The alfresco venue in Causeway Bay’s Tower 535 is inspired by the Japanese Alps and pays homage to the après ski lifestyle
Right about now, as the heat of summer starts dialling down and the promise of autumn and winter beckons, thoughts start to turn to the best rooftop bars and restaurants to (re)visit—perhaps even more so during the pandemic, where fresh air and open layouts are far more appealing than cramped and windowless venues. Around this time of year, in a normal year, we might already also be planning that epic ski trip to Japan, dreaming of powder snow and mineral-rich onsens, cosy timber lodges and hot toddies. The two dovetail nicely into Lounge Hakuba, a cocktail bar in Causeway Bay that aims to recreate the feeling of being on holiday in the Japanese alps.
Opened at the end of 2019 by keen alpinists Adam Wong and Wing Chan, Lounge Hakuba is named after and takes design cues from the airy wooden lodges commonly found in Japan’s popular ski resort village. The terrace, on the other hand, resembles Nagano in the springtime with grassy turf, leafy bushes and camping-inspired furniture. With the pandemic raging, Lounge Hakuba has been relatively under the radar but is preparing for the autumn season with a new push into guest bartender shifts and new cocktail offerings, and crowdpleasers such as popcorn chicken and fried gyoza.
