Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, Hope & Sesame has cemented its status as one of mainland China’s most influential cocktail bars. Founded by Bastien Ciocca and Andrew Ho, the bar continues to push technical boundaries with sous-vide infusions and centrifugation, translating familiar Cantonese pantry flavours into inventive cocktails. Recent stand-outs have included the Rattan Pepper & Coffee, where peppercorn warmth meets roasted notes, butterfly pea and eisbock lager. The Native Martini pairs tea aromatics with a surprisingly harmonious soy sauce chocolate garnish. Clearly business is good as a new adjoining space was added earlier this year, offering streamlined signatures like the Yuzu Penicillin, with yuzu sake, and the savoury Tomato & Guava built on tequila, guava and Aperol.

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