It’s no secret that Koreans are king when it comes to nightlife expertise. Any visit to Seoul or the K-towns of New York or Los Angeles will demonstrate that Koreans have a intense partying and drinking culture that’s all their own.
K Pocha, newly opened in Lan Kwai Fong, seeks to capture the essence of that particular style of nightlife within the spacious, dimly lit, neon-splashed walls of their new Korean concept bar. Using the Korean nightlife power fuel soju as its liquor of choice, K Pocha offers a cocktail list with a twist. A selection of drinking games, such as Titanic and Thumb Up, are on hand to keep clients entertained should the booze not prove enough.
We try out the soju martini ($110), a mixture of soju, martini and olives, as well as the eponymous soju, pear, lychee and Yakult-filled K-Pocha ($120). Disappointingly, the house soju used for the concoctions is not very artfully distilled, making the former somewhat bitter in taste and the latter’s fruit and sugary flavours all too strong. It was our happy hour offering of an order of the K-Pocha fried chicken, which is free – for now – and its addictive spicy sauce that saved the day, drowning out the drinks with its delicious crunchy texture and kick.
But one doesn’t come to a place like K-Pocha for the taste of food and drinks alone. The venue’s spacious setting and generous offerings of fun and games make it a prime location for gatherings big and small, for friends looking for a fun, good night out. Gangnam-style, naturally. Janice Jann
K Pocha 7/F, 38-44 D’Aguilar St, Lai Kwai Fong, Central, 2770 0611; kpocha.hk.