COA founder Jay Khan unveils The Savory Project, his second brand to date

Created with Ajit Gurung, the new bar hones in on savoury and non-alcoholic cocktails

With queues out the door and a plethora of awards to boot, Hong Kong bar scene darling COA and its founder Jay Khan need no introduction. Khan's newly unveiled second concept, however, does: rather than honing in on a single spirit like his temple to mezcal, The Savory Project instead focuses on—as the name suggests—savoury mixed drinks, bolstered by a selection of expertly designed non-alcoholic cocktails, reflecting the change in Khan's lifestyle, as well as that of co-founder Ajit Gurung.

Set to open towards the end of May, The Savory Project will predominantly feature cocktails based on notes of earthy or umami character, with the use of ingredients such as meat, fungi, brine, and more. The idea for the bar came from Khan and Gurung's observation of an increase in customer requests over the years for less sugar or sweetness in their drinks.

Above The centrepiece hexagonal bar (Photo: Brash Atelier)

Above Gibson (Photo: The Savory Project)

Above Thai Beef Salad (Photo: The Savory Project)

"Our aim is to add a fresh dimension to Hong Kong's thriving cocktail scene by expanding the range of savoury cocktails beyond the usual Dirty Martini and Bloody Mary," explains Gurung.

Foremost on the menu are house riffs on savoury classics like the Gibson, alongside originals like the Thai Beef Salad—a close cousin to COA's own deliciously umami Bloody Beef Maria.

Interiors, meanwhile, were designed by Brash Atelier to evoke warmth and intimacy, as well as to encourage interaction between the staff and guests. To this end, a custom-made hexagonal bar makes efforts to remove the barrier between bartender and guests for a more interactive experience.

"We kept our bar small so that we can talk to guests, engage with them and have them try new things,” says Khan.

The Savory Project, 4 Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong; thesavoryproject.com

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Topics

Jay Khan Ajit Gurung The Savory Project COA Bars Cocktails

Tatler Asia

COA founder Jay Khan unveils The Savory Project, his second brand to date