta-worthy gin cocktail, Ori-Gin is the place to head. Known for its popular KGB cocktail, which is served up in a mini bathtub (rubber ducky on the side!), Ori-Gin’s cocktail menu is extensive, with everything from G&T’s, classic gin cocktails and some fun and original mixes. As fans of all things sour, our personal favourite is the Super Lemon, a blend of slow-cooked lemon Tanqueray gin and lemon sorbet topped soda. It even comes complete with a Super Lemon candy pegged to the side of the glass, just the thing for the big kids at heart out there!
Ori-Gin, G/F, 48 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, originbar.hk
ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge
Okay, we know we are starting to get redundant, but can we tell you how much we loved the gin and tonics here? Aside from the fact that the outdoor patio is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a lovely view of Central, we were impressed with the selection on hand at ON.
Served much like a Manhattan (with a very large ice cube), we couldn’t get enough of The Mancino Rickey, made with Big Gin, Mancino Bianco, fresh lime, Yuzu, and fresh shiso leaves. Served double strained and lightly infused with Japanese flavours, we were smitten. Barkeep, get us another!
ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge, 29/Floor, 18 On Lan Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.ontop.hk
The Optimist
Would you like a G&T as big as your head? Good. You’ve come to the right place. The Sassy Mama fave is called Cilantro’s Theory, which is a brilliant combination of Bombay gin infused coriander, Chase elderflower liquor, white Yzaguiree vermouth, lemongrass, cucumber and lemon juice (I mean, could it sound any more delicious?).
It was served in a very large wine glass with just the right amount of ice to be refreshing. There are other options as well, including the Crazy Monkey (Monkey 47 gin, rhubarb liquor, grapefruit juice, lime juice, rosemary and Schweppes tonic water), the Spritz Me Up (Aperol, lime juice, white Yzaguirre vermouth, coconut water and Prosecco).
The Optimist, 239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, theoptimist.hk
Ping Pong 129 Gintonéria
The red door is your only clue you’ve arrived at this speakeasy, and once you step inside, you know you’ve come to the right place. Walk down the steps into a super cool layout that was once a ping pong supply company. Its concrete walls, low lighting and living room atmosphere is both hip and inviting.
For any gin lover (us!), Ping Pong has one of the most comprehensive lists of gins from all over the world, namely, Spain. From the classic Martin Millers to the premium gins like Gin Self from Valencia, there is no shortage of selection. The one we enjoyed most was made with Xoriguer gin, garnished with lemon zest and mint leaves.
Ping Pong 129 Gintoneria, 129 Second Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, www.pingpong129.com
CÉ LA VI
If you want to sip on a gin cocktail in serious style, there is no better place than CÉ LA VI. Known for its stunning rooftop with sweeping views over HK and cool club lounge downstairs, it is the perfect spot to see and be seen (cocktail in hand, of course!), and even better for date night with the hubby. To get your gin fix, try the Skydeck Swizzle, made with Tanqueray No. Ten Gin, Prune Eau De Vie, lemon, lavender and soda.
Beautifully presented in lavender hues, this floral cocktail is super delicious and refreshing. If you’re looking for something a little less pink, we also loved the East Side, mixed with Tanqueray No. Ten gin, Bols Genever, lime, cucumber and mint. We thought it was the perfect drink to sip on when Hong Kong gets hot and steamy.
CÉ LA VI, 25/F California Tower, 36, 30 D’Aguilar Street, Central, Hong Kong, hk.celavi.com
65 Peel
Without a doubt, 65 Peel has one of the best gin and tonics we have ever tasted. Complete with sliced cucumber and juniper berries, it was refreshing and delicious to the point where it could have been dangerous (cut to one of us being pulled away from ordering several too many…). We could go on and on, but you have to trust us on this: try it for yourself.
65 Peel, 65 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/65peel
Le Boudoir
This quirky little bar isn’t just great for live music and intimate gatherings. It has a gin cocktail that we found to be de-lish! The naughty but nice Eden’s Garden is made from Aviation Gin, Aperol, apricot, lemon, rosemary, and honey syrup. Delightfully light with just the right amount of sweetness for when you want a real cocktail but don’t want too much liquor bowling you over. Perfect for summer.
