Linguini Fini

Bread basket 

Stracetti di Manzo - arugula, slices of rare beef, artichokes, gorgonzola, and anchovy aïoli.

Caesar salad and fried calamari.

Fried pork brain, lardo, crisp sage, and lemon aïoli.

Pig's heart Milanese with arugula, tomato, and lemon.

Linguini Fini

G/F, The L Place

139 Queen's Road

Central, Hong Kong

Notes:

Linguini Fini is a. B and I had read about it online and were intrigued by their interesting food combinations. To start off with we however had a few drinks as the place has a 1+1 deal until 7pm. B went with a Negroni, I had a tacky glass of prosecco. As to the food, we stayed in the antipasti arena all night, and were not disappointed. Among the standouts there was the Stracetto di Manzo was incredibly tasty, filled with umami and yumminess. The calamari were fresh and crisp, just like they are supposed to be. And the fried pork brain with lardo was a really interesting dish, and while the brain itself did not taste like much in itself, it was nicely accompanied by the crisp sage and lemon aïoli. On the other hand, I had really looked forward to the pig's heart Milanese but the breading was way to overpowering, and did not provide the taste of heart, which I had expected. The place also provide a reasonably price wine list, were many can be bought by caraffe rather than bottle. Recommended.

The Globe

Wychwood Ginger Beard Ginger Beer and Fuller's Organic Honey Dew from tap.

Ciders! Watkin's Taffy Apple and Sheppy's Oak Matured Vintage Reserve.

Morrocan spiced shish kebabs with preserved lemon yoghurt.

Fried halloumi with lentils, tzatziki, kalamata olives and beets.

Puff pastry goat cheese tart with honey and pesto.

The Globe
Garley Building
45-53 Graham Street
Central, Hong Kong

Notes:
I am not sure how long The Globe has existed but I feel fairly confident that it has been a Hong Kong craft beer institution of some sorts for quite of a while. They feature a very liberal, every-day happy hour from 9am to 8pm, where most beverages are around 2/3 the normal price. We went in the late afternoon at a point wheres a refreshing beer in the humid, Hong Kong August heat sounded just right. Their selections of both beer and ciders is quite impressive and we made a serious effort to try a lot of different things, e.g. I really enjoyed the Ginger Beard ginger beer, which was new to both of us. We decided to stay for dinner and try some of the tempting offers from the food menu. The goat cheese tart was not bad, but just ok though we both adored the halloumi cheese dish and the shish kebabs. Generally, The Globe is a casual but lively place to go. Service is friendly and good craft beer aplenty. What else can one really ask for? Recommended.

Flamme

Manhattan and Passionate Englishman.

A Paul Matthew creation, Campari Alexander

Dry martinis with the most fantastic blue cheese-stuffed olives.

Homemade chips with blue cheese dip.

Salad with smoked salmon.

Omelet, sausages and fruit salad.

Eggs benedict with béarnaise sauce.

Flamme
S4-33, San Li Tun Village
19 San Li Tun Lu
Chaoyang, Beijing

Notes:
A favorite of B and I in Beijing. Flamme is theoretically a steak house but it really is so much more than a steak house. On our first visit we randomly stumbled in to find that their happy hour deal is pretty extraordinary (50% off until 7:30pm every day, meaning most cocktails cost around 30rmb) and their head bartender Paul Matthew is doing an excellent job behind the bar. The cocktail menu is frequently updated and further, he is happy to freestyle. Aside from cocktails, Flamme serves delicious food. Everything from bar food to breakfast items, very reasonably price even. Make sure to stop by if you are ever in Beijing. Paul is around on Tuesdays and Fridays. Highly recommended.

Orangé

Moët & Chandon Champagne Rosé + Cheesy pita snacks.

Crostini with smoked scamorza cheese, grilled red pepper and anchovies.

French Sauvignon Blanc, Black Heineken + Vegetable tempura

Orangé

Tokyo Midtown

9 Akasaka, Minatu-Ku

Tokyo

Notes:

During our last visit to Tokyo we lived in lovely Akasaka and on our first night we coincidently stumbled across Orangé, tempting us with their daily happy hour (which I believe run until 7:30pm). The place is a casual wine bar, quite popular among locals. Both of the times we were there, they also held wedding receptions, which was quite interesting to watch. But as to the happy hour deal, it is great. A glass of Moët & Chandon champagne (regular or rosé) will set you back 800 yen and other alcoholic beverages are discounted as well. Along side our drinks we were served little snacks, which were incredibly delicious. The places serves small plates as well, including fries with truffles, gorgeous ham or little crostini with scamorza and anchovies like the ones we had, shown above. Service is friendly but not super attentive. Still I will highly recommend this place.

Peter The Bar

Happy hour drinks: Spumoni and Tokyo Joe

Bar with a view.

Peter The Bar
The Peninsula Tokyo, 24F
1-8-1 Yurakucho
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo

Notes:
A lovely venue for a quick pre-dinner drink in Ginza, Peninsula Hotel's Peter The Bar features a happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 5pm to 8pm. The happy hour includes a selected list of drinks which are all priced at 700 yen. B went with a classic spumoni while I went with the bar's self-invented signature drink, Tokyo Joe, which turned out to be a lovely mix of gin, umeshu, drambuie, cranberry and lemon juices. The presentation was slightly tacky but fit the Peter Pan theme of the bar quite well. Recommended.

Aer Bar

Aer Bar
Four Season Hotel
114 Dr E Moses Road
Worli, Mumbai

Notes:
If you are fond of cocktails and panorama views, Aer is a Mumbai spot not to be missed. The bar is a roof-top placed atop the Four Season Hotel, thus providing an excellent 360 degree view of the sea surrounding Mumbai. Not only is the view gorgeous, the bar also features an everyday sunset happy hour from 5:30-8pm, amongst other offering Moët & Chandon champagne at mere 500rs per glass, which I guess is enough of an incentive to make it regular hangout spot. Expect the usual expat and upper-class, Indian crowd and lots of masala snacks. Highly recommended.

The Blue Bar

Whisky sour + frozen fig daiquiry

The Blue Bar
Sardar Patel Marg
Diplomatic Enclave
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi

Notes:
I am not afraid to admit that this place is a favorite hangout spot in Delhi for B and I. Not only is the garden of the beautiful Taj Palace hotel like a little oasis in middle of hectic Delhi but on top of that they serve some of the most sophisticated cocktails you will find in the entire city. Add to that a fantastic happy hour - two cocktails (must based on the same spirit) for the price of one everyday from 18-20. That I tell you, dear reader, is a recipe for success. Unlike many other Delhi bars, Blue Bar will provide you with more experimental cocktails. I clearly remember a fig daiquiry (as pictured) and a tobacco-infused Manhattan which were both tasty and interesting encounters. Prices range from 600-800 rupees which is above average, unless you hit the happy hour that is. Tacky cocktail glasses and masala snacks are of course included in the experience - it's India after all. Very, very recommended.