Page 29 – RADII

RADII’s Top 5 Hong Kong Bars

Hong Kong has emerged as one of Asia’s most vibrant and influential bar scenes. In Asia’s 50 Best Bars rankings 2024, an impressive nine Hong Kong establishments made the prestigious list, including Bar Leone, which nabbed the coveted top spot, showcasing the city’s reputation for innovative mixology and a dynamic culture.

Here are a few favorites from the 2024 Asia’s Top 50 Bars 2024, along with some other bars we’d recommend. They are pushing the boundaries of the city’s bar scene — from championing locally-sourced and creative ingredients, to celebrating both Chinese and East-meets-West cultural identities through their drinks and spaces.

The Savory Project

Following the success of their award-winning bar Coa, co-founders Jay Khan and Ajit Gurung have brought their expertise in Asian-inspired cocktails to their new venture, The Savory Project, which was No. 19 in this year’s Asia’s Top 50 Bars list.

The Savory Project, nestled in Hong Kong’s Soho District, recognizes the demand for less sweet libations. Unlike Coa, which highlights Mexican spirits with a design aesthetic to match, The Savory Project has a cozier and more contemporary atmosphere whilst offering a range of flavors to choose from through its food and drinks.

For example, by blending unique ingredients like umami-packed white soy sauce in drinks such as the “Teriyaki,” along with skilled mixology and locally-sourced produce, this bar has established itself as a destination for adventurous drinkers seeking a new frontier of savory cocktails that push the boundaries of the traditional sweet-and-sour spectrum.

Mostly Harmless

Founded by Venezuelan-born bartender Ezra Star, this cocktail bar earned the No. 45 spot on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for 2024. Showcasing the bar’s deep appreciation for Hong Kong’s vibrant food and drink culture, Star uses local ingredients such as honey, tomatoes, and herbs to craft a four-drink tasting menu that changes daily and takes guests on a sensory journey through unique, creative cocktails, setting Mostly Harmless apart from the standard bar menu.

Moonkok

Drawing inspiration from Chinese temples and creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere, husband-and-wife co-founders Laszlo and Michele Raphael have crafted Moonkok as a true local community hub in Mong Kok — celebrating local culture and craftsmanship.

Through rotating art exhibits and a menu focused on artisanal beers under the bar’s own brand Moonzen (門神), cocktails, and locally-inspired bar snacks, the Raphaels strive to cultivate a hub where both the local and international communities can come together to appreciate Hong Kong’s unique heritage and creative spirit.

The Dispensary

Located in the historic Tai Kwun complex, The Dispensary blends modern design with nods to the building’s past as the former Central Police Station. Embracing the bar’s East-meets-West setting, the team has crafted a new signature cocktail — the Chilli Haw Margarita.

This drink puts a grown-up twist on a beloved Chinese herbal sweet called haw flakes, showcasing the bar’s innovative approach to mixology that also honors Hong Kong’s diverse culinary experiences and nostalgic memories.

Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour

Tucked behind a “doctor’s clinic” door, Dr. Fern’s Gin Parlour invites guests to discover its unique remedies — a vast selection of concoctions featuring around 200 premium gins from around the world, including a variety of Hong Kong and Chinese offerings like N.I.P. Rare Dry Gin, Two Moons, and Peddlers.

Evoking the mystique of an old world apothecary, the bar prescribes innovative gin-based “cures” that blend East-meets-West flavors, allowing patrons to immerse themselves in Hong Kong’s vibrant drinking culture while indulging in the bar’s cozy setting.

Ultimately, these five bars elevate Hong Kong’s drinking scene through their unwavering commitment to local ingredients, artistic talent, and cultural heritage. By crafting innovative cocktails and immersive experiences, they invite guests to explore the ingenuity and diversity that define the city’s ever-thriving bar landscape.

Banner image by Haedi Yue.

China’s “Nerdy Hurdler” Xu Zhuoyi Misses Finals But Gains Fans

Unfortunately, China’s hurdlers failed to achieve any medals at the Paris Olympics. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t managed to make waves back home. Wu Yanni’s tattoo and expressive make-up garnered her attention ahead of the Games, but the breakout star in Paris might actually be 20-year-old male hurdler Xu Zhuoyi.

Xu gained attention online after a strong performance in the 110-meters hurdles preliminaries. However, what really caught the eyes of Chinese fans was Xu’s unconventional appearance for a track and field athlete: in the race he sported a pair of nerdy-looking glasses, a “girly” hair tie on his wrist, and a golden necklace.

Despite his unassuming look, Xu performed impressively, winning his heat with a time of 13.40 seconds. The only Asian competitor to win his heat, his performance was notable but not unexpected: in 2023, he won a silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships and a bronze at the Asian Games.

Xu Zhuoyi Hurdling in the Olympics — Xu winning his preliminary. Image via Xinhua Net.

