Kinsman – Cantonese Spirits Reimagined in Soho.

Step into Kinsman on Peel Street and you’ll feel as though you’ve walked straight into a Wong Kar-wai film. Inspired by In the Mood for Love, the bar’s arched windows, mosaic tiles, and green metal window grilles evoke a lush, nostalgic Hong Kong while offering a modern reinterpretation of its past. Founded by Gavin Yeung, a seasoned food and drinks editor turned bar owner, Kinsman is a Cantonese cocktail salon that celebrates the forgotten tradition of indigenous spirits with bold creativity.

The cocktail menu is both inventive and rooted in heritage. The Papaya Van Winkle blends papaya wine, tomato, ginger, snow fungus, and gin, while the daring Dragon & Phoenix infuses Ser Wong Fun snake wine with agave syrup and a hawthorn lollipop. Other standouts include the Kowloon Dairy, a playful Cantonese twist on the milk punch, and the Satsuma Snow, a layered concoction of rice wine, shochu, coffee, and Okinawan black sugar that surprises with its savory, ramen-like notes.

Food also plays a starring role, with small plates that nod to Hong Kong’s culinary traditions. Think crispy shrimp toast, wagyu ox tongue baked rice, and a lap cheong charcuterie platter that reimagines classic Chinese sausages. Together, the drinks and bites create a deeply atmospheric experience that bridges past and future. Kinsman is not just a cocktail bar—it’s a love letter to Hong Kong’s heritage, crafted with modern flair for today’s discerning drinkers.