The name conjures up images of a woman about town – the cinematic cosmopolitan beauty, socialite, heiress and all-around stunner… Welcome to Hong Kong, Lily.
Lily’s interiors are best described as Mad Men on moonshine; the kind of place where you can channel your inner Marilyn, Rita Hayworth or Cary Grant; a place where that elusive something you can’t quite put your finger on meets sheer sex appeal. The best part: there’s no minimum table charge and no guest list. Just rock up, say hello and sit down. No fuss – just the way I like it.
Wood paneling, ornate iron grills, unisex toilets, porcelain fountain, glass chandeliers and that amicable buzz of patrons enjoying great food and even better cocktails.
Drawing inspiration from the speakeasies of the 1920s jazz and prohibition era, you’ll find clandestine cigar rooms behind closed doors, a refreshing range of nearly-forgotten cocktails and plush leather furniture set against the flickering glow of tea light candles – all in all, a sleek and intimate respite from the brashness of Lan Kwai Fong.
Unlike most bars in Hong Kong, they don’t free-pour their spirits but instead use measures. This ensures a consistently delicious cocktail every time. There’s nothing worse than opting for your favourite mojito at a much loved bar and finding the flavour is completely off because your bartender isn’t working that night.
At Lily, their bartenders are not only first rate mixologists, they are extremely knowledgeable about the history of every single cocktail they make – I dare you to challenge them!
I am a newfound convert of their Raspberry Sidecar and Vodka Southside; both achieve that perfect balance of sweet and tart with refreshing summer flavours that go down – I’m somewhat ashamed to say – a little too easily. Other suggestions: vodka or gin gimlet, Old Fashioned (à la Mad Men), Classic Negroni or Daiquiri. Those who appreciate a stronger brew should try the mint julep – a generous dose of Woodford Reserve Bourbon and mint over plenty of rough-cut ice. Yes, even ice cubes are too 21st century for Lily. Ice is carved from a solid block in rocky chunks, old school style.
Carrying on the prohibition theme – skirting around Hong Kong’s smoking ban – their secret cigar room, hidden behind an innocuous looking part of the wall, is the perfect place to enjoy a private smoke. They not only have lockable humidors for rent, which can be used for storing your favourite cigars, but also an ingenious self-service system for ordering food and drinks to the room. Suffice to say, the system involves coloured lights, an old-fashioned phone and a cleverly-concealed cubby hole. I’ll leave the rest for you to discover.
One of the best things about Lily is that the kitchen stays open until 3am at weekends and 2am on weeknights. A menu that includes roasted bone marrow, burgers with truffle mayo, beef tenderloin Carpaccio, and Waldorf salad showcases the classic NYC influences evident throughout.
One floor down is the bistro, brasserie and oyster bar, Bloom. The rolling blackboard and long bar conjure up scenes of secret rendezvous; a place where passionate affairs take place…
Together, Lily and Bloom make the perfect pair.
Lily and Bloom
6/F & 5/F LKF Tower
33 Wyndham Street
Central, Hong Kong
+852 2810 6166
