Bar review: Employees Only in Lan Kwai Fong – professional staff and bags of character
This popular speakeasy-style bar reworks the classics and serves up balanced cocktails with plenty of flavour – it’s well worth a visit
The vibe: Employees Only is the eagerly anticipated Hong Kong branch of one of New York’s most celebrated speakeasy-style bars.
There’s no name above the entrance, making it a little hard to find (look out for the red neon sign saying “Psychic”). However, this was no deterrent to the punters. A few days after opening the place was so packed with happily chatting drinkers it felt more like a cocktail party than a bar.
Décor is traditional and unpretentious, with a very long, curving bar, low ceilings and dark wood tones – sadly, the barstools are not designed for long-term sitting. Staff are professional, courteous and knowledgeable – they apologised for the long wait for our first drink, and we were assured it wouldn’t happen again, which it didn’t, despite the number of customers.
The verdict: living up to its reputation, Employees Only is a welcome oasis of high class mixology and top-notch service in Lan Kwai Fong.