At MONDRIAN Hong Kong, we’re inspired. By people. People, like our new Head of Bars, the multi-award-winning local legend Joe Villanueva, who has set out to redefine the art of mixology with creatively breathtaking new cocktails inspired by some of Hong Kong’s most loved dishes and iconic local flavours. Villanueva, a winner in various prestigious cocktail competitions and a 20-year veteran of Hong Kong’s ever-evolving bar scene, now brings his passion, experience and verve to Mondrian.Villaneuva will be front and centre of Avoca, MONDRIAN Hong Kong’s flagship bar on the 38th floor, with its own dedicated lift from Hart Avenue, and featuring panoramic vistas of Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour. Not only has he created a locally-inspired cocktail menu that is a work of art, but he will also be rolling up his sleeves and mixing the drinks to the sounds of top DJs and cultural programming.  Expect a sophisticated vibe and a celebration of elevated bar culture, complemented by curated food and vibrant energy. A social meeting place celebrating elevated bar culture. ZERO-WASTE COCKTAILS. SAVOURY FLAVOURS. BETTER SIPPING THROUGH CHEMISTRY The full menus remain a closely-guarded secret until the hotel’s launch in December, but Villanueva drops some hints to tantalise cocktail connoisseurs. “We took local delicacies and turned them into cocktails. Savoury cocktails is a big trend now and I’m very keen on this. Mondrian prioritises localisation, and so I have taken that to the next level. For the LGM Mary, we macerated tequila blanco with black bean chilli oil from Lao Gan Ma, and mixed it with a clear bloody mary mix that is bursting with flavour. The Sesame and Peanut Butter Sour is based on a much loved street food favourite, which has become our take on the whiskey sour. If you look at the Clay Pot Negroni, it’s inspired by the classic Clay Pot Rice dish in Hong Kong.” Villanueva says he takes a lot of inspiration from chefs and applies innovative culinary techniques to mixology. “I’m very much into the rotary evaporator, the new hot toy for bartenders where you can redistill and flavour the liquor.” He says he is thrilled to join the Mondrian team and be part of the Kowloon renaissance that has seen much of the nightlife action cross the harbour from Central. “Kowloon is happening, there’s a great new sophistication and understanding of food and beverage culture.” “We have a young team, and I am very focused on instilling in them the passion and knowledge for cocktails and bar culture because what we are doing is pushing the envelope. A lot will depend on being able to educate customers with the stories and science behind what we are doing.” He says Avoca will also feature a ground-breaking way to allow guests to sample before committing to their next cocktail. “If you are going to spend serious money on a drink, you want to be sure you understand it and will enjoy it. We have come up with something that’s really novel. I can’t reveal the details yet but stay tuned!” Avoca also presents a curated menu inspired by Hong Kong  favourites with an Asian twist. Designed to perfectly complement the cocktail pairings, it ensures a harmonious and memorable dining experience. Think creations like Lobster & Crab Roll prepared in the Cantonese Typhoon Shelter-style; the signature Ciabatta Beef Pastrami Sandwich is a must-try, renowned for its tender beef pastrami with a crunchy ciabatta bread ; and Crispy Chicken Waffle inspired by Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken. Villanueva says things are coming full circle for the cocktail bar at the hotel. “There was a time in the 1980s and 1990s in Asia when bars at the hotel were the hot stuff, they were the first to be listed as part of the world’s top 50 bars. Then they started to age and lose their edge and it was all about stand-alone bars. Today, the bar located in the hotel has become the essence, sharpening the energy and the vibe, and is coming back to the forefront, and we are going to be leading that charge.” Avoca opens on December 8, 2023. Operating until 1am daily. For reservations, book online or contact us at (852) 3550 0338

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It’s no coincidence that Mondrian Hong Kong’s Q4 2023 opening is perfectly timed to city’s revival. This new standard of hospitality is integral to a rebirth that dares the culturally-curious to pass it by.  From the original MONDRIAN opened in the heart of Los Angeles, to properties in New York, Miami, London, Cannes, Doha and Seoul, the brand has always transformed and defined the neighbourhoods in which they are found through a commitment to creativity, art and the unexpected. The Hong Kong incarnation continues in this tradition, arriving with a promise to shake things up. Inspired By People. A statement that can only be born from this moment in time, Mondrian Hong Kong will bring its surrounding culture to life through a celebration of the people and progressive thought that characterize the city – past and present. This mission creates an experience that is undeniably authentic and relevant. It’s also core to the MONDRIAN brand, forged through collaboration with a roster of iconic dreamers and visionary designers. Chadi Farhat, Brand COO for Mondrian at Ennismore, states “Entering the Chinese market is an incredible milestone in our expansion, and as with all Mondrian locations globally, community and culture will be essential. Introducing the brand through personal stories and a variety of perspectives is a powerful way to foster a meaningful connection with the local community and engage travelers with an experience that is truly inspiring.” Diversity and inclusion form the fabric of Mondrian Hong Kong. The leader at its helm, Dirk Dalichau is weaving a dazzling tapestry of diverse human potential into over-the-horizon thinking and a commitment to disruption and that has become his calling card. “‘Inspired. By People ‘isn’t just sentiment for us; it’s a promise and an ethos we live and breathe. There is no doubt in my mind the more diversity the better, race, cultural, sexual, gender, religion. You are just a better team for it. So, it’s a massive philosophy for us. I find endless inspiration in people and their stories,” says Dalichau. A Modern Cultural Fairytale The journey begins with an impeccable location. Mondrian Hong Kong taps the beating pulse of Tsim Sha Tsui’s vitality, boasting immediate MTR access and proximity to the arts and culture scene. Its immersive, gallery-like interiors belong amid this landscape, featuring designs from the wild imagination of Karin Krautgartner. Each of its 324 rooms serve as a personal outlook, perched high above the bustling waters of Victoria Harbor. Stories of creative minds further abound in a Joyce Wang-designed, sophisticated nose-to-tail steakhouse by Italian culinary philosopher and maverick Dario Cecchini; one of the first bars in Asia to use the cutting-edge Tayer cocktail workstation system developed by two award-winning bartenders for the ultimate freedom in cocktail craft; art that mirrors life in the city, and a 40th floor rooftop space given over to cultural happenings, performative innovations and unexpected collaborations. “The vision is the hotel as progressive and imaginative community, a place to connect, have fun, be challenged, experiment, and come away inspired,” says Dalichau.“I couldn’t be more excited about the timing. Travel and business is beginning to boom again, Hong Kong is buzzing, Kowloon is transforming, the centre of gravity is shifting, the whole West Kowloon Cultural District is amazing and the nightlife is truly 24-7.” Tony Yeung, Chief Executive Officer, Peterson Group said: “With the completion of multiple landmark projects in the West Kowloon, Hong Kong’s culture scene is set to be redefined.  To align with this new future, MONDRIAN seeks to create a new hospitality experience for the global traveller that is rich in culture and surprises.  By collaborating with local and international designers, artists and chefs, Mondrian Hong Kong aims to stimulate one’s senses to fulfil the whole journey for those who are seeking a new perspective of this exciting city.” “It is a privilege to help bring such an iconic lifestyle brand to this part of the world and to help shape the MONDRIAN brand to a mostly Asian audience,” says Dalichau.

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