Female bartenders honoured in HK Bar Awards

The leading ladies of HK’s bar scene are in the spotlight as the countdown begins to the Bar Awards announcement party. Here are the top 10 finalists of each of the Bar Awards categories.

After 12 days of being locked in a room with only bread and water, The Panel have selected the ten most exceptional bars and bartenders in Hong Kong.

The Bar Awards is proud to bring to you the Top Ten…in alphabetical order to make it fair, plus the judging criteria.

After 4 September, The Panel will have decided on the overall winner of each category which will be announced on Sunday, 25 September.

Also to cast no bias towards any of the finalists, we have included images of bars referenced throughout popular culture.

Bonus points for guessing which ones they are!

Best Female Bartender – The Ada Coleman Award presented by Don Julio

The one and only Ada Coleman

The Ada Coleman Award is an award dedicated to the hard work and achievement of Ada Coleman, the legendary head bartender of the American Bar of The Savoy Hotel in London in the early 1900s.

This award not only recognizes the best females bartenders but also pioneering gals of the hospitality industry that elevates the cocktail and bartending culture of Hong Kong.

Her knowledge and selflessness helps to increase awareness of the hospitality industry.

The finalists are:

Amanda Wan (The Envoy – The Pottinger)

Ana Souza (The Pontiac)

Beckaly Franks (The Pontiac)

Christine Lam (Quinary)

Dorothy Lam (Seafood Room)

Isabella Vannoni (The Optimist)

Laura Prabowo (Otto Lounge)

Rosni Gurung (Mott 32)

Vicky Kwan (Rhoda)

Victoria Chow (The Woods)

Bartender of the Year presented by Bacardi

The Bartender of the Year is an award given to the bartender whose skills, knowledge, and the ability to connect with people is extraordinary beyond measure. To have a drink made by
this individual is an outstanding experience in itself.

To be considered nominees must be bartending in an establishment in Hong Kong as of the nomination date.

The finalists are:

Agung Prabowo (Mandarin Oriental)

Antonio Lai (Quinary)

Arkadiusz Rybak (Zuma)

Beckaly Franks (The Pontiac)

Devender Sehgal (8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana)

Jay Khan (formerly of Osteria Felice)

Masayuki Uchida (Bar Butler The Japanese Whisky Bar)

Ryan Nightingale (Ham & Sherry, Back Bar)

Suraj Gurung (Stockton)

Wallace Lau (Topiary)

Best Bar Food Award presented by Aperol and Peroni

The award recognizes the Hong Kong bar with the most delicious bar food. The beverage program of an establishment, more often than not, overshadows the talents and creativity of the chefs. We would like to acknowledge their hard work and passion in the kitchen, behind the scenes.

The finalists are:

8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Duddell’s

Ham & Sherry (Back Bar)

Lily & Bloom

ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge

Potato Head

Rummin’ Tings

Stockton

Stone Nullah Tavern

Zuma

Best Beer Bar presented by Pilsner Urquell 

This award recognizes an establishment with a well thought out beer list that is also backed by knowledgeable and passionate people. Beer culture and especially craft beer has been and still is, a growing market in Hong Kong over the past couple of years.

The finalists are:

65 Peel

Bobby’s Rabble

BrewDog

FRITES

Hong Kong Brew House

Second Draft

The Ale Project

The Bottle Shop (formerly Little Beer Room)

The Globe

The Roundhouse Taproom

Best Cocktail Bar presented by Stolichnaya 

This award recognizes an establishment that does not cease to impress, each and every time you visit. The experience is always beyond excellence due to their impressive cocktails, food and drinks selection, hospitable service and mesmerizing ambience.

The finalists are:

8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Bar Butler The Japanese Whisky Bar

Ham & Sherry (Back Bar)

Lobster Bar and Grill (Island Shangri-La)

ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge

Quinary

Stockton

The Pontiac

The Woods

Zuma

Best Hospitality Team presented by St George Spirits 

This award recognizes that it is teamwork that makes the difference between a good bar and an excellent one. Awarded to the most hospitable service team, we would also like to encourage more people to join the service side of the industry with this mark of appreciation.

