Far from claiming that a long weekend getaway to Hong Kong last October had suddenly turned me into an expert, I am, however, a believer that hidden gems will sometimes make themselves known best to the unassuming traveler.
And this recent hidden bar addition to the Hong Kong bar scene (and spectacular Ashley Sutton creation) did just that!
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Dragonfly Hong Kong: An Ashley Sutton design
Finding the entrance to Dragonfly Hong Kong is a quest in itself – after all, if it were easy they wouldn’t call it a secret bar!
I’ll admit: I was also misled by the image of an Art Nouveau style doorway, seen on the bar’s Instagram account, which I thought was the entrance, and so kept looking for; in vain.
Eventually, a small welcome desk, decorated in what I later noticed were iconic green-hued dragonflies, and propped at the entrance of the bar gave it away.
They were just opening up – and we still had a couple more hours until we needed to head back to the hotel for our luggage, then off to the airport.
But the short time we leisurely spent there was more than enough to take in the small and impressive design that Ashley Sutton masterminded for this recent Hong Kong concept bar.
Barely opened in summer 2018, Dragonfly Hong Kong‘s catchy decor already grabbed the eye and imagination of the many – yours truly included – and it’s very obvious why:
Dragonfly: First Impressions
Dragonfly Hong Kong is by no means a big bar; the indoor seating can accommodate maybe some 30 to 40 people – if you really try.
It makes the place seem both pleasantly intimate and slightly claustrophobic – depending on what side of the comfort needle you are.
Of course, you can always choose to sit outside;Although the whole point is to have an immersive experience, and let yourself mesmerized by the hundreds of lanterns hanging from the low the ceiling. And the centerpiece – a huge half dragonfly/half human hybrid, standing wings wide open and owning the bar from side to side.
The mastermind that made Dragonfly Hong Kong come to life is Ashley Sutton, a designer known for it’s magical, intricate settings such as Iron Fairies in Kuala Lumpur, or Dear Lilly Hong Kong.
What I Liked at Dragonfly Hong Kong
The friendly and very prompt service.
You can’t deny it – when it comes to service, Hong Kong-ers are efficient to the point of annoyance.
On the Menu: As we settled in we were – unsurprisingly – promptly met with a menu for both snacks and drinks; due to our previous gorging with noodles, we had to stick to drinks only.
So I treated myself with Dragon’s Pearls, a pretty cocktail with a twist:
Dragon’s Pearls: Jasmine milk pearl tea mixed with mandarin, gin and cognac!
What Could be Better
What I didn’t enjoy all that much were the small round tables – and very small and heavy high chairs.
The chairs are pretty to look at, but they lack comfort and are very heavy (which makes moving it around pretty hard!) so it partly takes away that comfy, womb-like atmosphere you feel when you first enter the beautifully crafted room.
It may just be the intention of the bar – for me, it would have been a much more pleasant experience to have some sofas and low lounge chairs. Different tastes, I guess.
Location:
You’ll find Dragonfly Hong Kong in the old Superintendent’s House, at the former Central Police Headquarter – now known as the arts and cultural hub Tai Kwun.
Dragonfly is open every day from 5PM to 2AM – save for when they’re closed for private events.
Check out their Instagram page before you go.