DarkSide, the city’s most stylish cocktail parlour, has long been famed for rare aged spirits, vintage cigars, sultry live jazz, and — above all — classic cocktails inspired by Kowloon’s colourful “dark side” past and reimagined for today using innovative techniques. 

In addition to an extensive collection of fine rum, whisky and calvados, the bar’s dark spirits selection harks back to the early nineteenth century and includes an exclusive Cognac blend created by the award-winning team.

Now, DarkSide introduces its latest menu, Echoes, a collection of nine brilliantly conceived cocktails inspired by the city’s artisanal spirit, nostalgic street-food flavours, and rich heritage and seasonal rituals. A living tapestry of sound, texture and taste, Hong Kong is a place where old and new constantly collide.

Echoes is a sensory journey that guides guests through the vestiges, vibrations and enduring spirit of Hong Kong’s history, allowing them to vividly experience the resonance of a city that never forgets. As DarkSide’s tribute to the art of preservation, Echoes gathers the traditions, iconic tastes and cultural customs that continue to define Hong Kong and brings them to life in luscious liquid form.

The menu unfolds in three distinctive chapters, with three cocktails in each:

 

CRAFT | INSPIRED BY ARTISANAL FLAIR

Savour the handmade luminous and tactile treasures found among the city’s market vendors: vibrant neon, delicate ceramics and sumptuous leather.

 

ALL EYES ON ME

Created with the assistance of Hong Kong design workshop Neon Dept, this electric burst of tropical fruit and herbal brightness glows with vivid intensity and a captivatingly bitter edge. 

THE DRAGON’S BEAT

With inspiration from Hong Kong’s Gi Ceramics, this drink is rhythmic and earthy, layered with deep berry fruit, subtle spice, and a smooth, resonant finish. 

CHIC & CANDIED

In harmony with the artisanship of Hong Kong’s Brothers Leathercraft, this creation is elegantly smooth and luxurious, with bright citrus tartness balanced by aromatic pandan and subtle candied depth.

 

TASTE | ECHOING NOSTALGIC STREET-FOOD FLAVOURS 

Paying homage to the unmistakable tastes of Hong Kong street food: comforting, bold and instantly recognisable. 

 

CHA CHA BUN 

The city’s Pineapple Bakery gave delicious impetus to this creamy, buttery-sweet concoction that evokes classic cha chaan teng milk tea with a light, effervescent lift and rich condensed notes. 

YOU’RE SOY COOL  

It’s soy sauce-inspired, deeply savoury, and umami rich, with caramelized sweetness and lush tropical creaminess for an unexpectedly cooling finish. 

JUST 3 MINUTES  

With the help of Hong Kong’s Wing Lok Noodle Factory, this briny, oceanic pour bursts with quick-hit spice that captures the comforting essence of those speedy, slurpy street noodle bowls. 

 

CULTURE | ROOTED IN HERITAGE AND SEASONAL RITUALS 

Give a nod to folklore, yearly traditions, and nostalgic market moments that define the soul of Hong Kong. 

 

NUTTY NIGHTCUP 

Like grabbing a paper cone of hot chestnuts on a chilly market night, this cocktail is warm, smoky and comforting, rich with nutty depth, winter spice and tonka’s velvety sweetness. 

I DON’T BITE  

Snake-centric, esoteric and intriguing, this creation blends herbal botanicals with exotic tropical fruit notes in a subtle wink to zodiac lore and serpentine mystique. 

CATCH IT IF YOU CAN  

Playful and nostalgic, this drink features a zesty preserved-olive tang and light, airy foam that evokes the charming image of old Hong Kong vendors tossing treats up to upper-storey windows. 

 

Echoes cocktails are priced at either HKD180 or HKD190 each and are subject to a 10% service charge.

The enormous creative energy behind Echoes comes from DarkSide’s talented team, led by Bar Manager Marco Maiorano. With experience at renowned venues in New York, London, and Singapore, he presides over DarkSide with the firm conviction that authentic hospitality must always come first. By ensuring that each impeccably crafted drink delivers not only sensory pleasure but also meaningful community impact, Marco’s visionary approach transforms cocktails into powerful sources of inspiration and social good. 

Marco has firmly established his reputation as a leading figure in the bar industry. In 2023, he won accolades in the Tio Pepe UK Sherry Cask and Angelo Zola competitions, and in 2025 he was named one of the Top 3 bartenders at the Diageo World Class Singapore competition. 

Assistant Bar Manager Ian Lui, known for his dedication to personalised service, helps make DarkSide a truly distinctive space where every sip reflects the unique preferences of each guest. His global perspective has been honed by extensive experience at some of Asia’s and the Middle East’s finest venues. 

An artisan behind the bar, Ian is renowned for his creative and precise style, which masterfully balances flavour and technique. By crafting cocktails tailored to individual tastes, he consistently elevates every guest’s experience. 

DarkSide’s outstanding team is matched by its impressive roster of accolades. In 2021, it was named Best Hotel Bar and Best Bar of the Year by Time Out Hong Kong, and has also received acclaim from the Tatler Dining Bar Awards and SCMP Top 100 Tables. Having featured in Asia’s 50 Best Bars for four consecutive years and ranked among The World’s 50 Best Bars in 2021, DarkSide is enviably positioned to continue its ascendancy in Hong Kong’s creative cocktail scene with the launch of the new Echoes menu.

 

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