Journeys Within Travel Blog

Lamma Island will become Hong Kong’s premier destination for craft beer enthusiasts this December as Yardley Brothers Craft Brewery presents the inaugural Lamma Island Beer Fest. Scheduled for December 13th and 14th at Power Station Beach in Yung Shue Wan, the two-day event brings together a curated selection of beers from top local breweries, offering attendees an island retreat highlighted by exceptional artisanal brews, live music, and a relaxed, seaside atmosphere.

The festival, organized by Yardley Brothers, aims to showcase Hong Kong’s flourishing craft beverage scene. Participating brewers include prominent names such as Breer, Hong Kong Beer Co., and Heroes Beer Co., collectively offering over 100 different pours. Attendees are encouraged to sample the wide array of styles, ranging from classic lagers to innovative experimental brews. As a special feature, Yardley Brothers will debut their new Milkshake India Pale Ale, aptly named “Heliogazer,” providing a fresh, flavorful highlight for attendees.

A Weekend of Brews and Beach Vibes

Beyond the expansive beer selection, the Lamma Island Beer Fest emphasizes a communal, celebratory experience. Live entertainment will be provided by the Lamma Blues Collective, a group of local musicians known for their soulful tunes and mellow beats. Their performances are set to create a chilled-out soundtrack, complementing the picturesque beachfront setting in a climate typically milder than Hong Kong’s humid summer.

Ticketing details offer flexibility for festival-goers. A standard admission ticket, priced at HK$150 per person, includes one complimentary beer and a free souvenir festival glass, essential for sampling. For those wishing to maximize their experience, additional beer tokens will be available for purchase at the venue. An all-session pass is offered at HK$288, granting full access to all time slots across both days.

Essential Festival Information

The inaugural Lamma Island Beer Fest will divide its operational hours into distinct sessions to manage capacity and enhance the visitor experience.

• Date and Time:
  • December 13th (Friday): 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • December 14th (Saturday): 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Location: Power Station Beach, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island.
• Tickets: Available for purchase online at yardleybrothers.hk/web-shop/lammafest2025.

This festival marks a significant step in establishing Lamma Island as a cultural hub for sophisticated leisure. By combining the natural draw of a seaside location with the collective excellence of Hong Kong’s brewing community, the event provides a compelling reason to escape the city center and experience local artisanal flavor. Successful execution of the event could pave the way for the Lamma Island Beer Fest to become an annual staple on the regional calendar, celebrating local craftsmanship and island life.

Two of Hong Kong’s most decorated mixologists, Jo Lo and Birstacla Wong, have debuted their highly anticipated venture, Bar Mind, bringing a concept of intentional, architecturally-inspired cocktail creation to Elgin Street. Breaking from prevailing design trends, the new establishment features a strikingly primal and atmospheric interior—a sleek, all-black subterranean setting resembling a sophisticated cave. This theatrical backdrop perfectly frames the couple’s nuanced, Cantonese-inspired drink menu, solidifying its place as a mandatory destination for discerning drinkers seeking depth and originality in their libations.

Interior Design Embraces the Primal

Located at 11 Elgin Street in Central, Bar Mind immediately differentiates itself with a bold aesthetic. Eschewing the exposed brick and minimalist palettes rampant across the city, the bar is designed to evoke a natural cavern. The walls feature layered, stone-like textures, and shifting shadows play across jagged surfaces, creating an intimate, almost elemental atmosphere. Central to this design is a dramatic light fixture positioned directly over the bar, functioning as a simulated “skylight” that draws attention to the precision and artistry below. This immersive setting provides the ultimate stage for the owners, who are partners in both life and business.

Intentional Cocktails by Award-Winning Talent

Lo and Wong, both winners of the prestigious Diageo World Class Hong Kong & Macau competition, founded Bar Mind on the principle that every cocktail begins with intention. As leading figures in their generation of local mixologists, they have dedicated their menu to incorporating vibrant Cantonese flavors. Their creations are layered and contemplative, crafted for patrons who appreciate a cerebral drinking experience.

A prime example is the Cha Chaan Teng, a sophisticated reimagining of the local breakfast staple of poached egg. This tropical tribute features rum and passion fruit for brightness, balanced with a hint of tomato acidity. Crucially, the drink arrives topped with a delicate white chocolate ‘quail eggshell’ filled with passion fruit syrup, creating a playful, refreshing sensory opening.

For those drawn to savory profiles, the menu offers equally inventive takes:

• Zen Harmony: A clean, umami-forward twist on the savory martini. It achieves depth through the addition of kombu for saline notes and genmaicha for a toasty, earthy finish, lifted by a touch of yuzu citrus.
• Savoury Sipper: A slow-sipping beverage showcasing marine smokiness derived from dashi. This quality is amplified by the earthy resonance of Pu Erh tea and complexity from bonito bitters, ideal for concluding an evening.

