Antonio LAI – n°15 Asia’s Fifty Best bars

Antonio Lai : multi-awarded international mixologist

 

  • 2018 Asia’s 50 Best Bars: Quinary #15
  • 2017 World’s 50 Best Bars (for the fifth consecutive year) #40
  • Pioneer the comprehensive Multisensory Mixology (MM) concept in Hong Kong

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Executive Mixologist

Antonio Lai is an award-winning international mixologist who pioneered the comprehensive Multisensory Mixology (MM) concept in Hong Kong – a drinking experience that engages all five senses. On top of being all about cocktails, Antonio is most often seen zipping up and down the slopes of Central in Hong Kong in his signature outrageous sneakers.

Having worked at renowned bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes in different countries since 1997, Antonio is also the author of two books on MM cocktails, a speaker at multiple international seminars, and a consultant for prestigious hotels and bars around the world.

Antonio started his own bar business in Hong Kong with the opening of Quinary in 2012, Origin in 2013 and The Envoy in 2014. With Quinary achieving the World’s 50 Best Bars from Drinks International Magazine for three consecutive years, Antonio and his team are definitely pushing the Hong Kong bartending scene to a world-class level.

The first multisensory cocktail bars

Mixologist at The One Bar Solution Company Limited but also Co-Owners of VEA Restaurant & Lounge (www.vea.hk) a two-storey concept offers modern French cuisine with cocktail pairing on the upper and a causal bar on the lower, Quinary (www.quinary.hk) the first multisensory cocktail bars, Ori-gin (www.originbar.hk) the first gin focused bar and The Envoy Bar & Restaurant at The Pottinger Hong Kong (www.theenvoy.hk).

Antonio is a multi-awarded international mixologist who pioneered the comprehensive Multisensory Mixology (MM) concept in Hong Kong – a drinking experience that engages all five senses.

He has 20 years of experience having to work in renowned bars, clubs, restaurants and cafes in the industry domestically and internationally. Antonio joined the CAP at Tales of The Cocktail 2015 & 2016 in New Orleans, Sole Graells Chef Master class in Barcelona, Stage Program at 69 Colebrook Row and Bombay Sapphire Blue Room Master class in London. Antonio began his career at Planet Hollywood and then joined Drop Bar.

His interest then diverted to the field in coffee and became the trainer for Jackie Chan’s Café, opened a handful of cafes in the South Pacific Regions. Apart from the experience that he gained from the Café co-partner Home Town Coffee in Pennsylvania, he had the opportunity to train in Italy where he found his true passion and destiny – Multisensory Mixology (MM).

Antonio has published two awarded cocktail books as a platform to share his passion in the field. He is keen to conduct seminars in numerous industrial occasions and enjoy being a guest mixologist around the world.

Personal achievements:

2015 Diageo Reserve World Class Global Finals; World Class Hong Kong & Macau Champion & Best Bartender of The Year.

2014 Bols Around The World Bartending Championship,
Amsterdam: 1st runner up Grand Final and quoted as ‘Best Tasting Cocktail’ by the jury panel;

Regional Champion 2013 Bols Around The World Bartending Championship: National Champion 2013 G’Vine Gin Connoisseur Program Global Finalist 2013 Foodie Folks Award, Most Lethal Mixologist (Editor’s Choice): Antonio Lai of Quinary

2012 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards: ‘Addicted to Multisensory Mixology’ by Antonio Lai

2011 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards: ‘Multisensory Mixology, FINDS’ by Antonio Lai
2011 International Bartender Association World Competition, Warsaw: Silver Medal (Pre-dinner drink)
2011 De Kuyper Cocktail Competition by HKBA, Hong Kong: Champion

2010 Ketel One Global Ritual Competition: Hong Kong Region Champion & World Final Champion
2010 China Hotelex Bartenders Competition Creative Classic, Shanghai: Champion

Quinary:
2018 The Bar Awards Hong Kong & Macau: Bar of The Year and Best Creative Cocktail Bar
2018 Asia’s 50 Best Bars: Quinary #15
2017 World’s 50 Best Bars (for the fifth consecutive year) #40
2017 The Bar Awards Hong Kong: Bar of The Year and Best Creative Cocktail Bar
2017 Asia’s 50 Best Bars: Quinary #7
2016 World’s 50 Best Bars #41
2016 The Bar Awards Hong Kong: Best Creative Cocktail Bar2016 Asia’s 50 Best Bars: #6
2015 World’s 50 Best Bars: Quinary #39
2014 World’s 50 Best Bars: Quinary #42
2014 Top 10 interesting bars and nightclubs around the World by Stunningplaces.net
2013 World’s 50 Best Bars: Quinary #38
2013 Best New Bars in 20 Cities by Condé Nast Traveler
2013 Best Cocktail Bar by Sassy Hong Kong
2013 World’s Best Bar: Asia by The Spirits Business
2012 Top 8 Bars Hong Kong by China Spirits Award
Origin: 2016 Asia’s 50 Best Bars #44
The Envoy: 2016 Asia’s 50 Best Bars #45
VEA Restaurant & Lounge:
2018 & 2017 Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau – 1 star
2016 SCMP Top 100 Tables
2016 CNN Hong Kong’s Best New Restaurants

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