This article was first published in August 2018 and updated with the new menu in February 2019.
by Aude
“An age of indulgence in food and drinking, the 13th century was a time of reverence towards the Wise, King Alfonso X of Castile. During his reign, he recuperated from an illness, which only allowed him to partake in small bite sized portions of food and wine. It was recorded that after recovering, The Wise King issued a decree that no alcoholic beverage should be served unless it was served with food. Thus, the practice of tapas food and a decadent drinking culture was born.”
by Aude
“An age of indulgence in food and drinking, the 13th century was a time of reverence towards the Wise, King Alfonso X of Castile. During his reign, he recuperated from an illness, which only allowed him to partake in small bite sized portions of food and wine. It was recorded that after recovering, The Wise King issued a decree that no alcoholic beverage should be served unless it was served with food. Thus, the practice of tapas food and a decadent drinking culture was born.”
Mixology exploration and 13th century opulence are the inspirations behind The Wise King, a new bar open mid-July by Joe Villanueva, first Chivas Master Competition Champion representing Hong Kong at the International Finals, and Sandeep Kumar, previously working at On Dining among others.
The place is quite small and we heard it gets very crowdy on weekends. Welcoming you in Tsung Wing Ln is a quite intriguing mural featuring The Wise King. Inside, the atmosphere is quite cozy and intimate.
On the new menu (as of February 2019) ? 10 #REVIVED cocktails meaning classic cocktails twisted with Spanish ingredients selectively sourced to create cocktails rich in flavours and in stories.
On the new menu (as of February 2019) ? 10 #REVIVED cocktails meaning classic cocktails twisted with Spanish ingredients selectively sourced to create cocktails rich in flavours and in stories.
Hong Kong Madame must ordered:
#SUPERCOLADA (HKD 108) with - Coconut Orujo (Spanish brandy) / Pineapple / Ricotta Cheese / Chia Seeds - also available as a non-alcoholic drink but you know me, I of course went for the dirty version. Why Supercolada? Because it's loaded with super food between the chia seeds and the ricotta cheese (yes yes ricotta cheese is superfood, I couldn't believe it myself but the guys behind the bar were 100% positive about it). A sweet and nice cocktail, loving the twist of the chia seeds giving a nice texture to the whole thing.
#JAMONOLDFASHIONED (HKD 118) - Jamon Iberico Bourbon / Cantaloupe Syrup / Walnut bitters. Didn't even know Jamon Iberico Bourbon was something!
#BRINEDRICKEY (HKD 118) - Gin / Basil / Citrus / Strawberry Brine Soda / Sherry Vinaigrette - sherry being a traditional Spanish drink made with white grapes grown in Andalusia
#BRINEDRICKEY (HKD 118) - Gin / Basil / Citrus / Strawberry Brine Soda / Sherry Vinaigrette - sherry being a traditional Spanish drink made with white grapes grown in Andalusia
But also a missed for me, the #REDGOLDBLOODYCAESAR (HKD 118). Being a big fan of Bloody Mary I was pretty excited about this one but found it to be super bitter.
As for the tapas, the menu is quite classic but tasty and you might wanna order the Patata Bravas (HKD 78) and the super yummy Pollo Kebab (HKD 98), marinated chicken skewers with mint and pesto sauce. Even if you don’t feel like snacking believe me you wanna order a cheese platter and get a bite of that aged Comte cheese (from the same producer who supply On Dining, where if you ask me they serve the best cheese in the 852).
Hong Kong Madame loves: the library corner featuring industry books and limited editions. The idea of Joe and Sandeep is to develop the collection based on friends and bartenders recommendation and create a kind of community “hub” where people from the FnB industry or with interest for this industry could come and check the books or borrow them.
The Wise King
Basement, 25 Stauton Street – Soho
Entrance is on Tsung Wing Lane next to Bep and Pure Fitness
The Wise King
Basement, 25 Stauton Street – Soho
Entrance is on Tsung Wing Lane next to Bep and Pure Fitness