The bar maintains a commitment to seasonal innovation, rotating new drinks every few months. Their recent series, Qīng, Jiě, Zhǐ, Rùn, spotlights Hong Kong’s traditional herbal teas, translating these local remedies into compelling modern cocktails.

Surprising Culinary Pairing

While the focus remains firmly on the complex beverage program, the small accompanying food menu offers the perfect counterpoint. The undeniable star is the Cheesy Meatballs. Praised for surpassing those found in many dedicated Italian establishments, these hearty, comforting bites are an excellent foil for the bar’s often spirit-forward and savory-leaning cocktails, ensuring a satisfying pairing.

Guests are encouraged to sit directly at the bar beneath the artistic “cave skylight” to witness the mixologists at work. Engage with Lo or Wong; sharing personal flavor preferences allows their philosophy—that “all things begin with a thought”—to materialize into a bespoke cocktail experience. Bar Mind is poised to elevate Hong Kong’s sophisticated nightlife landscape, blending world-class technique with deeply local inspiration.

Award-winning mixologists Jo Lo and Birstacla Wong, prominent figures in Hong Kong’s bar scene, have unveiled Bar Mind, a subterranean cocktail destination on Elgin Street in Central. Moving beyond conventional urban aesthetics, the venue offers an immersive, primal atmosphere—a “cocktail cave”—designed to stage their cerebral, flavor-forward drinks. Bar Mind distinguishes itself by fusing sophisticated mixology techniques with profound local Hong Kong and Cantonese influences, creating a menu where every ingredient is selected with deliberate intention.

Decoding the Design: A Primal, Theatrical Setting

Breaking free from the industrial or mid-century modern designs common across the city, Bar Mind embraces a cavernous aesthetic. The interior features textured, stone-like walls, and strategic lighting simulates a “skylight,” allowing shadows to play across rugged surfaces. This distinctive environment fosters an atmosphere that is both intimate and highly theatrical, mirroring the dramatic skill displayed by its founders.

Lo and Wong, celebrated winners of the Diageo World Class Hong Kong & Macau competition, leveraged their shared expertise and personal partnership to build this concept. Their philosophy centers on the notion that “all things begin with a thought,” translating into highly curated cocktails that encourage reflective sipping. As the latest influential bartenders of their generation to debut their own space, they ensure that the rich tapestry of Cantonese flavors forms the foundation of their innovative menu.

Intentional Sips: Cantonese Flavors Elevated

The cocktails at Bar Mind are described as layered and cerebral, designed for patrons who appreciate depth and narrative in their drinks. The menu masterfully reinterprets local culinary touchstones:

• The Cha Chaan Teng: This drink pays tribute to the beloved local classic of a poached egg in hot water. The cocktail arrives theatrically, featuring a delicate quail egg shell made of white chocolate and filled with passion fruit syrup nestled in a bed. The rum base provides tropical brightness, balanced by the acidity of tomato, serving as an excellent palate opener.
• Zen Harmony: A sophisticated twist on a savory martini, this cocktail delivers umami flavors while remaining impeccably clean and refreshing. The inclusion of yuzu provides a citrus lift, while kombu adds a nuanced saline depth. Genmaicha grounds the drink with a toasty, earthy complexity, achieving a quiet elegance.
• Savoury Sipper: Ideal for complex, slow enjoyment, this cocktail uses dashi to impart a delicate marine smokiness. This profile is amplified by the depth of Pu Erh tea and bonito bitters, creating a rich, savory experience perfect for winding down the evening.

Bar Mind maintains a rotating drink menu, ensuring continuous novelty. One recent release, the Qīng, Jiě, Zhǐ, Rùn series, transforms traditional Hong Kong herbal teas into modern alcoholic expressions, celebrating the city’s indigenous tea culture.

Beyond the Bar: Unexpected Culinary Delights

While the focus remains firmly on the expertly crafted drinks, the small food menu holds an unexpected star. The cheesy meatballs have garnered particular praise. Described as hearty and substantially better than offerings at some dedicated Italian establishments, they provide a perfect, savory counterpoint necessary to accompany the bar’s generally potent and savory-leaning cocktails.

For the most complete experience, guests are encouraged to secure a spot at the bar, directly under the “cavern skylight.” Engaging with the founders allows patrons to witness their philosophy in action, as they tailor suggestions based on individual flavor preferences.

Bar Mind, located at G/F 11 Elgin St, Central, offers not just exquisite drinks but a holistic, conceptual atmosphere, solidifying its place as a mandatory stop for enthusiasts of high-level mixology in Hong Kong.