It’s not easy to stand out in Hong Kong’s excellent cocktail scene, but the people behind Aberdeen Street speakeasy The Old Man have nailed it with creative libations at reasonable prices in a welcoming setting. And the formula is working: The Old Man took home the top billing at Asia’s 50 Best Bar Awards 2019 in May, and opened an outpost in Singapore earlier this year. The founders are now extending the Ernest Hemingway theme with a spinoff in Sheung Wan called The Sea – expect a heavy nautical theme that permeates everything from the drinks to the décor.
Cocktail corner
Agung Prabowo, co-founder of The Sea, shares his insights
How would you describe the design? “The yacht-like interior is inspired by Pilar, Hemingway’s fishing boat, so there’s lots of mahogany.”
What’s new with drinks? “Drinks at The Sea will be rustic and minimal. They will have a lot of minerality with ingredients from the sea.”
What’s a must-try drink? “I’d choose Cocktail No 1. It’s made with seaweed gin and lacto-fermented pineapple rind soda – simple but delicious.”
