VEGAS STYLE
Lakage, Hongkong
This bar sets itself apart from its precursors in Lan Kwai Fong with a Las Vegas theme. A life-size golden birdcage – definitely not for the faint-hearted – is the pièce de résistance and a stage for performances. Low-rise lounge sofas provide comfort for the guests. There is a bar as well as a VIP area catering for the big spender and his 29 guests, at a minimum cost of HK$3,000 (US$386) per table.
THE PLAYLIST: Dance music.
FOOD AND DRINKS: Concoctions, courtesy of resident mixologists, have raunchy names like The Porn Star, Kinky Mule and Cage Quencher. Patrons can munch on marinated olives, fruit and assorted cheese platters and hand-tossed pizzas from 9pm to 3am.
HAPPY HOURS: Daily 9pm-10pm; Ladies Night on Thursday
from 9pm.
CONTACT: 3/F Cosmos Building, 8-11 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, tel 852 2521 4848. Open from Monday to Saturday 9pm to 5am.
ECLECTIC MIX
Name This Bar, Sydney
A name search for the bar started since it opened last December, until “we find a name we like,” says Agnes Kumaina, who co-owns the bar with Simon Mercier in Sydney’s party central Darlinghurst. Name dropping is welcome, and customers are encouraged to scribble on the bar’s designated walls or visitors’ book. Besides Name This Bar, other popular names, so far, are Tequila Mocking Bar, No Name Bar, Sham Wow! and Studio City.
THE PLAYLIST: A wide variety ranging from open mic jam sessions to soulful house and Sydney’s top DJs popping in to drop some surprise sets.
FOOD AND DRINKS: The Name This Bar Mezze Plate consists of pesto, fetta, semi-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, chargrilled eggplant and zucchini and Turkish bread. Those craving for Chinese meat dumplings can place an order of “dim sim”. A selection of whites and reds, beers, spirits, champagne and cocktails make up the extensive drinks list.
HAPPY HOURS: Daily 4pm to 7pm.
CONTACT: 197 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, www.namethisbar.com.au. Open daily from 4pm to 12 midnight.
BEAT IT
Stereolounge, Singapore
Dark wood furnishings and swanky velvet seats feature in this bar – the brainchild of Michel Lu, a veteran of Singapore’s club scene. There is space for up to 150 people, and if that’s not enough, the Stereolab next door is a dance club for 300.
THE PLAYLIST: An eclectic mix caters for diverse music tastes. Calling fans of electronic music – Frankie Knuckles, Danny Krivit, Charles Webster and Louie Vega have performed here.
FOOD AND DRINKS: Latin-inspired food – like the Trio of Cuban Mini Beef Burgers with truffled mushrooms and arugula salad, Honey-Grilled Chicken Skewers and Spicy Meatballs – washed down with cocktails and premium alcohols such as Smirnoff Black.
HAPPY HOURS: Drinks go at half price from Monday to Friday 6pm to 9pm and on Saturday 9pm to 12am. Bankers and lawyers enjoy half-priced drinks on “Blackberry Wednesdays”.
CONTACT: 7 Raffles Boulevard, Pan Pacific Hotel, Marina Square, tel 65 6337 0800, www.stereolounge.sg. Open from Monday to Wednesday 5pm to 11pm, Thursday until 3am, Friday until 5am, Saturday 9pm to 5am, closed on Sunday.
CHINESE THEMED
Hakka Republic, Kuala Lumpur
This Chinese-themed bar is in the Golden Triangle entertainment and shopping precinct. It also features a dining room and three private areas, the largest of which can take 25.
THE PLAYLIST: Foot-tapping music is a highlight.
FOOD AND DRINKS: The snack menu is mainly Western rather than Chinese, such as quesadillas, fried stuffed olives and calamari. Lunch options including Wagyu Beef and Miso Foie Gras and Grilled Kampachi Fish are also popular here. The booze is imported from France, Italy and elsewhere in the price range of US$20 to over US$1,000 and an Italy-made Enomatic machine is used to keep the wine fresh. Check the bar’s website for food promotions.
HAPPY HOURS: Ladies’ Night on Wednesday.
CONTACT: Level 2, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P Ramlee, tel 60 3 2078 9908, www.hakkarepublic.com. Open from Monday to Friday 12pm to 3pm for lunch and 5pm to 1am for drinks and dinner, Saturday and Sunday from 5pm to 2am.
