Bar review: Red Sugar – a sweet experience with friendly staff and impressive drinks list
An outdoor terrace and harbour view enhance the appeal of this Hung Hom hotel venue where a New Orleans-style Vieux Carré stands out among a winning cocktail, wine and whisky selection
The vibe: the spacious outdoor terrace is one big attraction, but the lone barfly can take in a perfectly acceptable harbour view, nicely interspersed with interesting bottles, just sitting at the bar and chatting with the very friendly and knowledgeable bar staff. For couples and larger groups there are plenty of comfortable chairs and tables. By day the atmosphere is intended to have an “urban resort” atmosphere. When the sun goes down, the indoor space becomes more of a sophisticated cocktail lounge and the music, some of it live, gets a little louder.
I bonded with my bartender over the Oaxaca Old Fashioned (HK$98) from the “Modern Classic” section of the list. She taught me how to make one, and I taught her how to pronounce Oaxaca – quite possibly wrongly. As I understand it it’s “Wah!” as in the Cantonese exclamation, and “hacker” as in somebody trying to break into your computer. If you’re trying this at home you need reposado tequila, mezcal, agave nectar and Angostura bitters, but far better let them mix it for you here.
There are also “Contemporary Fun” cocktails with elements of novelty presentation, and some “To-Go” which you can carry out in a bottle, but the setting is as much the point as the drinks.
The verdict: right from the start this is one of the best hotel cocktail bars on the Kowloon side of the harbour. Quite far from the bright lights, but a good spot from which to look at them.
Red Sugar
7/F, Kerry Hotel, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom
Tel: 2252 5279
Open: Sunday to Thursday 11.30am-midnight, Friday, Saturday and public holidays 6pm-2am.