Latest news with #lounge
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Buzziest new openings in Hong Kong, from Japanese-Korean fusion to craft beer
The Bridge Cathay Pacific's revamped lounge The Bridge, located at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Cathay Pacific Following an extensive renovation, the Cathay Pacific business lounge is welcoming customers back to Terminal 1 with its all new 'human-centric' design. Advertisement The lounge, which closed in 2021, now features elegant cherry wood, sleek black granite and travertine accents that create a less clinical, more residential ambience. Before hopping on their flight, travellers can unwind while enjoying wonton noodles at the Noodle Bar or savour regional Chinese small plates at The Nook. Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok Goose Island Taproom Chicago brewery Goose Island has launched its first taproom in Hong Kong. Photo: Goose Island Taproom Chicago brewery Goose Island has launched a new taproom in Hong Kong's Lyndhurst Terrace, featuring more than a dozen of its craft innovations. The tap line-up includes the Goose IPA, a six-time champion at the Great American Beer Festival, and Thirsty Goose, which won gold at the 2024 World Beer Awards in the Lager/Hoppy Pilsner category. With rotating tap line-ups each month, beer enthusiasts can expect a fresh experience with every visit. Shop 1, G/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central Yorucho Interior shot of Yorucho. Photo: Yorucho
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
You'll Need A Key To Enter This Subterranean Cocktail Bar In Raleigh
Sous Terre. This Raleigh nightspot transformed from basement dive to dreamy cocktail bar. If you remember the old dive bar that once lived where Sous Terre now exists, forget everything you know. Crawford Hospitality—chef Scott Crawford's hospitality group that now includes Crawford and Son, Jolie, Brodeto, Crawford Brothers Steakhouse—has transformed it into a subterranean lounge with warm oak, leathered stone, and just the right amount of moody lighting. 'We changed the bar from an underground dive lounge to an understated, dimly lit cocktail-focused lounge by adding warm oak, leathered stone and ambient lighting,' says chef Scott Crawford. 'In addition, we outfitted the bar entirely with Perlick equipment.' It feels like a secret, but not a pretentious one—just a fun, grown-up clubhouse for people who appreciate a well-made drink. Sous Terre. And that's where Jordan Joseph comes in. He's the beverage director of Crawford Hospitality and the kind of guy who obsesses over cocktails the way Crawford obsesses over food. 'I love the feeling of everything down here, especially the lighting. It's darker and moodier than most bars in the city. It's very cozy,' says Joseph. 'You can forget about what time it is and kind of take your mind off of the day-to-day. It's all about the people that come in here and the staff that work here—I believe some of the best people in the world are all a part of this bar.' The cocktail menu is a love letter to the classics—negronis, highballs, sours—but always with an elevated twist. 'Simple cocktails that have great ingredients, and few of them,' says Joseph. 'We take classics seriously and rotate them through each menu change,' like the Champs Elysees, a cocktail from the 1920's. 'It's essentially a Sidecar with Chartreuse and Angostura bitters,' notes Joseph. 'I love this drink. It's old school, made with classic and timeless ingredients, that will never be out of style.' Jordan Joseph at Sous Terre. Spring is gin season in Jordan's world. 'Gin and tonics are my personal favorite cocktail. It's one I drink while off work, truly relaxing around home. This is all about simple pleasure. Grab a bottle of Mahón, Monkey 47, or Nikka Coffey Gin—each of these has its own 'spring' occasion. Keep your gin in the freezer, grab a large chilled glass, add 4 oz or so of gin, a squeeze of lime, quality bottled tonic and plenty of ice. Garnish with a twist of lemon, cucumber, or nothing at all (my preference) and start up the grill.' But if you want to try something unique order the Tom Yum Sour. It's a cocktail that tastes like a trip to Thailand—think coconut-Thai chile-washed Toki whiskey, lemongrass-miso, lime leaf, lemon, and egg white. 'It's Sous Terre's version of a very refreshing, chilled Tom Yum soup in whiskey sour form,' says Joseph. 'Between infusing oils, coconut washing, preparing and weighing out all the ingredients in the stock that's cooked, it's quite labor intensive but very rewarding.' While there's a lot going on it still falls into Joseph's less is more approach with 3-4 ingredients. 'There's a lot to talk about in regards to preparing it, come try one we'll tell you all about it.' Sous Terre. Whatever happens in the subterranean world of Sous Terre, don't leave without a Ramos Gin Fizz. It's one of the only places you'll find a dialed-in version in the Triangle—and Jordan's version is like drinking a delicious cloud souffle. 'We've gained an 'if you know you know' following around our Ramos Gin Fizz since opening,' he says. Note that I'm definitely one of those RFG cult fans, see here. This summer we'll have fun working some of our favorite local produce, such as strawberry, peach and blueberry, into our fizzes. Our bar team takes this drink seriously. It should be worth the wait!' Sous Terre. I had to get Jordan's take on what to drink and when, all subjective, of course: Jenn Rice: What's your favorite pre-dinner cocktail?Jordan Joseph: Scotch Highball. JR: What's your favorite after-dinner drink?JJ: Vieux Carre. JR: What's your go-to low ABV cocktail?JJ: Braulio Amaro and Tonic. JR: What do you recommend for no ABV?JJ: Cold-brewed, milky Oolong tea. JR: What shots are the cool kids shooting these days? JJ: I'm out of the loop here, for me and our team it's usually green Chartreuse from the freezer. Whatever you do, don't forget the key!
