Cover Intervals is due to open in late June (Photo: Handout)
Intervals is due to open in late June (Photo: Handout)
1 / 1
Featuring sky-high views of the runway, Intervals is a new cocktail destination for those on the go
As we get reacquainted with frequent flying, we're also acclimatising again to the unique shape that time takes once you step onto the premises of an airport—how it becomes malleable, defined primarily by the time it takes to head to the bag drop, to clear customs, to get to the boarding gate. Taking inspiration from this phenomenon is Intervals, a new artisanal cocktail bar arriving at the Skybridge of Hong Kong International Airport.
Taking its name from such "intervals" that airport time is measured in, the concept was created by Mei Mei Song, former Tatler editor and current director of global brands and transformation at Plaza Premium Group, alongside spirits educator Victoria Chow, who headed the creative direction for the cocktail programme.
Set against the backdrop of the airport's runways, the interior of Intervals was created by Song's husband and design director of AVT Studios, Mitchel Squires, to reference traditional time-keeping devices such as pendulums, sundials, and hourglasses, while allowing for different seating configurations for everyone from solo travellers and duos, up to those travelling in groups.
Don't miss: COA founder Jay Khan unveils The Savory Project, his second brand to date
Above Mei Mei Song (R) and Victoria Chow (L)
Above Photo: Intervals
Mei Mei Song (R) and Victoria Chow (L)
1 / 2
Above A selection of pinchos (Photo: Intervals)
A selection of pinchos (Photo: Intervals)
1 / 1
The menu itself has been broken down into flights of cocktails which drinkers can choose depending on how long of an interval they have before their next flight. Those who can spare just 15 minutes can opt for a two-cocktail flight featuring To Dream (tequila, chamomile-vanilla tea, bianco vermouth, sparkling wine) and To Wake (nitro-brewed coffee, cognac, tofu-hazelnut cream). A four-cocktail flight is recommended for 30 minutes, while for 45 minutes, the cocktail flight consists of six drinks including the likes of the frozen To Begin (nigori sake, honeydew galangal) and To Maturity (Calvados, sweet wine, wheat beer).
Complementing the drinks is a revolving selection of eight pinchos (tapas-style bar snacks) served from a perambulating trolley that could at any point include the likes of prawn toast with sakura shrimp, fig and goat cheese on rye with honeycomb crumbs, and mini tacos with glazed turkey meatballs. For those in a rush, Intervals also offers takeaway sets of cocktail flights and pinchos for on-board enjoyment.
"Airports have transformed their retail and meal offerings tremendously over the years—and yet a sophisticated cocktail bar that is a destination in and of itself has not been done yet," says Song. “This project takes a different spin from anything we’ve done before, and bringing on Victoria means we are creating a category-defining experience that is beyond drinks, driven by her creative vision.” Intervals is due to open in late June 2023.
Intervals, Unit 9SB206, Level 9, Skybridge, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong; intervalsbar.com
NOW READ
Ex-Argo mixologist Lorenzo Antinori to open Bar Leone, a tribute to Roman bartending
Topics
Gavin Yeung is a Hong Kong-based writer and was the editor at Tatler Dining. He has written across the realms of F&B, design, fashion and travel, with a focus on in-depth profiles and experiential features. Previously, he held editorial positions at Hypebeast, Soho House and Vogue Hong Kong. He’s also a keen photographer and aspiring home bartender, and is constantly thinking of original, Cantonese-inflected (and occasionally questionable) cocktails to shake up. Follow him on Instagram at @gaviny.
