Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong has completed the second phase of the hotel’s transformation with the opening of Bar Argo and lobby café Gallery.
Joining the hotel’s collection of Michelin-starred dining destinations, the two new restaurant and beverage outlets further strengthen the Four Seasons’ 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 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.
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 primary attention on innovation in spirits production. The debut cocktail menu Here Today, Gone Tomorrow celebrates six staple ingredients – honey, cacao, vanilla, coffee, rice, and apple – that may be endangered in the future and unfolds their flavours and stories in a unique and creative way.
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 beehive, located in Mai Po, produces mono-floral lychee and longan honey, which is used in the bar’s honey-based cocktails, while Chocolate Concierge focuses on ethical sourcing of single-origin cocoa from indigenous communities in Malaysia.
A special rotating section of the menu, Canvas, focuses on seasonal creations and collaborations with producers and like-minded 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 celebrates innovators in spirits making, highlighting each spirit’s story, provenance, production methods and transparency. The categories include 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.
The new bar also 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 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.
Lorenzo Antinori, Beverage Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and Beverage Ambassador of Four Seasons Asia Pacific, and local award-winning mixologist Summer Lonand their team bring the avant-garde bar experience to Four Seasons Hotels Hong Kong, after breaking new ground with Caprice Bar in 2021, which earned the #10 spot on 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.
“Argo is a space driven by curiosity,” says Antinori. “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.”
A Relaxing Haven at the Heart of the Hotel
Designed with a warm and inviting flair, Gallery is an inspiring space centred around the hotel’s grand spiral staircase that offers business travellers 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 Tokyo specialty coffee brand 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, rare and cold brew teas, with a resident tea master from Yu Tea House in charge of the tea service.
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