Opened August 2016, The Garage Bar on the lobby floor of Cordis Hong Kong at Langham Place in Mongkok is said to be the first outdoor food truck destination in a hotel.
Previously known as The Backyard, the venue has undergone a renovation to create additional space and seating. As outdoor drinking space is rare in Mongkok, The Garage Bar is a welcome oasis for city folks.
Concept The Garage Bar offers an urban food culture experience by blending Western food truck favourites with traditional Asian flavours and pairing dishes with nearly 40 local and international craft beer brands. All that is delivered in a striking red and black setting with two vintage Citroën vans – one from 1966 and the other from 1972.
Must-eats include the Hongkongese Burger, a New Zealand steak in a bamboo charcoal pineapple bun (known among the locals as bolo bao); Crab & Cheese Melt Sandwich; and Churro Cherries Dulce.
Beer lovers will rejoice over a sample option that features local and international – three different labels will create a personalised “beer flight”.
MICE application The Garage Bar is such a stylish venue, and the vintage vans lend many Instagrammable moments. Spanning 322m2, The Garage Bar is split into the 134m2 Upper deck and 188m2 Lower deck.
It is ideal for welcome or closing cocktail receptions with 50 to 150 guests.
Music plays in the bar, but event planners can bring in a live DJ for an additional fee.
The only downside to The Garage Bar is its open-air nature, which makes it susceptible to weather elements. As a wet weather back-up, event planners are offered another bar, Alibi, or a private function room.
Organisations that have used The Garage Bar for their events include Wine Luxe, Mothercare, IATA and Columbia University.
Service Top marks for attentive service. Despite it being a large venue, staff came by frequently to check on diners’ needs and to tidy tables. I also like how knowledgeable the staff are about the different beers available and are willing to share tips on how to pick from over 40 craft beer brands.
