Remember the cool kid at school who was indifferent to instruction but kept scoring top marks? That’s 28 HongKong Street. Calling the ground floor of an old shophouse home, it opened without any fanfare in 2011. It has since become one of the forerunners of the local cocktail scene, receiving multiple awards including a coveted spot in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars and World’s 50 Best Bars lists.
If the world has taken notice, it’s because Joe Alessandroni has found a winning formula. The creative director of 28HKS has managed to create a seamless blend of urban swag and American-styled libations: expect only hip hop classics to cascade from those speakers and cocktails named after rappers. Likewise, bar nosh here is American – filling, tasty, and slightly salty – but rest assured that chef Kathleen Wong makes everything from scratch.