Paradiso, crowned World’s Best Bar 2022, will be taking up residence in Darkside on the 16th and 17th of July to welcome Asia’s 50 Best Bar presentation at Rosewood Hong Kong, and to make the most of so much cocktail-making talent under one roof, Giacomo Giannotti, Simone Rossi and the DarkSide mixologists will join forces behind the Darkside bar to showcase Paradiso’s world-class creations.

From 9 pm until midnight on 16 and 17 July before Asia’s 50 Best Bars award presentation in Hong Kong, DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong (#13 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022) will host an exclusive pop-up by Paradiso, a speakeasy cocktail bar from Barcelona, which was ranked number 1 on World’s 50 Best Bars 2022.

Known for its avant-garde cocktails that blend creativity, an ethos of sustainability, and a touch of playful whimsy, Paradiso offers a uniquely personal take on the modern speakeasy experience.

Tuscany-born Giacomo Giannotti (above), owner and head bartender of Paradiso, will be joined by Rosewood Hong Kong’s Director of Bars Simone Rossi, Bar Manager KT Lam and the DarkSide team behind the bar to re-create their world-class signature mixes for two nights only.

“With a shared passion for innovation, creativity and sustainability, it is a true pleasure and privilege to collaborate with Paradiso, the number 1 on World’s 50 Best Bars 2022, encouraging the exchange of ideas among industry leaders in cocktail-making while Rosewood Hong Kong is hosting this year’s edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars. This is the first time the ceremony will be held in Hong Kong, and we are very excited to welcome our community back to Hong Kong,” said Simone Rossi (below), Director of Bars of Rosewood Hong Kong.

The Paradiso pop-up menu at DarkSide will feature five of Paradiso’s most popular cocktails, including:

  • Evolution Negroni, a quirky take on the traditional recipe that uses bourbon whiskey infused with mango and vanilla, chai tea, Frangelico and grated tonka bean
  • Tesla, a fresh and floral combination of gin, a liqueur handcrafted from Acmella Oleracea, lemon verbena, edible flowers and raspberry served in a highball glass
  • Copper, a surprise-filled creation inspired by the copper stage of the Metal Ages, and comprised of Scotch whiskey infused with pink pepper, house-made Mancino Secco infused with artichoke, polar mint tincture, rose water, agave syrup and aloe vera
  • Fleming, made with miso-flavoured Tequila Blanco, beer syrup, Mancino Secco, grapefruit juice, grapefruit kefir, Thai milk and Perrier, a complex, fermented and bubbly drink named after the Scottish researcher who discovered penicillin.
  • And last but not least, The Cloud, featuring the likes of hibiscus-infused mezcal, vermouth, and xylitol cordial, finished with its signature floating edible cappuccino cloud.

About Paradiso
Opened in 2019 in the El Born district in the heart of Barcelona’s buzzing bar and restaurant scene, Paradiso redefines the modern speakeasy bar experience. The hidden bar is located behind a fridge door inside an unassuming pastrami shop, adding to the trendy and whimsical allure of the space.

Giacomo Giannotti is the mind behind the Paradiso cocktail lists, and together with his team, they are the soul that guides customers from the entrance until they leave. The menu changes every year, always keeping a concept of originality. The quality of the ingredients, the choice of unconventional raw materials and the use of experimental and innovative techniques are the basis of every drink list proposed by Paradiso.

“Over the years, I have tried to experiment more and more. I want Paradiso to be a surprise, both its venue and its drinks. “

Each new drink list is a long and stimulating creative process involving the entire Paradiso team. Following Giacomo’s conceptual idea, the team starts brainstorming sessions, with all the ideas tested until the group reaches what it considers to be perfection.

The glass and the “special effects” are conceived and designed together with the recipe to create the ideal, original presentation for each individual drink.

The current drink list, The Evolution, was unveiled in October 2022. Starting with mankind’s progress as a collective, it draws inspiration from historical discoveries and inventions that marked milestones in human evolution: from the discovery of fire to new technologies, from the invention of the wheel and writing to the discovery of electricity—a total of 14 new drinks, each one commemorating a crucial moment in the evolution of humanity.

All cocktails will be priced at HKD180 + 10% service charge. To reserve your place at the Paradiso/Darkside pop-up, head to SevenRooms to make a booking/reservation.

Read more news from the drinks industry here.