Netizens playfully remarked that his slim physique and explosive speed make him resemble a “track and field lynx.” They feel that he looks more like a college student or the kind of businessman you’d find around Shanghai’s Lujiazui skyscrapers, earning him the nicknames “nerdy hurdler” and “glasses flyer.” When asked why his glasses don’t fall off, Xu explained that he is accustomed to wearing glasses rather than contact lenses, and his running speed keeps them in place.

In the semi-final, Xu hit a few hurdles and finished with a time of 13.48 seconds, regrettably missing the final. So the athlete is heading back to China, where he’ll live up to his academic appearance by studying for a bachelor’s degree in sports training at Shanghai’s Tongji University.

Even though Xu failed to make the final, his performance is still a milestone, marking the first time a Chinese athlete born in the 2000s has reached the semi-finals in the men’s 110-meters hurdles at the Olympics. Currently, the Olympic record for the event is still held by Xu’s countryman Liu Xiang. Hopes are high that with more competitive experience Xu could finish on the podium in future Olympics.

Banner image via The Beijing News.

Why Chinese Youth Are Watching the Olympics in Cinemas

Cinema-goers in China watch the Paris Olympics

It’s no secret that the Olympics can make sports fans out of people that usually don’t follow athletic competitions. But for some young Chinese people, even sitting on a couch watching the Games on a television is unattainable luxury: students and young professionals who have moved from their hometowns to big cities like Beijing and Shanghai often have to share small apartments with friends or even strangers. Many of these apartments, known by the epithet lǎopòxiǎo (老破小, literally old, broken, and small), have been converted from single-family homes to maximize tenancy. As a result, such rental apartments frequently have unusual layouts lacking proper living rooms or dining areas. So for people who don’t have a living room, watching the Olympics via streaming on a phone or tablet might be the best option.

However, this year there’s a new way to watch the Games. In July, China Film Co., Ltd.’s Beijing Film Distribution Branch announced an exclusive partnership with China Central Television’s Central Broadcasting Satellite Television Company to distribute 2024 Paris Olympics broadcasts to cinemas across the Chinese mainland. Since the Olympics kicked off, heading to the cinema to watch the Games has become an increasingly popular activity for young people.

Maoyan screenshot of Olympic screening tickets — Demand is high for tickets for table tennis broadcasts. Screenshot via Maoyan.

Tickets can conveniently be purchased in Maoyan, an app usually used for movie tickets. After a minimum number of reservations for an event is reached (usually around five to ten), a screening will be arranged. The physical gathering amplifies the excitement of competitive sports, with viewers cheering loudly for every point scored and reacting visibly to missed opportunities. When Chinese athletes win medals, the entire cinema often joins in singing the national anthem.

Chinese spectators watch ping pong at a cinema. — Viewers watching a table tennis match at a cinema. Image via Xiaohongshu.

Watching the Olympics in a cinema costs roughly around the same as a movie ticket, in the range of 30 to 80 RMB depending on the city and theater in question. For cinemas, this represents a novel attempt to revive the sluggish film market, and viewers are loving the experience, which is reminiscent of the fan zones organized for international sporting events, but also harks back to an earlier time when television ownership was limited in China (for different reasons), and media consumption was a more collective experience.

Banner image via Xiaohongshu.

We Checked Out Singapore’s Newest Hip Destination, New Bahru

RADII recently had a chance to experience the soft opening of Singapore’s latest hipster haven: New Bahru, on Kim Yam Road in the River Valley neighborhood. Converted from an old girls’ high school, the 20,156 sqm development boasts several compounds with designated zones and hosts over 40 businesses across dining, wellness, and lifestyle categories. The new destination’s name echoes that of the fiercely independent and creative neighborhood of Tiong Bahru, and also references the Singaporean fondness for playfully repeating words: “bahru” means new in Malay.

The brainchild of The Lo & Behold Group, an experienced hospitality group in Singapore, New Bahru has been positioned as the go-to destination for independent Singaporean brands. What’s more, many of the vendors featured there have sustainability and experientiality at the core of their brand identities. Reflecting a change in societal discourse, the circular economy has recently been gaining popularity in Singapore as a lifestyle concept.

Reflecting Singapore at its multicultural best, New Bahru offers everything from reimagined local Malay cuisine to new school Middle Eastern fusion food — which RADII tried out at Artichoke, the creation of Singaporean celebrity chef Bjorn Shen.

Check out these and other highlights from New Bahru in the photo essay below:

Red stairs in New Bahru, the former Nan Chiau High School

New Bahru has maintained much of the original architecture of the former Nan Chiau High School, preserving its staircases and hallways, but upgrading it with chic red paint.

Young families and couples enjoying restaurants and cafés in New Bahru amongst avant-garde installations.

Former classrooms have been converted into rows of restaurants, along with lifestyle and wellness shops, all amongst stylish tropical decor.

Soilboy, an independent brand offering carefully curated indoor plants with a minimalist touch, is focused on educating the public on how to prolong plant lives.

Patrons queue for at least 15 to 20 minutes for coffee and baked goods at Dearborn. The bakery prides itself on sourcing the best ingredients for its creations and baking with responsible practices.

