1. The Foundry’s Canto Night Takeover at Ser Wong Fun
Kicking off proceedings in style on Sunday, Singapore-based marketing agency The Foundry has commandeered the 129-year-old snake restaurant Ser Wong Fun to throw an industry soirée in celebration of the rich heritage of Cantonese culture. Headlining the event are Lola Lau of Guangzhou’s Hope and Sesame, which was ranked the best bar in mainland China by Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023; Samuel Kwok of forthcoming The Opposites, a new cocktail bar from the former manager of Quinary and veteran bartender Antonio Lai; Tiger Irene Leung of Changsha-based CMYK; and yours truly, representing Cantonese cocktail bar Kinsman. Cocktails made using Ser Wong Fun’s snake wine aren’t the only attraction though: May Chow, founder of Little Bao and winner of Asia’s Best Female Chef 2017, will tend the woks to turn out Cantonese bar bites against the thumping disco beats of remixed Cantopop from DJ Fabsabs.
Sunday, 8-11pm
Ser Wong Fun, G/F, 30 Cochrane Street, Central
2. Sips and Handshake Speakeasy at Coa
The Hispanosphere, all the way from Spain to Mexico, comes together at tequila and mescal haven Coa – placed first among Asia’s 50 Best Bars three times. The star-studded event will be headed by Simone Caporale of Sips Barcelona, reigning king of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Meanwhile, Handshake Speakeasy’s bar director, Eric van Beek, brings the molecular mixology of North America’s best bar of 2024 from Mexico City. If anything less than No 1 doesn’t cut it for you then this is not to be missed – if, that is, you can beat the queue outside Coa, which is sure to swell to even more epic proportions than usual.
Sunday, 4pm onwards
Coa, LG/F, Wah Shin House, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central
3. Singapore Takeover at Thirsty Shaker
Singapore and Hong Kong have long been the best of frenemies, but we can set this rivalry aside to welcome reps from three of the Lion City’s top bars to Thirsty Shaker. Gracing the line-up is Nutmeg & Clove, which pays tribute to Singapore’s history and culture; recently-opened agave and rice spirits bar Cat Bite Club; and Night Hawk, an Edward Hopper-inspired drinking den that blends past and future in a delicious mixture of flavour and urban alienation.
Monday, July 15, 9pm onwards
Thirsty Shaker, 3/F, Hilltop Plaza, 49 Hollywood Road, Central
4. Barstars Series at The Green Door
Female bartenders are still woefully under-represented in Asia, but that’s set to change – if for one night only. As part of its Barstars event series, Singapore-based The Orientalist Spirits is working with The Green Door’s bar manager, Arlene Wong, to gather 10 prominent lady mixologists from across the continent for an ambitious showcase of the best female talent behind the stick. There are faces new and familiar: Lolita Goh of JungleBird and Hazel Long of Junior Pocket Bar are both acclaimed founders of their own bars in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, respectively, while Singapore-based Zana Möhlmann, head bartender of Manhattan, and Chunyanuch “Ning” Yodsuwan of BKK Social Club will have their award-winning mixing skills on full display. But the event is also a platform for female talent from less prominent cocktail destinations; and for this reason, we’re equally intrigued by what Chimney’s Ellen Xu from Hangzhou and Chun Chun from The Pi in Ho Chi Minh City have to offer.
Monday, July 15, 8pm onwards
The Green Door, G/F, 97 Wellington Street, Central
5. Taiwan Takeover at Tell Camellia
The island of Formosa punches well above its weight when it comes to matters of the strong water, with Japanese influences and a respect for indigenous spirits and botanicals characterising its bar scene. Tell Camellia will host talent from a handful of the foremost bars in Taiwan, the Pottinger Street staple welcoming a top Taipei trio of: Room by Le Kief, a bastion of molecular mixology opened by mad scientist Seven Yi and famed for immersive drinking experiences pairing zany potions with canapés reflecting Yi’s fine-dining background; The Public House, which reimagines the British pub as a watering hole with exquisite, Ginza-style cocktails; and To Infinity and Beyond, which pays homage to the golden era of space exploration. Finally, Moonrock is the representative from Tainan City, with a focus on elegant, culinary-led cocktails.
Monday, July 15, 4pm onwards
Tell Camellia, Shop 2, LG/F, 45 Pottinger Street, Central
6. No Sleep Charlie at Artifact
Emotions, and probably blood sugar, are sure to be running high on Tuesday after the Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony at the Rosewood Hong Kong. All the better, then, that the unofficial after-party is taking place just a hop, skip and Star Ferry ride away at Artifact, the extraterrestrial speakeasy opened by Beckaly Franks and Ezra Star tucked away in BaseHall 02 at Jardine House. Tending the bar are Odd Strandbakken, the head bartender of Four Seasons Seoul’s Charles H., a Prohibition era-inspired cocktail den ranked seventh among Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022; and Juan Yi Jun, the co-founder and head bartender of upstart Singaporean bar No Sleep Club. It’s sure to be jam-packed on the night – all the more reason to cosy up with some of the industry’s greats.
Tuesday, July 16, 10pm onwards
Artifact, No 1 & 2, BaseHall 02, Shop 5 & 7, LG/F, Jardine House, Central
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