Night Out
The Iron Fairies
Certified
World's Best Bar
CertifiedWorld's Best Bar
Hong Kong-Central
Feb 26, 2020
Australian-born Ashley Sutton is known for his whimsical, visually stunning concepts, and The Iron Fairies is no exception. The aesthetics and atmosphere are truly spectacular, and immediately immerse us in a world of fantasy. The superbly crafted drinks, innovative comfort food, excellent live music acts and all-around stellar service complete the picture, making this place an all-time Hong Kong favorite.
A bit of backstory before we dive in. Before turning interior designer, Sutton was in the iron ore industry, working in mines in Western Australia. This led to him writing and illustrating a series of three children’s books about miners trapped underground, forging fairy figurines out of iron. See where this is going? The Pottinger Street bar is the Iron Fairies’ third chapter, following the concept’s resounding success in Bangkok and Tokyo.
As with its sister locations, Hong Kong’s Iron Fairies has been modelled on a blacksmith’s workshop, furnished in raw iron, hand-hewn timber and soft leather. Heavy metal-working tools line the bar and its back wall. Hanging from chains, iron chandeliers hold flickering candles that bathe the space in warm light. Attached to thin copper rods, over 10,000 real, preserved butterflies delicately dangle from the ceiling – an incredible sight to behold. Above the bar, hundreds of vials of fairy dust tied to strings hang in colorful bundles, and scattered around the tables are thousands of the titular small iron fairies. This enchanting dungeon hosts 80 guests across its main worksop space and six individually designed private “furnaces” and “casting rooms”. Tucked away behind 2 inch-thick iron doors, these are ideal for dates or small group gatherings.
The creative cocktail menu was designed in collaboration with master mixologist Joseph Boroski. Try Smoke In A Bottle, a mix of house-infused blueberry vodka, elderflower liqueur, homemade sage cordial, lemon, and creme de cassis with smoked cacao nibs, presented in a smoke-filled glass bottle and served over ice cubes. Another favorite is the Underground Martini, with triple-pepper and chili infused dry gin shaken over ice with homemade turmeric bitters, white radish and fresh lemon. To soak it all up, tuck into a hearty hand crafted burger or some of the delicious shareable bar bites.
