Hong Kong speakeasy bar 001 is back, with new cocktails and an equally hidden location – though owners confess people ‘found us too fast’
- Known for its classic cocktails and Prohibition-era vibe, 001 closed in 2022 but is back in a new location at the Tai Kwun heritage and arts centre in Central
- The Earl Grey Marteani is the lone survivor on a revamped cocktail list, while the bar continues to offer an extensive catalogue of whiskies
It’s 2010. There is a black door, a strategically placed spotlight and a Belle Époque doorbell. These are the only hints that an entirely alternate world of drinks exists behind the fruit and vegetable stalls of Graham Street in Central, Hong Kong.
Press the bell, hold your breath. A few heartbeats later, the door opens slowly. “How many?” You answer. And the door slides shut again.
On some evenings, it feels as though that world beyond might have been shut off to you completely. But just when you think you might call it a night, the portal opens.
Thirteen years ago, before current legendary bars such as Quinary and COA existed, 001 was the place to be if you liked a proper drink. Like the Bugsy Malone song goes, “Anybody who is anybody will soon walk through that door.”
As the city’s first speakeasy, it took its part seriously. It featured dimmed lighting and plush furnishings, the occasional live jazz singers, and stoic bar staff who would sternly remind you of their no-photo policy (how things would change).
The stiff drinks, generous yet balanced in their pours, included classics such as the Smoked Negroni and Blood & Sand – making an appearance when, anywhere else, they’d be seen as esoteric.
