Secret phone booth entrances, creative cocktails, American comfort food and a playful interior, all within the five-star Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong? Welcome to opening of the iconic New York cocktail bar PDT HK (Please Don’t Tell) on the mezzanine above MO Bar.
PDT is regularly voted among the World’s Best Bars, and it has long been a favourite of New Yorkers. Designed by Nelson Chow, the interior maintains key elements of PDT NYC. The hidden 25-seater bar sports a copper counter and quirky taxidermy—perfect for displaying the lost and found items of forgetful patrons. How fun to imbibe under a nattily dressed moose head!
After hosting PDT’s pop-up as part of our Masters of Mixology programme last year, we recognised that PDT would be a perfect permanent fit for us.
—Torsten van Dullemen, General Manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
Creative local spin on cocktails
Cocktails with a Hong Kong twist (Credit/PDT)
PDT Hong Kong’s drinks menu features 15 cocktails, including a mix of PDT classics and new creations crafted especially for Hong Kong. Try the ‘Big Fan’, a refreshing shandy served with Cabeza tequila, lime juice, pink peppercorn, guava and Moonzen Fuijan radler; the ‘Bad Hunter’, a John Collins prepared with Chivas blended Scotch whisky, Fernet Hunter, lemon juice, dragon eye and Moët Brut Imperial Champagne; and the ‘Milky Tea Punch’, a rich flip composed of Ron Zacapa Centenario rum, Hennessy V.S.O.P. cognac, Rickshaw tea, condensed milk, Tayouran egg and Angostura bitters.
Haute hot dogs and special spuds
Chef Richard Ekkebus’s take on American comfort foods features artisanal frankfurters with free-range pork, chicken and beef from sustainable sources. Try the bacon-wrapped, deep-fried pork dog with Kimchi from the New York menu. This was so moreish, we had to order two of them!
Free-range “Honkie Dog” (Credit/PDT)
New creations for PDT Hong Kong include the ‘Honkie Dog’ fried pork dog with sakura shrimp and XO mayo. Okonomiyaki-style tater tots topped with kewpie mayonnaise, takoyaki sauce, shredded nori, bonito shavings and scallions round off the comfort food, carb-style.
Verdict: Go once to check it out, but maybe save your appetite for another venue—the strong and pricy cocktails would be better suited for fois gras, not franks. We enjoyed the secret entrance (well, up the stairs, with everyone watching), but the small setting meant the ambience was lacking. Not enough people to look at! It would be a good place for a tryst, perhaps.
Get in touch
Reservations can be made one week in advance for parties of up to six people.
Phone: +852 2132 0110
Email: [email protected]
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Written By: Adriane Rysz