Lemna of The Alchemist bar review: Asian-inspired cocktails meet culture at this new cafe/bar along Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong’s iconic waterfront
- Extending the Alchemist group’s niche of pairing socially relevant events with food and drinks is its latest concept at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Regulars to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre may have noticed a new addition to the waterfront venue – Lemna of the Alchemist, another in that long line of cafe/bar combos that are increasingly popular in the city.
The concept extends the Alchemist group’s niche of pairing cultural events (screenings, talks, exhibitions), food and drinks that started when it opened its original travel-themed cafe on Poplar Street 10 years ago. It’s proven a winning concept as the group now has venues across the city, from Tuen Mun to Tseung Kwan O.
The drinks menu is a refreshing change from the many needlessly inventive-for-the-sake-of-inventiveness menus around town. It is split into several categories – coffee, tea, fruit, classic and mock – which mix familiar trends with solid recipes, each category featuring three cocktails priced separately at HK$98, HK$108 and HK$118.
We go for two of the fruit cocktails for the evening. The Green Apple Smash (HK$108) expertly pairs kaffir lime leaf-infused white rum with basil, citrus and apple to strongly evoke Thai flavours for those who have missed the country these last few pandemic-afflicted years.
The Coriander Mule (HK$98) is a deft and impressive local twist on the Moscow mule. Though the coriander notes of the infused gin do not hit until we’re some way through our drink, all of the ingredients – salty kumquat, earthy star aniseed and richly sweet pineapple – create a surprising feedback loop that sets the tone for a pleasant night near the harbour, whatever the season.
Although DarkSide remains Kowloon’s drinks-first go-to for lavish signatures and sophistication, Lemna of the Alchemist deftly occupies a different niche. This is not just a bar, but a refined cultural space that pairs socially relevant events with a solid, thoughtful menu. The drinks are refreshing and better crafted than many signatures at flashier bars, but they never take the spotlight from Lemna’s focus on culture, contemplation and learning. In today’s bar scene, that’s something of a miracle of confidence and focus.
