Bow down to the gods Fu “happiness”, Lu “prosperity”, and Shou “longevity” for blessing Hollywood Road with this east-meets-west rooftop bar that’s currently all the rage, and deservingly so. Unlike most of the city’s hotspots, Fu Lu Shou’s entrance is not marked by seizure-inducing neon lights, but a non-descript code-locked gate that looks as if it’s hiding away some seriously sketchy business. The only dealings going on behind-the-scenes, however, involve a creative menu of local-inspired drinks that go down a little too nicely, and snacks that are nostalgic for those familiar with Chinatowns outside of the Orient.

Stepping out of a gritty elevator onto the seventh floor, you’ll find yourself immersed in an environment that achieves the perfect sense of trendiness without veering into hipster parody.  The owners of the bar went to town with the interior, paying homage to local culture through accents such as a mahjong tile-lined bar top, swinging chairs that resemble bird cages, and splashes of red left and right.

The drink menu also tips its hat off to all things Hong Kong, infusing local aromas into classic cocktails. The Chrysantini, a strongly scented mixture of Beefeater 24 gin, homemade chrysanthemum syrup, lemon juice, and egg white, is essentially the big kid version of the tea you’re used to sipping with your dim sum, and was our favorite on the menu. Other notable cocktails include the Joh Sun, a fiery wake-up call of a drink kissed with fragrant lemongrass, fresh ginger and chilli, as well as the Suzie Wong Rocks Hong Kong, one of the menu’s sweeter drinks which features French fortified wine and Grand Marnier mixed with homemade honey syrup, apple juice, grapes and a medley of berries.

A concise snack menu includes westernised Chinese bar bites such as crispy sesame crusted prawn toast, deep fried tofu sprinkled with chilli salt, and spicy “fortune” chicken wings. If crisp and crackle are not your thing, fear not­ – the menu also features an 80s-kitsch paper umbrella-topped banana split that could easily be a gift sent down from the gods themselves. From the addicting retro delights to an impeccably warm service staff that’s more than happy to help you unearth offerings that will excite, Fu Lu Shou is a reminder that there’s an art to creating a bar that’s more than just a place to get drunk.