FOUR SEASONS HOTEL HONG KONG COMPLETES SECOND PHASE OF HOTEL TRANSFORMATION, LAUNCHES NEW BAR ARGO AND NEW CAFÉ GALLERY (China)
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong announces the completion of the second phase of its Hotel transformation, with the opening of its innovative new bar ARGO and lobby café Gallery on July 15, 2021. |
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FOUR SEASONS HOTEL HONG KONG COMPLETES SECOND PHASE OF HOTEL TRANSFORMATION, LAUNCHES NEW BAR ARGO AND NEW CAFÉ GALLERY (China)
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong announces the completion of the second phase of its Hotel transformation, with the opening of its innovative new bar ARGO and lobby café Gallery on July 15, 2021. |
Category: Asia Pacific - China - Industry economy
vRenovation / Addition
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2021-07-08
Joining the Hotel’s collection of Michelin-starred dining destinations, the two new restaurant and beverage outlets further strengthen the Hotel’s position as a global dining and fine drinking mecca.
Breaking new ground with a thoughtful bar program, collaborations and innovative cocktails, the neo-classically designed ARGO has been created as a vessel for innovation, and is poised to become a Hong Kong staple among spirits aficionados.
Meanwhile, Gallery hosts a cosy living room space that boasts chic dining during the day. Designed by AB Concept, the new venues are key additions to the lobby transformation that provide guests with an all-new arrival experience.
ARGO: A Vessel for Innovation and Exploration
ARGO is a cocktail bar that explores the modern world, celebrating innovation in the world of fine drinking. Its name is inspired by the myth of Jason and the Argonauts and their journey of discovery and exploration.
ARGO focuses on how the world around us is shaping the way we drink and eat, with a primary attention to innovation in spirits making.
The debut cocktail menu "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" celebrates six staple ingredients that may be endangered in the future, and unfolds their flavours and stories in a unique and creative way. The ingredients are honey, cacao, vanilla, coffee, rice, and apple.
The bar has partnered with local bee farm HK Raw Honey and cacao farm Chocolate Concierge in Malaysia in the sourcing of ingredients for cocktail creations. ARGO’s very own bee hive located in Mai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, produces mono-floral lychee and longan honey, which is used in the honey-based cocktails.
Chocolate Concierge focuses on ethical sourcing of single-origin cocoa from the indigenous people in local plantations in Malaysia, bringing taste profiles from batch to batch that are unique every time.
A special rotating section of the menu, "Canvas," focuses on seasonal creations and collaborations with producers and likeminded people, pushing the boundaries of cocktail creativity.
Alongside the cocktail menu, ARGO introduces the "Field Guide to the World’s Innovative Spirits," a collection of spirits housed in the bar’s Field Guide book that celebrate the innovators in spirits making, introducing them under a different light and breaking the rules of traditional spirits classification, highlighting their story, provenance, production methods and transparency.
The categories are: Modernist Spirits, Collaborative Creations, Philanthropic and Socially Conscious, Sense of the Land, and Clash of the Worlds. Half of the collection is available for the very first time in Hong Kong at ARGO.
ARGO welcomes exciting collaborations with producers, craftspeople and thought leaders in the global spirits industry, with local players creating exceptionally crafted drinks made exclusively for the bar. The custom-made ARGO Gin debuts as the bar’s first collaboration, created in conjunction with the award-winning Australian distillery Never Never Distilling Co.
ARGO also hosts regular networking events to bring together industry trailblazers, special guests and enthusiasts in celebrating the fine art of mixology.
Led by Lorenzo Antinori, Beverage Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and Beverage Ambassador of Four Seasons Asia Pacific, and managed by local award-winning mixologist Summer Lo, the dynamic-duo and their team bring the avant-garde bar experience to Four Seasons Hotels Hong Kong, after breaking new ground with Caprice Bar in 2021 - named #10 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
The interior design concept of ARGO is based on a conservatory, with sweeping architectural curves playing with the boundaries between exterior and interior, bringing the outdoors in with small terrariums and mirrors. A wooden mural with subtle laser-engraved foliage marks the entrance.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the venue’s main feature – a mesmerising centre stage bar – enveloped by views facing the Victoria Harbour.
Gallery: A Relaxing Nook Featuring Artisanal Coffee and Tea and Western Cuisine with an Asian Twist
Designed with a warm and inviting flair, Gallery is an inspiring space centred around the Hotel’s grand spiral staircase that offers comfort food with a local flair and a beverage program that bridges the world of coffee and tea. The venue also features an afternoon offering inspired by the Hotel’s Michelin-starred establishments, focused on beautifully presented East and West tea-time treats paired with single origin coffee and tea and bespoke blends.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong is the first hotel in Hong Kong to embark on a special partnership with the specialty coffee brand from Tokyo Omotesando Koffee for a curated, modern and specialised coffee experience.
The coffee program at Gallery focuses on high-level craftsmanship with an Omotesando-trained in-house team, ensuring flair and theatrical presentations. Single origin coffee beans are roasted in Japan with a unique roasting style, available exclusively at Gallery.
Gallery also offers bespoke Chinese teas in partnership with Yu Tea House, including iconic signature serves and a quarterly-rotating organic seasonal selection, executed using a combination of modern and traditional techniques. The high quality selection includes classic teas, rare teas and cold brew tea.
The tea master from Yu Tea House is in charge of the tea service at Gallery with a focus on mindful and professional making of tea.
“The transformation is part of our long-term strategic plan and we have invested much thought into the concept and design of the two new outlets. ARGO is poised to be the destination for discerning travellers and aficionados globally and locally, and both venues will appeal to a new generation of customers, offering our guests new and modern culinary and drinking options,” says Bill Taylor, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.
“ARGO is a space driven by curiosity. We are curious about the world around us and how it affects our relationship with drinks and food. This journey gives us the opportunity to explore ingredients, flavours, and exciting and innovative spirits. We hope to trigger curiosity, excitement and open a new window on how spirits have been seen traditionally,” says Lorenzo Antinori, Beverage Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and Beverage Ambassador of Four Seasons Asia Pacific.
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