Hope & Sesame
Hope & Sesame Shenzhen, the southern outpost of the celebrated Hope & Sesame brand, brings a refined speakeasy ethos to China’s fast-paced tech hub. The entrance is discreet—hidden behind Charlie’s (their café/restaurant space)—designed to evoke the thrill of discovery. Once inside, the bar unfolds in three distinct zones. The front bar offers a more relaxed aperitif space; deeper within lies more intimate cocktail rooms; and at the rear is The August, a micro-space with only seven seats for a highly ritualistic tasting experience. The philosophy here leans heavily on craft, experimentation, and narrative. The team blends Chinese spirits (e.g. baijiu, shochu), local flavors, and global technique—clarification, infusion, filtration—to build cocktails that feel both rooted and avant-garde. The August elevates that to immersive drama: a set‐menu drinking experience, a tightly curated spirits list, and storytelling from the bartenders. The cocktail list evolves frequently, pushing boundaries while staying drinkable. Although it’s still relatively young, Shenzhen’s Hope & Sesame is already earning acclaim, leveraging the brand’s reputation (in Guangzhou and across Asia) while engaging locals and visitors with its hidden door, multilayered design, and engagement with Chinese spirit culture.
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