Check out our visit to The Opposites down below:
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In a city where bar owners strive to create concepts that could fill pages and sound like elevator pitches, The Opposites delivers on its name: a seamless blend of contrasts.
The Opposites is the latest venue from Tastings Group, joining their lineup of hotspots like Quinary, VEA, and Room 309. The concept is uncomplicated: aside from being literally ‘opposite’ Quinary on Hollywood Road, this bar is a playground for industry veterans Antonio Lai and Samuel Kwok. The menu serves two interpretations of classic cocktails, with Samuel’s creations offering a more straightforward approach and less garnish, set against Antonio’s playful molecular mixology technique that comes with all the trimmings – smoke bubbles, plasma glassware, citrus caviars, and spiked sorbets. Sitting by the bar feels like watching a friendly cocktail competition. If you caught Antonio on ViuTV’s recent reality show, Master Mixologist, now's your chance to judge him instead and see him behind the stick in real life.
The bar is dimly lit, minimal, and clean-cut, with a serious vibe at first glance. But take a closer look, and you’ll discover its playful side. From the bartenders’ aprons and bar shelves to the upholstered stools, there’s a clever play on opposites, mixing refined and whimsical.
If you have two friends with different tastes in drinks – one who prefers something classic and the other who likes a little pizzazz – this is the perfect bar to hit up. The menu ($130 to $150 per drink) offers 16 options, like Pimm’s Cup, Pisco Sour, Garibaldi, Boulevardier, and Charlie Chaplin. The best way to experience The Opposites is to order both renditions of each drink to taste the different characteristics.
Stand-outs include Samuel’s Son of Pimm’s ($130), offering spicy and refreshing strawberry and shiso flavours, and Antonio’s mirroring version, the Selling Seashell ($130), presented in a seashell shaped glassware, which shakes up the same ingredients with the addition of tomato water. There’s a hint of savoury umami, lightened by mint caviar that pops in your mouth like tiny little bobas. Antonio’s rendition of a Pisco Sour, Scoop Me Up ($140), is a crowd favourite. Its cone-shaped vessel and the smoke bubble adds both aroma and theatrics for the ’gram. Flavour-wise, it’s guava-forward and floral with a kaffir lime leaf kick. A bit too floral for my taste, but judging by the smiles, others are loving it. Personally, I lean towards Samuel’s silky Soya Sour ($140) – nutty and velvety, with passionfruit notes and delicate tofu flavours.
For the plasma glassware everyone’s been raving about, order Antonio’s peanut butter Boulevardier, the P.B.J ($150). I’ve seen versions of this drink elsewhere, but this one is special for the glassware that lights up like plasma globe when you swipe your fingers around the drink. It’s fun, and you will mess with it all night until the battery runs out – but, honestly, you’re mostly paying for the Instagrammable glass which I heard costs $600 a pop.
A tip: don’t sleep on the food menu full of creative takes on local favourites. Definitely go for the Sichuan Sour Fish Fingers ($110) with the Sichuan pickled cabbage dip. Crunchy on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth fish on the inside, it’s like a bowl of pickled cabbage fish soup in finger form. Meat lovers can go for the Wagyu Cheeseburger Gyoza ($130), which pair perfectly with the Bloody Mary chutney dip, a satisfying pub grub. Just be sure to enjoy a strong drink as they can hijack your palate and overpower the cocktail.
In the post-pandemic drinking landscape, where casual watering holes are preferred over high-concept bars, there’s a renewed focus on what truly makes a bar great: a place to let your hair down, unwind after a long day, and enjoy a well-crafted drink that doesn't take itself too seriously. Sure, Antonio’s drinks can be a bit over-the-top, but they’re entertaining. Unlike cocktail presentations that look great for photos but fall flat on taste, his drinks also deliver. Whether you’re here for molecular theatrics or grounded classics, The Opposites is undeniably fun, making it a spot you’ll want to revisit.
Here’s what our star ratings mean:
★: Not recommended
★★: A disappointing experience
★★★: A good experience
★★★★: A very good to great experience
★★★★★: An outstanding experience
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