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What you can learn about building a business from a cocktail bar that became top 50 in the world

Tak Lo
4 min readJul 21, 2023

In the vaunted world of cocktail bars, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd, even when you have the best mixologists, sexiest design, or the yummiest menu. Many a bar investor and bar manager have spent hours and money agonizing over the small details of their bar, only to see their investment go down the drain when customers don’t go.

My favorite bar in Hong Kong, Mostly Harmless, has bucked that trend, and has won #33 on World’s Best bar in Asia in just a little over a year despite a less than ideal start (Covid!) I believe that by analyzing their trajectory, one can see business lessons there applicable to any startup or business. My conclusions and insights come from what I learned from the countless hours (and cocktails!) I have experienced, me getting to know Ezra Star, the owner, and my Down Lo Show Youtube interview with her.

One of the key things that Mostly Harmless does well is their brand focus. They are committed to using locally sourced ingredients and creating a “farm-to-table” experience for their customers. This ethos is evident in their ever-changing menu of four to five drinks that are based on the seasonal produce available at local markets and farms. By focusing on this, they have created a loyal customer base who appreciate the effort they put into sourcing high-quality, local ingredients.

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Tak Lo
Tak Lo

Written by Tak Lo

Author, Business Builder, Strategic Advisor, Premier Panel Moderator, and Influencer 😎

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