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Saunas, Cinemas, Shoe Shines: Airline Lounges With Stand-Out Services
Finnair's flagship lounge Finnair In an effort to court high-value frequent flyers, some premium carriers are heavily investing in flagship lounges to not only cater to the ever-rising demands of their highest spending customers but also to serve as a platform to communicate brand ethos. Here are five standout lounge perks—with a sense of place—to enjoy the next time you fly. Finnair's sauna Finnair With a strong national identity, the widely beloved, boundary-breaking flag carrier of Finland, Finnair, is known for doing things differently. For example, check out their eye-catching and brow-raising AirLounge, the world's only long-haul business class seat that shifts into a lie-flat bed via a rising footrest instead of a reclining back. In addition to being on the cutting edge of tech (an impressive feat for the sometimes-slow-adapting airline industry), this award-winning airline is also known for staying true to its Nordic identity. Scandi-chic aesthetics comes care of Finnish design house Marimekko, responsible for the airline's bedding and ammenity kits, and the on-board F&B offering is a reflection of local culture with its famous blueberry juice available across all cabins and hyper-local ingredients like reigndeer dishes on the menu. Then there's the very Finnish focus on wellbeing, which is best appreciated in the Finnair Platinum Wing lounge in Helsinki Airport. The flagship lounge includes all the usual luxuries but with a Nordic twist. There's an extensive buffet curated by chefs based in the Nordic region and a bar is well stocked with Finnish gins, craft beers and specialty cocktails. Other amenities include private workstations and sleep pods; however, the highlight here is the Finnish sauna. Travelers can enjoy a true spa-like experience, starting with a shower stocked with high-end organic skincare products in the miminalist but well-considered private changing areas, followed by a stint in the steam-filled sauna cabin, which is swathed in dark wood. Afterwards, cool down happens in the relaxation room, equipped with loungers and dim lighting meant to mimic the soothing light of a Scandinavian forest at twilight. In a country where sauna culture is part of the national identity, Finnair's amenity is a true testament to deeply rooted understanding of its home base. Cathay Pacific has bathtubs in its flagship lounge Carmen Chan 2015 Oneworld alliance member Cathay Pacific has long been synonymous with premium service and refined design, which is epitomized in The Pier first class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. Designed by London-based Studioilse, the lounge is very stylish, but beyond its good looks (and impressive dining room with made-to-order Cantonese dishes), The Pier's hidden gem lies within its Retreat section. Here, travelers will find a collection of day suites and private bathrooms that include full-sized bathtubs (yes, bathtubs!), as well as plush towels and Jurlique amenities. Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Los Angeles: A stylish cinema Virgin Clubhouse LAX Ruby Room PERRY GRAHAM Virgin Atlantic is a brand known for its flair, and the Clubhouse at LAX, in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, captures that spirit best with a mix of Cali cool and cheeky British personality. The design is marked by vibrant reds (the brand's signature), but it's the unique amenities that set it apart. One standout feature is the Zen Den, a wellness space featuring a smart fitness mirror by FORME Studio, but perhaps the most fun is the cinema area, with comfortable chairs and a rotating selection of short films. Travelers can immerse themselves in very Hollywood, mini movie experience before boarding. SAS Lounge in Copenhagen: Showers with speakers SAS Lounge SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has a flagship lounge in Copenhagen Airport that is understated but thought out. There are plenty of expected treats here, including Scandinavian design, a smorgasbord of hot and cold bites and peaceful workspaces, but it's the showers that deserve a special shout out. Each shower suite comes equipped with a waterproof Bluetooth speaker, allowing for travelers to connect their phones and enjoy their own playlists and podcasts while freshening up. It's a simple yet delightful wellness-focused touch that transforms an otherwise utilitarian travel moment into something more personalized and enjoyable. Japan Airlines' First Class Lounge at Tokyo Haneda: Shoe shine service John Lobb getty Japan Airlines (JAL) has a good reputation for top-notch service and attention to detail, which is also true for the airline's First Class Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport. Besides the sushi bar, whiskey lounge and nap rooms, one unusually refined amenity stands out: A shoe shine service created in collaboration with the famed British shoemaker John Lobb. Offered at select times, this complimentary service gives jetsetters the chance to have their leather footwear buffed up by specially trained staff in a meticulous, 15-minute-long experiences using high-end instruments and materials. It's an elegant, old-world and above all useful perk, especially for business travelers heading off to a meeting directly after landing or travelers with a sartorial eye. Plus, it's a nice nod to the Japanese concept of omotenashi, which underscores caring for guests with genuine hospitality.
