Renowned bar veterans Agung Prabowo and Laura Prabowo, the Indonesian duo and the legendary minds behind the highly acclaimed The Old Man, Penicillin and Dead&, will soon open the doors to their latest venture, LOCKDOWN.
Agung and Laura Prabowo bring with them over 50 years of collective experience in the hospitality industry, having previously established themselves as trailblazers with their groundbreaking cocktail bar concepts, The Old Man, Penicillin and Dead&. Their multiple award-winning establishments have consistently pushed boundaries, challenging the conventions of small, independent cocktail bars with Penicillin being ranked #26 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023.
This highly anticipated bar promises to redefine Hong Kong’s cocktail culture with a quirky concept inspired by the city’s period of lockdown during the peak of the recent pandemic, where the forgotten classics meet the experimental. LOCKDOWN skillfully blends the true artistry of classic cocktails with the latest technology and trends in the mixology scene and to re-master classic cocktails that are high on technical ingenuity and to use various tools more akin to a laboratory than a cocktail bar, such as the masticator machine, liquid nitrogen, rotary evaporator, paco jet etc.
LOCKDOWN pays tribute to Hong Kong’s extended period of lockdown that endured for over three years, during which, at one point, bars and restaurants were required to close daily at 6pm and clubs were closed completely. Drawing parallels to the Prohibitions Era in the United States from 1920 to 1933, when alcohol was banned, this period of isolation and lockdown sparked the inspiration for the bar.
LOCKDOWN prides itself on offering an intimate setting with a maximum capacity of just 30 guests at any given time. The bar’s design seamlessly blends the aesthetic of the Prohibition era with modern Asian touches, creating an atmosphere that transports patrons to a bygone era with the world’s first special rotating bar station, designed by Agung Prabowo. The carefully curated cocktail menu at LOCKDOWN features around 25 handcrafted concoctions divided into three categories: Experimental, Vintage and Remastered Classics, with each cocktail priced at HK$100. Drawing inspiration from indigenous Asian culinary techniques, the food menu at LOCKDOWN is designed to be shared and will be affordably priced at an average of HK$150-HK$200 per dish.
Scheduled to open its doors to the public by early September, LOCKDOWN is ideally situated at G/F 27 Hollywood Road Central across Penicillin. In keeping with the theme of lockdown and isolation, the entrance to LOCKDOWN remains a well-kept secret, discreetly nestled next to a “Toilet” on Hollywood Road. This enigmatic entry adds a touch of intrigue while symbolizing the challenges faced during those trying times (aka “sh*t times”).
“We are thrilled to introduce LOCKDOWN to Hong Kong’s discerning bar enthusiasts,” said Agung and Laura Prabowo. “This project is a special homage to the period of lockdown experienced by our city, and we hope to create a memorable experience that transports our guests back in time while pushing the boundaries of mixology.”
Stay tuned for updates on the official opening of LOCKDOWN this September, where guests can savor the libations that pay homage to Hong Kong’s shared history.