Bohemian-style cocktail lounge opens in HK’s historic Tai Kwun

Dragonfly, the bohemian-style cocktail lounge designed by Ashley Sutton, has opened its doors inside Tai Kwun, the historic police station turned into a hip dining and art space in Central.

Madame Marie cocktail is a mix of horseradish-infused vodka, Worcestershire sauce, smoked salt, lemon and tomato, served with an oyster on top

Located in the old Superintendent’s House of the former Central Police Station, Dragonfly embraces the European heritage of its surrounding. Inspired by creatives from the ‘Art Nouveau’ movement, the bar captures the spirit of the era’s decadence, bohemian salons and timeless artistry.

Dragonfly is the latest brainchild of Stutton, a leading bar designer in Asia most known for the Iron Fairies bar in Bangkok and Hong Kong. The latter has become an instagram-famous spot for its ceiling full of real butterfly specimens.

The opening follows on the heels of a few new bars such as Room 309 by Hong Kong’s restaurant and bar company Tasting Group and independent venture, The Wise King.

Inspired by a brooch designed by French artist René Lalique, a large, human-form dragonfly with mosaic-patterned wings spans the length of the bar and takes centre stage inside the lounge, while over 500 cast-iron dragonflies adorn the bar area and the walls. Dragonfly’s outdoor area spreads into one of Tai Kwun’s stone-paved passageways, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the history of their surroundings while enjoying the live band.

The cocktail menu, created by bar manager Brent Flowers, features concoctions such as ‘Monet’s Teapot’ made from gin, sake, cucumber, nori and lime, served in a Tetsubin cast-iron teapot.

‘Dragon’s Pearls’ is a sweeter cocktail with Jasmine milk tea mixed with mandarin, gin and cognac, and the Thai-inspired ‘Golden Serpent’, a mix of coconut-infused Jamaican rum, lemongrass palm sugar and pineapple juice, served with an unconventional garnish of macaron on top. The eponymous ‘Madam Marie’ is bold mix of horseradish-infused vodka, Worcestershire sauce, smoked salt, lemon and tomato, served with an oyster.

The 70-seat bar also serves small plates along with cocktails and is open every day from 5pm onwards.