Bar review: Big Sur, SoHo – California vibe and satisfying drinks to suit everyone
Craft beers, tequilas, well-made cocktails and a decent choice of whiskies and wines make this light airy bar a great place for a few drinks or a session
The vibe: Modern American restaurant/beer and tequila bar, notably spacious for this part of town. Decor is uncluttered, and a light, airy feeling evoking the stretch of California coastline from which Big Sur takes its name is clearly the aim. It’s designed for all-day dining, and starts serving breakfast at 8am.
A long bar should allow plenty of session beer drinkers to stay close to the taps, but a large outdoor area – with exterior space heaters for this relatively chilly season – was more popular on my visit.
The drinks: Craft beer – draft and bottled – is a major focus with 15 taps, although one of them dispenses a beer cask-finished Martin Miller gin and tonic. Serves are 200ml, 300ml or 400ml and local brewery Young Master supplies around half of the beers.
I tried a 7oz taster of Young Master Classic Pale Ale at HK$45, which was a moreish session beer, contrasted with the Stone Brewing Xocoveza Mexican Chocolate Stout – again a 200ml taster, this time at HK$65 – which was a rich mocha stout with a good balance of sweetness and bitterness.
