Bar review: Potato Head, Sai Ying Pun – it’s not just the seaside that’s missing

The vibe: this recently opened Hong Kong outpost of Bali's celebrated Potato Head Beach front Club delivers a touch of the tropics to trendy Sai Ying Pun, with a store marketing Balinese merchandise, good eating restaurant Kaum and a roomy bar that doubles as a espresso store. Backpackers and beach front bums would come to feel at house in the relaxed atmosphere, with well-worn sixties-style wooden household furniture and Indonesian rugs, warm, welcoming provider and music performed on what looks (but does not seem) like an previous-fashioned house stereo.

Hong Kong receives a taste of Indonesian style and flavours with a twist

The beverages: the cocktails are designed to integrate Indonesian elements in presentation (persistently fashionable) and flavours, yet in spite of the exotic substances and high quality liquor, have been instead tame – or possibly they just do not function as effectively in an urban placing. The Rosella Margarita (HK$one hundred twenty, rosella-infused Ocho Tequila, orange curacao, vanilla syrup and lime), could have completed with far more lime and the tequila was masked, fairly than balanced, by the rosella and vanilla.

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My companion expressed a craving for coconut (definitely a seminal tropical ingredient), only to find there was nothing on the listing. Nevertheless, the bartender obligingly improvised a blend of coconut juice, spiced rum, palm sugar and curacao (HK$120). Served in a fresh coconut and decorated with a lighted cinnamon stick, it seemed very good but tasted bland – plenty of coconut, way too small alcoholic beverages.

The Indo Bloody Mary (HK$120, pepper-infused Ketel One vodka, tomato, beetroot and carrot juices, sambal, tamarind, cloves, red chilli, coriander leaves, black pepper and sea salt) was a good get on the classic variation and not practically as intense as it sounded. The beetroot juice added a unique observe and the garnish of cherry tomato and Chinese celery was a great contact.

The Barong Zombie (HK$135, Nusa Caña and Myers's rum, pineapple-infused arak, orange curacao, cherry liqueur, absinthe, pink grapefruit, guava and pineapple juice, enthusiasm fruit syrup and bitters), served in a enjoyable teak cup with a monkey's encounter carved on it, was yet another sweet, fruity concoction – the liquor incredibly subdued for a consume that carries a warning that only two for every go to are allowed.

The verdict: wonderful occupation on environment and support but you'd need to have to be on a seashore in Bali to get a buzz from the cocktails.