Much ado was made in 2025 when Lorenzo Antinori and Simone Caporale – acclaimed for their work at Bar Leone and Sips, respectively – announced they would open a bar together in Hong Kong. Montana opened in June, unveiling a love letter to Club de Cantineros, a bartenders’ collective from Cuba that published guides to cocktail making during the 1920s and 1930s. The Cantineros established service standards and canonised recipes for classics like the Daiquiri – a dedication to craft evident throughout Montana. The collective spirit is felt instantly with the loud, communal yell of “Ritmo!” (Spanish for “rhythm”) upon entry, and continues through a menu that reflects Cuba’s balanced flavours. The Montana Daiquiri, for example, reimagines the classic by incorporating maraschino liqueur and strawberry eau de vie. Accessible and playful food offerings range from crisps loaded with sour cream, cornichon and salami to, at one point, full Cubano sandwiches.

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