Le Boudoir, B/F 65 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.french-creations.com/boudoir
QUINARY
Bartenders here take their craft very seriously, so when we ordered the On The Meadow, we had a feeling it wouldn’t disappoint (we were right!). Seriously mouth-watering in its description (it is made with refreshing lemongrass-redistilled Tanqueray gin, elderflower syrup, lime juice, and a hint of mint syrup), we just had to try another to make sure we weren’t wrong. (We weren’t.)
QUINARY, 56-58 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, www.quinary.hk
OZU Bar
The bartenders drink with you, the hip-hop runs all night, and everybody leaves with more alcohol in their system. Though most Friday night drinkers will be picking from the extensive saké-based cocktail selection, the G&T here is a favourite of ours. Served in a head-sized goblet, it’s no surprise. Pair the Hendrick’s (it comes with thin slices of cucumber and a delicate rose fragrance) with the fried tempura, and your night is set.
OZU Bar, Chinachem Hollywood Centre, 1 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/ozubar
Portico at Spiga
When G&T is your drink of choice, it’s clear you’re keen on the classics (and it’s also clear that you have impeccable taste, if we do say so ourselves!). The outdoor location at Spiga is so cool, it’s been given it’s own name. Portico is all about offering classic drinks in a standout location. No fuss, no frills, just the way we like it. Gin is served in a Collins glass for good measure.
Portico at Spiga, Lht Tower Podium, 3/F, Central, Hong Kong, www.diningconcepts.com/restaurants/SPIGA
WTF Bar
Known as being a whiskey haven, this Sassy fave serves up a cocktail that isn’t just great to savour, it’s also beautiful to look at. The WTF Gin & Tonic is a Blue mallow blossom-infused gin with tonic. Topped with mixed berries and edible flowers, it looks (almost!) too pretty to drink. So we had three and a half.
WTF Bar, 10 Morrison Hill Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/barwtfhk
Read more: Sassy’s Favourite Local Bars in Hong Kong: Where Sassy Girls Go Drinking
Wooloomooloo
Located on the 21st floor of The ONE, Wooloomooloo is in a prime location for visiting guests. It’s worth heading straight to the outdoor balcony area and setting yourself up on one of the high stools overlooking the harbour. The fresh, cooling goblets of gin are a foolproof option for our warm summer nights!
Wooloomooloo Prime, 21/F 100 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.wooloo-mooloo.com
121 BC
The organic Farmer’s gin here is a step above the rest. Handcrafted in small batches, the juniper, elderflower, lemongrass, coriander, and angelica root tie together for a wonderfully fragrant concoction. Plus, this rustic space is a great location to check out Italian dishes over cosy shared tables. For a quiet catch up with your S.O., perch on the people-watching bar stools and order gin till your heart’s content.
121 BC, 44 Peel St, Central, Hong Kong, www.121bc.com.hk
Morton’s The Steakhouse
There are two here we fancy, but only one will knock you off your feet at the gate. The The Last Word, which is Hendrick’s Gin stirred with Green Chartreuse Liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur and fresh lime juice packs a punch so hard that one is absolutely enough! The less potent Pink & Tonic’s ingredients had us salivating at the description: lemongrass-infused Tanqueray Gin, pink grapefruit juice with tonic water and fresh lime. Is there anything that says ‘summer cocktail’ more than that? Available exclusively at Morton’s the Steakhouse Hong Kong, it was created by General Manager Simon Graham. It’s zingy and fragrant with just the right amount of sweet. Plus, isn’t everyone talking about ‘millennial pink’ as THE colour of the moment?
Morton’s The Steakhouse, The Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Fourth Level, 20 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.mortons.com
La Paloma
Don’t think gin is just a British drink, La Paloma has a good list of cocktails that are refreshing and delicious. Our personal fave is the Jodhpur, which has juniper and lemon, making it a simple yet delicious drink to sip while enjoying the weather on the balcony.
La Paloma, 189 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun (enter on Wilbur Street), Hong Kong, www.lapaloma.hk
