Argo, the award-winning bar at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, recently ranked No. 9 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, has unveiled its new menu that explores the art of blending familiar, single ingredients. Known for its innovative cocktail concepts—such as the previous Argo Forestry menu featuring six unique ingredients sourced from Hong Kong—the new drink menu emphasizes simplicity while still embodying the bar’s mantra: ‘Expect the Unexpected.’ According to Federico Balzarini, the Beverage Manager at Four Seasons, this menu was developed collaboratively by the entire Argo staff, aiming to create cocktails that appeal to both bartenders and a wide range of palates.
Click here for video snippets of the cocktail program.
Guests can explore 12 cocktails, ranging from fizzy and easy-drinking options to sours and boozy blends, all highlighting fruits and botanicals that are readily available year-round. Ingredients include Pineapple, Grapefruit, Kumquat, Grapes, Corn, Cacao, Bergamot, Hops, Marigold, and Wood.
“Presented in a playful pink triangle booklet, the menu captures the fun side of the bar while educating guests on how single ingredients can be utilized in various ways, including their fruit, leaves, stems, seeds, and other forms. ‘This approach enhances the overall flavor and experience, allowing guests to discover different ways to enjoy a single ingredient,’ shares Balzarini.”
You can choose drinks that spotlight a single ingredient, like Pineapple, Grapes, or Marigold, as well as combinations of two to four elements. Our personal favorites from the single-element cocktails include the refreshing Pineapple Highball (HKD 175), made with Havana Club 7 Year Old rum, fermented pineapple honey, jasmine-infused pineapple, and pineapple tomato shrub, garnished with pink pineapple seaweed, and the nutty and floral Marigold Martini (HKD 175), which embodies the essence of a classic Vesper Martini.
For the two-element cocktails, must-tries include the Bergamot & Wood Gimlet (HKD 175), which offers a unique sensory experience as it comes with a complimentary homemade bergamot and sandalwood hand cream that you can apply to your hands while enjoying the drink, enhancing the overall olfactory experience. Also, try the Kumquat & Hop Paloma (HKD 175), a hoppy twist on the classic cocktail, garnished with three signature ARGO gummies made from kumquat and hops.
Spirit-forward options include The Orchard Old Fashioned (HKD 175), a fruity-floral take on the classic cocktail that transports you to a sun-drenched orchard and the Dr. J Negroni (HKD 175), a tropical twist on the classic Italian aperitif, featuring golden raisin-infused The Botanist gin, pineapple skin-infused Campari, Magnolia Lab Liqueur, mole bitters, and bergamot essence, garnished with pickled pineapple in pineapple sage.
ARGO complements its innovative cocktails with delectable bar snacks curated by Executive Chef Maxime Luvara and Executive Pastry Chef Ringo Chan. Guests can enjoy refreshed signature bites, including the Hong Kong Egg Waffle with milk tea ice cream and pineapple chutney (HKD 150), and new dishes like Takoyaki with bonito flakes (HKD 188), Crispy Shrimp with Bourbon cocktail sauce (HKD 248), and a vegetarian Avocado Taco (HKD 178).
Book a reservation at Argo using this link for your next visit to Hong Kong. Follow DrinkManila on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest sips and tips!