Although Toronto is home to some pretty spectacular bars, the cocktail scene here has been on fire lately. So the news of a pop-up coming to the city from one of Asia’s most celebrated bars is kinda a big deal.

Hope & Sesame, named China’s best mainland bar in 2023 and earning a spot on ‘Asia’s 50 Best Bars’ for three consecutive years, has been delighting the masses since 2016 in Guangzhou. It features a hidden bar within the bar where guests can discover live musicians entertaining the city’s jazz enthusiasts every night of the week. It’s also known as a unique testing ground for cocktail innovation.

The speakeasy has gained a reputation for experimenting with a wide range of indigenous ingredients, infusion techniques, various distillation methods and micro-seasonal sourcing, bringing innovation to a bar scene that previously stuck to tradition. They also incorporate unique traditional Chinese liqueurs, plants, and spices to create an unforgettable cocktail experience.

The Toronto pop-up will be held at 1 Hotel Toronto on March 7-8 inside their Flora Lounge, offering two exclusive guest shifts. From 7 to 10 p.m. each evening, co-founders and mixologists Andrew Ho and Bastien Ciocca will be serving up six expertly crafted cocktails for guests to enjoy.

While the list of cocktails has not been released yet for the pop-up event, some of the amazing libations Hope & Sesame is known for include the include the Black Garlic Manhattan made with bourbon whiskey, black garlic and dark chocolate distillate, vermouth, vetiver and absinthe; the Dirty Marg with tequila, homemade green apple and basil liqueur, pink pepper syrup, lime juice and smoked olive brine; and thee Shochu Kome with pandan distillate and lotus leaf vermouth.

No reservations needed! Just drop into the Flora Lounge inside 1 Hotel between 7 to 10 p.m. and sip on some of the most innovative cocktails you may have ever tasted.