Aberdeen Arts Row introduces a new cultural ecosystem this February, transforming nightlife on Aberdeen Street, Hong Kong into a curated journey through literature, music, and visual art. Created by founder and operational director Nikita Matveev, the concept aligns three venues – The Old Man, AER, and Dead Poets – into a vertical itinerary where each stop reflects a different artistic discipline while maintaining a strong cocktail identity.
Rather than positioning the area as another bar-hopping destination, the project reframes hospitality as a multi-sensory experience. Guests begin with storytelling at The Old Man, continue through AER’s music-driven dining program, and conclude at Dead Poets, where cocktails become visual artworks. Together, the venues create a cohesive narrative that blends creative culture with contemporary cocktail design.
The Old Man Returns to Literary Storytelling
The legendary bar The Old Man anchors the literature chapter of Aberdeen Arts Row with its new “Relations” menu. Inspired by the human connections that shaped Ernest Hemingway, the program shifts away from technical showmanship toward emotional storytelling and narrative-driven drinks.
Cocktails such as “Likeminded Creatures” and “Partners in Crime” translate literary relationships into flavor, reinforcing the bar’s legacy while presenting a more personal and reflective approach to modern mixology.
AER Evolves into an Audiophile Restobar
Further along Aberdeen Street, AER reemerges as an audiophile restobar where sound design influences both cuisine and cocktails. Built around a quadraphonic sound system, the Listening Lounge concept merges high-fidelity audio culture with a diner-inspired food menu and a cocktail program that interprets musical genres through flavor.
The result is a venue that bridges nightlife and dining, positioning music as the central creative force behind the guest experience.
Dead Poets Launches a Liquid Art Gallery
At the top of the corridor, Dead Poets completes the trilogy as a hybrid studio space. Operating as a barber shop by day and an experimental cocktail lab by night, the venue introduces “Liquid Gallery v4: Dead Painters,” a menu that treats each drink as a visual artwork.
From Van Gogh-inspired floral compositions to pop-art highballs referencing Andy Warhol, the concept highlights how modern cocktail culture increasingly intersects with design, storytelling, and artistic identity.
A New Cultural Direction for Hong Kong Nightlife
By uniting three distinct venues under one creative vision, Aberdeen Arts Row signals a shift toward collaborative, culture-driven hospitality. Timed alongside Art Basel, the project positions Aberdeen Street, Hong Kong as a destination where nightlife moves beyond drinks alone, inviting guests to explore storytelling, sound, and visual art in a single evolving experience.
