One of Hong Kong’s most imaginative cocktail bars, The Opposites, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this July with a month-long series of events. Founded by acclaimed mixologists Antonio Lai and Samuel Kwok, the bar has built its identity around contrast and collaboration, uniting opposing styles into a menu defined by balance, storytelling, and symbiotic mixology. Located in Central, The Opposites has quickly established itself as a creative hub within Asia’s competitive bar scene.
Since opening its doors in July 2023, The Opposites has carved out a space for cocktail lovers seeking experiences that blend classical precision with experimental flair. The concept was born from the partnership between two of Hong Kong’s top bartenders: Antonio Lai, known for innovation and bold presentation, and Samuel Kwok, celebrated for his classic approach and understated detail. Together, they developed a bar that thrives on duality, with a drinks program built around paired interpretations of iconic cocktail forms. Their debut menu featured 16 drinks presented in pairs, allowing guests to explore different perspectives on familiar themes
Since launch, the bar has hosted top-tier guest shifts from names like Cross Yu (Epic, Shanghai), Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn (Mahaniyom, Bangkok), and Julian Mayhofer (Dr. Stravinsky, Barcelona), earning praise from both industry insiders and cocktail aficionados.
This July, The Opposites celebrates its anniversary with a trio of collaborations designed to reflect the bar’s philosophy of contrast. From July 1 to 13, the East Meets West: Dessert Pairing Cocktails event features award-winning chefs Justin Lee from JL Dessert Bar in Seoul and Fabio Bardi, formerly of Tozzo. Guests can enjoy a special dessert and cocktail pairing night on July 10, or preview creations throughout the first half of the month.
On July 16, the spotlight turns to the Masters of Mixology event with Hiroyasu Kayama of Tokyo’s Bar BenFiddichand Seven Yi of Taipei’s LE ROOM. While Kayama brings a herbaceous, farm-to-bar approach, Yi’s mixology focuses on molecular techniques and multisensory storytelling—echoing the balance of technique and concept at the core of The Opposites.
The third highlight, the Tea vs Coffee Series, runs from July 21 to 31, culminating in a showcase on July 31 featuring Nana Chan (Plantation) and Jeremy Yeung and Jason Chan (EN Coffee). The event explores cocktails built from tea and coffee bases, again presenting contrast as a creative tool.
In addition to drinks, The Opposites will launch its first line of branded merchandise on July 1, including signature crew tees and socks.
Looking ahead, Antonio and Samuel will debut a new cocktail menu in August, shifting focus from unsung classics to reinterpreted crowd favorites like the Sidecar, Espresso Martini, and Paloma. By pairing their distinct sensibilities, they continue to offer guests a layered, playful approach to cocktail culture. The Opposites is not only a celebration of duality, but a testament to how contrasting voices can create harmony—one drink at a time.
