Artifact Bar
LG/F, BaseHall 02, Jardine House, No. 1 & 2, Shop 5 & 7, 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong
A Futuristic Speakeasy Hidden Beneath Jardine House—Part Spaceship, Part Cocktail Den
The bar is the collaboration of industry heavyweights Beckaly Franks and Ezra Star, with J Frank as Bar Manager leading the drink program, alongside Chef Kiyoshi Sato delivering an upscale snack menu. Together they have crafted a space that plays with time, texture, and taste: aged spirits, seasonal rotations, caviar-inspired snacks, creative pairings, and theatrical presentations. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur, design lover, or simply searching for a memorable night out, Artifact offers more than drinks—it cultivates moments that linger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Evenings are naturally the sweet spot. After 5:00 PM the mood shifts from work-day energy to something more immersive: low lighting, refined music, creative cocktails in hand. For quieter environs, Tuesday-Wednesday evenings are ideal; if you’re aiming for livelier bustle, Friday or Saturday nights bring higher energy and a chance to see the full bar in action.
What are Artifact Bar’s opening hours?
Artifact opens on Tuesday through Thursday from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM. On Fridays & Saturdays, it extends later, typically until 1:00 AM. The bar is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
What is the last order or last seating time?
While last order times are not always explicitly published, drinks orders generally wind down close to closing hours—so before midnight on weekdays and before 1:00 AM on weekends. Arriving earlier ensures more choice and less rush.
Where are the best seats or tables?
For proximity to the action, sit at or near the bar. Seeing the bartenders work, watching the creation of cocktails, observing service—these seats give you front-row to the craft. Tables away from the bar offer more intimacy and quieter conversation. Lighting and design elements make almost every position visually interesting, but consider views of display shelves, artistic lighting or the textures on walls/ceiling when choosing.
Does Artifact Bar accommodate drink preferences or special requests?
Yes. The bar’s cocktail program is creative and flexible. If you have preferences—say smoky spirits, aged whiskies, lighter cocktails, less sugar, or seasonal flavors—the bartenders are equipped to guide you. They also rotate seasonal menus, which allows for fresh ingredients and adventurous flavor profiles. Food snacks are designed to pair well with drinks, so selections can be made to complement your drink choices.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are accepted for booths (3 or more guests). Walk-ins are welcome for smaller groups (2 or fewer). Important to note: there is a 10% service charge, and for larger bookings (full venue hire or parties above a specified size) you’ll need to plan ahead.
Other accommodations or special features?
Artifact Bar hosts seasonal cocktail menus, highlighting aged spirits, quirky/new flavor combinations (infusions, brine, sea/earth inspirations). They also offer components like highballs served tableside, creative garnish or pairing with chef’s snack bites. The atmosphere combines science-fiction design, convivial setting, and occasional moments of theatre in how drinks are served.
Quick Facts
- The bar is part of the group behind Artifact’s counter-dining Japanese restaurant and sits in BaseHall 02, Jardine House.
- Design inspiration comes from underground water reservoirs and surreal geometry; interiors are crafted to be transportive.
- It opened in April 2023 as a speakeasy-style cocktail bar adjacent to the Artifact restaurant.
- Led by mixologists Beckaly Franks and Ezra Star, with J Frank as Bar Manager.
- The drink program emphasizes aged spirits (whiskies, cognacs, rums, brandies), seasonal cocktails, and creative flavor techniques such as infusions, brine, aged elements.
- Elevated snack pairings by Chef Kiyoshi Sato, inspired by luxury-snack traditions like those at Prunier or Caviar House.
- Capacity: The bar space is moderate—enough for both bar counter seating and table seating, designed to feel intimate yet not cramped.
Gallery
Signature Drinks & Practices
- Bread and Butter Milk Punch – bourbon, corn, lemon, pomegranate, toasted bread and butter; a drink that plays with texture, richness and contrast.
- Olympus – cognac, raspberry vinegar, Benedictine and Champagne; an example of the aged spirit meets bubbly technique.
- Caviar Martini – gin or vodka base, vermouth, caviar, rice, and nori oil—luxurious notes, umami, sea, texture.
- Highballs – serve-tableside highballs; varying bases, flavor profiles, often lighter, refreshing, spirit-forward.
- The PB+J – a clarified New York-sour type cocktail, in one seasonal menu, combining playful flavors and clarity.
- The Ronin – another seasonal highball-style offering featuring honeydew melon, hojicha, sansho; balancing sweetness, smoke, spice.
- Snack Pairings – items by Chef Sato such as a Wagyu sando, elevated snacks inspired by Caviar House & Prunier, possibly single seed oysters or luxury-snack-style offerings.
Features
- Capacity of Bar: Designed for intimate gatherings; moderate seating count with focus on experience rather than large crowds.
- Number of Tables / Seating: Includes bar counter seats, booth or table seats; booths for larger groups; walk-ins welcome for small groups; booths reserved for 3+ guests.
- Private Dining / Special Areas: Booths can be reserved; full venue hire possible. Special events or pre-booking for larger parties handled via reservations.
- Set / Seasonal Menu Options: Drink menu rotates seasonally; seasonal cocktail menus highlighting specific spirits or flavor themes. Snack menu also seasonal / elevated, matching drinks.
- Beverage / Spirit Highlights: Aged spirits, cognacs, fancy whisky, rum, gin, brandy; unusual flavor infusions; technique related to aging, brine, smoke etc.
- Food / Snacks: Elevated bar snacks; snacks designed for pairing; chef-led; luxury touches like caviar, Wagyu etc.
- Ambience / Décor / Vibe: Speakeasy feel; design that evokes water reservoirs, futuristic, surreal geometry; dim lighting and immersive details.
- Service / Atmosphere: Highly attentive; bartenders versed in spirits stories; theatrical presentation; conversation encouraged; mood is upscale yet not inaccessible.
Awards
- Since opening, Artifact has received recognition in various drinking / bar-scene roundups, praised for design, cocktail innovation and creative seasonal menus.
- Time Out has named it one of the standout bars in Hong Kong under “Bars & Pubs” with “Best Transportative Bar” or similar nods for its immersive environment.
At The Bar
Bartenders don’t just make drinks—they tell stories. About the spirit, its age, the wood, the distillery, the seasonal ingredient or infusion. You’ll see technique—clarified drinks, ageing, barrel or oak finish, unusual garnishes. The service pace gives you space to savor, to explore the menu, to try unexpected combinations.
What To Expect
Expect adventure. The menu is not static; seasonal highlights mean new cocktails appear regularly. Some drinks are bold and unexpected; others more classical with a twist. Some richer, others lighter. Snacks are an essential part of the experience, not afterthoughts. Expect premium prices: you’re paying for craft, ingredients, ambience, staff, design.
If you come for the visuals—lighting, interiors, design—you’ll be satisfied. If you come for the drinks, you’ll uncover depth, flavor complexity, presentation. If you come for memories, there’s theatricality and moments. It suits date nights, contemplative evenings, creative minds, even small celebrations.
The Welcoming Experience
From when you arrive, you may notice the door is discreet, the space not overtly flashy. Once inside, you’re greeted by warmth, by bartenders willing to explain, by seating options depending on mood. The ambience is aspirational but not exclusive; people are looking for connection, flavor, moments—Artifact Bar encourages that.
The first drink often comes with commentary; subsequent drinks are part of conversation. The music, lighting, ambience evolve as night deepens. Guests tend to linger; mixologists move between tables; there is energy but not frenzy.
Getting There
Address
Artifact Bar
LG/F, BaseHall 02, Jardine House, No. 1 & 2, Shop 5 & 7, 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong