Calabrese opens new bar in HK

Famed bartender, Salvatore Calabrese who is behind some of the world’s most expensive cocktails has launched a new bar Salavatore at Maison Eight in Hong Kong.

Located in 8 Observatory Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Maison Eight combines a dining room, Salvatore’s Bar and private rooms all under one roof and headed up by general manager Joe Chan, head of bar Fabien Marcault and assistant general manager Guillaume Places.

“It’s like a luxury hotel without rooms,” said Places who looks after the substantial wine list which is categorised by grape varietal and with an emphasis on ‘forgotten vines’ and wines from lesser-known producers.

Maison Eight has also shone a light on Bollinger with the unveiling of the world’s first ‘Bollinger Champagne Room – Le Club 1829’, a private dining area named after Bollinger’s year of foundation and which serves the Grandes Marques’ brut, rose, La Grande Annee 2004 and La Grande Annee rose 2004, Bollinger’s R.D extra brut 2002 and its ‘most mythical’ cuvee, the Vieilles Vignes Françaises (VVF) 2004.

Bollinger’s brut and rose are offered by the glass in addition to Jacques Picard brut. Other champagnes available by bottle include Besserat de Bellefon and Henri Giraud.

The glitzy private dining room, Le Club 1829

Marcault, a protégé of Calabrese and behind another of Hong Kong’s skyhigh venues, Ce La Vi, runs the bar and looks after a varied list of cocktails created by him and Calabrese.

His signature cocktails are Summer Memory, a frozen drink for Hong Kong’s current hot and humid weather; Fair Enough, a mix of rum, Fair goji liqueur, lemon juice, red fruit tea, pineapple and egg white, and Zen Cha (HKD 108) “made for lightweights and with powerful anti-pollution properties against Hong Kong’s smoggy climate,” he said.

Salvatore at Maison Eight is on the 21st floor and has a commanding view of Victoria Harbour.

It was first rumoured to be opening via a statement on Calabrese’s website in March where he said he would be leaving Salvatore’s Bar at the Playboy Club in London for Hong Kong.

“You’ll appreciate that after four decades of late nights in London, and after running bars in casinos and fancy hotels I’m ready for something different,” he said.