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Hope & Sesame

Guangzhou

• The Best Bar in Mainland China 2025, sponsored by Cointreau

In a quaint neighbourhood lined with eccentric Cantonese collectable and curio shops sits a humble cha chaan teng (Cantonese casual eatery), behind which lies a sumptuous hidden saloon – one that is easy to miss but hard to leave. Opened in 2016 as the first speakeasy in southern China, Hope & Sesame brings far-reaching techniques (centrifugal clarification, sous vide infusions, slow cooking and rotary distillation) to a bar scene that was previously stuck in the traditional. It's an ethos that has afforded this haunt a spot on the Asia's 50 Best Bar list for six consecutive years, as well as the title of The Best Bar in Mainland China in 2025, sponsored by Cointreau.

A testing ground for innovation, previous menu renditions – such as The Kitchen Pantry – drew inspiration from a global selection of lesser-known condiments, sauces and spices, while the most recent roster – To the Flavours – allows guests to embark on a quest to uncover the tastiest tipples. Think Truffle Banana Bread – a spiced and buttery concoction of rum, brandy and applewood truffle banana bread spiked with cinnamon and clove for layers of rich complexity, or the eyebrow-raising Taro Aviation – with roasted and distilled purple sweet potatoes, clarified coconut milk, chardonnay, vodka and violets.

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