Look & Feel: Inspired by the farmacias of 1920s Buenos Aires, Boticario draws on the old-school apothecary for its design inspiration. Think dark paneling, glass bottles with vintage-esque labels on the walls, and antique metal ceiling panels, and more. The split-level restaurant and bar features alfresco bar seating on the ground floor, and an intimate main dining room upstairs. For the best experience, pull up a stool at the main bar on the lower floor so you can banter with the bartenders.

On the Menu: With a tagline of “cures for the modern age,” Boticario is about soothing your aches and pains—mental, emotional, and physical—with creative cocktails. Be warned, though: tipples here aren’t for the faint-hearted—they’re loaded with booze and pack quite the punch. Still, each cocktail is a well-conceived concoction, punchy and full of flavor, but they’re also presented with unparalleled attention to detail. Start with a soothing Prescription Old-Fashioned ($118; Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva rum, rye, mancino chinnoto, sandalwood, bitters), move onto the Smoke Bomb ($98; Diplomatico Planas rum, pineapple & almond, lime, sherry, cacao, bitters, pop )—you’ll enjoy popping the smoke bubble, and the bar team will eagerly redo it while you take photos and videos—then sip on the Brave Bullfighter ($108; Peddlers Rare Eastern gin, shitake, bitter, agave, lime & grapefruit) which is an elegant, hard-hitting drink presented in a custom horn-shaped glass.

Of course, you’ll need plenty of food to soak up all this booze, and luckily, Boticario delivers with a menu of easy-to-easy bites inspired by the street food of South America. Start with the moreish Popcorn Chicken with chipotle sauce ($78) and the interactive Pestle & Mortar ($168) where you’ll grind your own guacamole to enjoy with tortilla chips. Need more? Order up some baked Empanadas—there are two options: shrimp ($138) and beef ($148)— and Cheese Croquettes ($118). If you’re in need of a bigger feed, there are plenty of mains like steaks, burgers, and fish and chips, as well as desserts like Tres Leches Cake (478). The food at Boticario is decidedly made for comfort—and to line your stomachs. It’s solid and does the job, but don’t expect an award-winning meal.

Jeng: The cocktails are definitely the highlight at Boticario, along with the friendly staff.

Not So Jeng: While the food is satisfying, it plays second fiddle to the booze. Enjoy it as satisfying bar snacks, but go somewhere else if you want high-quality dining.

Great For: Casual catchups and happy hour.

FYI: Boticario has a “Healing Hour” from 3pm-7pm where you can enjoy 2-4-1 on selected cocktails and drinks.

Check out Hong Kong’s newest restaurants and bars here.

This writeup was based on a complimentary media tasting. The Loop HK doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.