You’ve been invited to Lucy Wong’s Fitzrovia apartment for a late-night party with the who’s-who of London’s 1950’s socialite scene. Lucy Wong has unfortunately just had to leave to attend another glamorous engagement, but please make yourself comfortable, and enjoy some libations at a party set to last until the early hours of the morning.
That’s the concept behind London’s newest cocktail bar, Lucy Wong, from The Breakfast Group. The minds behind Opium have brought another slice of Asian inspiration to London’s cocktail scene. However, where Opium transports drinkers to 1920s Shanghai, Lucy Wong serves up a taste of 1950’s Hong Kong in Central London.
A night at Lucy Wong
Inspiration has largely come from the 1957 novel, The World of Suzie Wong by Richard Mason. But The Breakfast Group founder Eric Yu’s own memories of growing up in Hong Kong have also influenced the affair, providing nods to the ’60s through to the ’80s as well.
This inspiration wholly influences the venue’s décor, with plenty of Chinese design inspiration, as well as the bar’s food and drink offerings. It’s all about timeless glamour and utter decadence as they serve up “the wildest cocktail parties Fitzrovia has ever seen“.
The bar works equally well for both after-work drinks and late-night parties. There are even plans for them to offer up afternoon tea on Saturdays. (Just give them a bit of time to settle in and find their feet first, they only opened in February!) But for the night owls, late-night parties never need to end because they’ve secured a late license to stay open until 3AM on Saturdays. Soundtracking the whole affair is live music: a blend of contemporary music that hearkens back to the eras that have inspired the bar, whilst remaining firmly in the 21st century.
Lucy Wong’s secret courtyard
As if the gorgeous interiors weren’t enough, Lucy Wong has also opened up their private courtyard terrace. There, at the rear of the venue, you can tuck into dim sum and cocktails away from prying eyes. And with the sun finally starting to rear its head more often, and the weather slowly warming up, Londoners are sure to be flocking to the outdoor oasis. Who doesn’t love al fresco dining and drinking after all?
And yes, don’t worry – they know that the weather in London can be temperamental and they’re well prepared. The outdoor terrace also features heaters and a covered area to shelter from the elements.
On the menu
The food takes the form of “quintessential Cantonese cuisine”, so diners can chow down on everything from succulent roasts all the way through to Dim Sum platters. But they also serve up snacks and nibbles for the not-so-hungry.
The food is in turn perfectly matched by a roster of Asian-inspired cocktails that riff on the classics. One example of their approach to drinks is the Shanghai 75, with a mix of gins, lychee liqueur, house yuzu citrus mix, lemongrass syrup, and house Prosecco. We also love the sound of their Cherry Blossom Manhattan, with Goji-infused bourbon, brandy , vermouth, cherry bitters, and goji berries, and the Dragon Old Fashioned, with Japanese whisky, coffee liqueur, vanilla sugar, and 5 Spice Bitters.
Essentially, Lucy Wong is a venue that offers guests a variety of possible nights out. You can head on in and just have a meal and a drink, or a couple of cocktails and nibbles. Or you could stay until the wee small hours of the morning, sipping away in the bar’s low lighting. They’re ready and waiting – and you’re all invited.