The finalists are:

Bar Butler The Japanese Whisky Bar

Carbone

Honi Honi Tiki Cocktail Lounge

Lobster Bar and Grill (Island Shangri-La)

Quinary

Stockton

The Pontiac

The Woods

Yardbird

Zuma

Best Hotel Bar presented by The Singleton

This award recognizes a hotel bar that is able to offer a great bar and beverage experience. Hotels bars have always been at the forefront of the cocktails scene and we want to recognize the hard work and achievement of these great bar teams.

The finalists are:

Blue Bar (Four Seasons)

Cafe Gray Deluxe (The Upper House)

Captain’s Bar (Mandarin Oriental)

Flint Grill & Bar (JW Marriott)

Lobster Bar and Grill (Island Shangri-La)

MO Bar (The Landmark Mandarin Oriental)

OZONE (The Ritz-Carlton)

Sugar (east)

The Envoy (The Pottinger)

**Tiffany’s New York Bar (InterContinental)

Vibes (The Mira)
**11 candidates due to Tiffany’s being entered as a Wildcard

Best New Cocktail Bar presented by Monkey Shoulder

This award recognizes a new establishment that has made an impact on the local cocktail culture. Opening a bar is difficult, and takes a lot of hard work and talent.

People who put together a great bar from day one and set high standards for new entrants to the bar community should be acknowledged.

The finalists are:

Foxglove

Jinjuu

Mahalo Tiki Lounge

Mercedes Me

Ophelia

Paradis Restaurant & Bar

Potato Head

Seafood Room

The Pontiac

VEA Restaurant & Lounge

Best Nightclub presented by GH Mumm

This award recognizes an establishment that offers a great nightclub experience, taking into account all aspects of the guest’s enjoyment from food and drinks, to comfort and ambiance, to music and atmosphere.

The finalists are:

Boujis

CE LA VI

dragon-i

Drop

insomnia

Levels

Ophelia

OZONE (The Ritz-Carlton)

Play

Volar

Best Restaurant Bar presented by William Chase

This award recognizes a restaurant that appreciate that diners want a great beverage program to accompany their food.

Diners are expecting more, and a well thought-out beverage program creates a memorable meal experience.

The finalists are:

8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana

Brickhouse

Lobster Bar and Grill (Island Shangri-La)

Mr & Mrs Fox

ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge

Potato Head

Rummin’ Tings

VEA Restaurant & Lounge

Yardbird

Zuma

Best Wine Bar presented by Berry Bros & Rudd

This award recognizes an establishment with an innovative philosophy on curating the best wine program. Having the most wines and variety on a wine list does not necessary make it the best bar.

We are looking for great wine programs that are focused, well curated and back by passionate and knowledgeable people.

The finalists are:

121BC

Bibo

Cafe Gray Deluxe (The Upper House)

Caprice (Four Seasons)

La Cabane Wine Bistro

Le Bistro Winebeast

Mercedes Me

MyHouse

ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge

Serge et le Phoque

Most Creative Cocktail Bar presented by D1

This award recognizes the establishment with the most innovative cocktail program. If there ever was an accolade that recognizes hard work and creativity, this is it. From sourcing the best ingredients to distilling the best spirits, and to the mise en place for the most unique and complicated cocktails – it’s a lot of hard work and extremely time consuming to be creative for one drink.

And it’s much harder to do so for an entire bar program.

The finalists are:

Duddell’s

Flint Grill & Bar (JW Marriott)

Ham & Sherry (Back Bar)

Honi Honi Tiki Cocktail Lounge

Quinary

Sohofama

Stockton

The Woods

VEA Restaurant & Lounge

Zuma

Young Bartender of the Year presented by East Imperial 

This award highlights the need for great new talent and to encourage young and passionate individuals to join the bar and beverage industry.

To be considered nominees must be born on or after 1 January 1991 (25 years old) and must be currently bartending in an establishment in Hong Kong as of the nomination date.

The finalists are:

Ali Nguyen (VEA Restaurant & Lounge)

Ajit Gurung (Stockton)

Ashim Gurung (Mott 32)

Austen Lendrum (Mahalo Tiki Lounge)

Kervin Unido (Mr & Mrs Fox)

Kovic Rai (Mr & Mrs Fox)

Kshitiz Gurung (Stockton)

Nastasia Flores (The Pontiac)

Prem Shireesh (ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge)

Timothee Becqueriaux (The Continental)

Toby Lo (Quinary)

**11 candidates due to 10th place being tied in points