What now for Lan Kwai Fong? The new bars and restaurants recently opened on Wyndham Street are definitely places to be seen these days. Offering more than the cookie-cutter fake ‘English’ pub with throbbing house or retro tunes, these new outlets are a welcome kick up the derriere for LKF which was becoming rather stale…

Many moons ago, when it opened, Chinatown (78-82 Jaffe Rd, Wanchai, 2861 3588) was Asia’s first Heineken concept bar – the beer company contributed massively to the creation of the bar and plastered its logo throughout the place – on the floor design, in the seat covers, on the bar counter, outside… which may sound excessive and tacky but it was really rather well and subtly done. It is difficult to say what restrictions were placed on the selling of competing beers but the revenue lost from customers who favoured other ales was probably much less than Heineken’s contribution – so it was a win-win situation for both the Dutch beer company and the bar’s owners. Chinatown reverted to being a ‘normal’ bar years ago, but it is ironic that it has recently been sold, will soon go to bar heaven and the concept disappear from our streets as a new Heineken Bar opens. This one is at Chep Lap Kok in the new terminal 2 and is a modern trendy looking establishment where you can relax over a cold Heineken whether waiting for a flight or not.

The space formerly known as Klong/KBG has new tenants who are finalizing the construction of their new bar Heat (54-62 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, 2528 0997) as we go to press. With a soft opening penciled in for the last week of April, we grabbed a few words with Andrew Bright, the new manager, to find out more. “The two-storey site has been completely renovated to create a space that offers comfortable open-front dining downstairs and a lounge dance bar upstairs. We want to heat up the night, and offer customers a place where they can relax and enjoy great food, drinks and hot tunes,” he told us. A sneak peak at the menus shows signature cocktails like
Wanchai Heat (martini – Absolut Peppar blended with Tabasco, shaken over ice and served with a fresh chilli) and On Heat (shooter – Absolut Peppar chilled to ice cold, chased with salmon and wasabi) and tempting dishes such as soft shell crab and avocado roll with wasabi puree ($60) and pan-seared halibut with ginger and lemongrass, served with coconut rice and chilli plum sauce ($108).

Time flies when you sit al fresco in the company of friends over a glass of fine wine. Xperience (33 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, 2143 6008) invites you to celebrate its first anniversary on April 27 – Hawaiian style. From 7.30pm till late come in your best Aloha attire and get one free standard drink and free snacks till 10pm. There will be a lucky draw, great tunes and lots more.

One of the best bar giveaways ever was the Carlsberg promotion where the winner and friends won a fantastic trip on a private jet. This year, the same company is offering you and three friends the chance to spend seven days on a private yacht in Monaco with the added opportunity to watch the UEFA Super Cup final live. Simply buy two Carlsbergs at participating outlets, get a game card from your friendly waitress/bartender and then it’s scratch and win.

Hidden away at the junction of Peel and Staunton Streets, Temple Bar (41 Staunton St, Soho, 2868 5896) is a pleasant retreat to enjoy a drink away from the pretensions and concept outlets that predominate in Soho. Also in Soho, Bacar (G/F, 2 Shelly Street, Soho, 2521 8322) is one of only six outlets in
the SAR to have Australia’s Victoria Bitter
on draught – “So where the bloody hell
are you?”

STOP PRESS – New on the block or rather under it, Fong Underground (Bsmnt, 34-36 D’Aguilar Street, LKF, 2523 2002) opened earlier this week as an extension to the popular ground floor Fong Bar and first floor Fong Lounge. Underground starts out as a chilled-out lounge bar daily at 6pm but as the evening progresses the resident DJ’s beats get harder, louder and faster and the place metamorphoses into a club.