Must-tries at the trendy Artichoke include Singaporean takes on traditional Middle Eastern and North African favorites such as shakshuka and falafel, using locally sourced ingredients.

New Bahru is quickly positioning itself to become a hub for events centered around themes of sustainability and creativity. Back in July it played host to Green-House, a festival focused on home-grown eco-friendly brands.

All images by Rilly Chen.

Zheng Qinwen Wins China’s First-ever Tennis Singles Gold

This past Saturday, tennis player Zheng Qinwen of Team China did something no Chinese person has ever done, winning the country’s first Olympic gold in tennis singles.

Making history aside, Zheng played exceptionally impressive tennis during her first Olympic run. After becoming the second Chinese woman in history to make it into the semi-finals, Zheng eliminated Polish player Iga Swiatek, current world number one and reigning undefeated champion of the clay courts. Switek carried a 25 match unbeaten streak at Stade Roland Garros, home to the French Open and the Paris Olympics’ tennis matches, and Zheng beat her at her own game.

The final lasted only an hour and a half, with Zheng dominating Croatian player Donna Vekíc with motivated, incisive, and steady strokes. Heading into the game, Zheng told interviewers that despite an entire week of intense matches leading up to the final, she felt none of the heavy nerves she had heading into the finals for the Australian Open earlier this year, which she eventually lost. In the place of nerves was renewed “mental strength.”

After biting into the gold, Zheng credited the giants in Chinese Olympic history for inspiring her inner strength. Zheng said she repeatedly watched track athlete Liu Xiang’s 2004 Athens win to motivate herself ahead of her matches.

Chinese tennis legend Li Na, the only Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title, is a personal hero to Zheng. An image of Zheng watching Li winning the 2014 Australian Open amongst a group of young girls has circulated widely online.

Zheng Qinwen watching Li Na.

Zheng (far right) and friends watching Li Na at the 2014 Australian Open. Image via InsDaily.

Zheng’s father also played a huge role in her success. As a former track athlete himself, he was determined to cultivate her athletic talents. The family moved from their hometown of Shiyan in Hubei province to Wuhan, and later to Beijing so that Zheng could play with Li’s former coach Carlos Rodriguez.

Tennis is an expensive sport in China that many consider reserved for the “royalty.” Netizens and the media were quick to speculate that Zheng’s family had invested over 20 million RMB on her tennis journey. Zheng responded and told interviewers that her dad had sold their house to pay for her tennis dreams.

Whether or not the roots of her success lie in her family’s financial investment or her father’s tough parenting style, it is clear that Zheng herself has worked extremely hard to make history as a Chinese athlete in a sport largely dominated by Euro-American players.

And at the end of the day, Zheng believes this is all so much bigger than herself.

“This victory is incomparable to anything else. To me and my family, the Olympics has always been more important than the Grand Slam, because to us, the honor of the country is more valuable than the honor of the individual. That’s what I think, and I think every Chinese person would agree,” Zheng told interviewers.

Banner image via South China Morning Post.

China’s First Sustainability-themed Store Closes

The journey of Shanghai sustainable goods store 3R Labs began on June 2, 2023, and after 418 days in business, it officially announced its closure on July 24, 2024. In the store’s name, “3R” represents the principles of the circular economy: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. “Labs” stands for exploration and experimentation. Sustainability was a key feature of the store’s identity, evident in its use of materials and flexible arrangement of space. Recycled old wooden boards were used for the store’s sign, the bar counter was made from recycled plastic, and outdoor tables were crafted from recycled aluminum cans. 3R Lab’s interior had no fixed walls or display points, allowing for flexible changes to meet operational and usage needs sustainably.

Located in the heart of Xuhui District, Shanghai, the store attracted a large number of visitors. Many were drawn by its stylish design, and would sit in the courtyard on chairs made from reused yellow beer crates. Others would take a cup of coffee grounds home to use as a deodorizer or fertilizer. In addition to its sustainable design, 3R Labs hosted frequent fruit markets, 40 workshops, 9 bottle recycling events, 4 environmental-themed exhibitions, 4 brand pop-ups, and 4 pet adoption events, rescuing 7 stray cats in the process. They collaborated with 37 sustainable partners to promote these initiatives.

Plastic Reuse Workshop in 3R Labs, photo via WeChat

A workshop on reusing plastic at 3R Labs. Image via 3R Labs.

As China’s first offline space focused on connecting sustainability and urban lifestyles, the closure of 3R Labs raises questions on how to balance commercial success with a dedication to sustainability. While 3R Labs’ events were generally well attended, converting community into sales proved more difficult. Despite detailed shops displays introducing more than 70 domestic and international eco-friendly brands, customers often viewed 3R Labs more as an exhibition space than a retail store. The relatively high prices of sustainable products also added to the difficulty of attracting long-term customers. Furthermore, many Chinese consumers are already accustomed to buying speciality goods online.

Despite the closure of its brick and mortar store, 3R LABS will continue to spread sustainable knowledge online. It’s possible that after some time, we may see its offline space reappear in another city.

Banner Image via 3R Labs.