As Hope & Sesame brings its award-winning cocktail philosophy to The Leela Palace Bengaluru, two of Asia’s most distinctive cocktail destinations come together for an evening shaped by craftsmanship, cultural exchange and the art of mixology.

Some bars are defined by their addresses. Others by the experiences they create, one carefully considered cocktail at a time. In Guangzhou, Hope & Sesame has built its reputation on the latter, transforming Southern China’s cocktail scene through experimental techniques, local ingredients and a distinctly contemporary approach to hospitality. On October 31, that spirit travels to Bengaluru for a one-night collaboration with ZLB23, the Kyoto-inspired speakeasy at The Leela Palace Bengaluru.

Ranked No. 1 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026, Hope & Sesame will take over the bar from 8 pm onwards, with bartenders Bastien Ciocca and Geumseong Liu bringing the creative sensibility of the Guangzhou institution to one of India’s celebrated cocktail destinations.

For Bengaluru’s cocktail enthusiasts, the evening promises more than an international guest shift. It offers a meeting of two establishments that have built their identities around the finer details of the drinking experience: technique, atmosphere, discovery and the belief that a cocktail can be as much an expression of place as it is of craft.

The Guangzhou Bar That Put Southern China on the Cocktail Map

Founded in March 2016 by Andrew Ho and Bastien Ciocca, Hope & Sesame emerged as Southern China’s first speakeasy bar, set within the historic Dongshankou neighbourhood of Guangzhou. Over the past decade, it has developed an approach to mixology that draws on regional ingredients, seasonal inspiration and contemporary techniques, establishing itself as a significant presence on Asia’s cocktail circuit.

Its accolades reflect that ascent. The bar has featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars for eight consecutive years since 2019, culminating in its No. 1 ranking in 2026. It was also named The Best Bar in Mainland China for four consecutive years, from 2023 to 2026, and entered The World’s 50 Best Bars list at No. 29 in 2025.

Recognition has extended beyond rankings. Hope & Sesame received the Philanthropy Award at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in 2020 and was named Best International Cocktail Bar in Asia-Pacific in 2024. Its team and creative leadership have also received international recognition, including honours for its cocktail menu and co-founder Andrew Ho’s mentorship.

Yet the bar’s appeal lies in more than its awards. Its approach reflects a broader evolution in Asian cocktail culture, where regional ingredients and cultural references are increasingly shaping drinks that are innovative without losing their sense of origin.

A Speakeasy Built for the Unexpected

The setting for this international exchange is ZLB23, tucked behind a hidden entrance within Zia’s garden at The Leela Palace Bengaluru. Inspired by Kyoto, the speakeasy has cultivated an identity rooted in precision, atmosphere and considered cocktail programming, regularly welcoming celebrated bartenders and bars from across the world.

The collaboration feels like a natural extension of that philosophy. Both establishments treat the bar as a space for experimentation and storytelling, where the experience extends beyond what is poured into the glass.

For ZLB23, the takeover continues its engagement with the international cocktail community, bringing global talent to Bengaluru while offering local audiences a closer look at the ideas shaping contemporary drinking culture.

For Hope & Sesame, the evening arrives in a milestone year, as the Guangzhou bar celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026.

Two Bartenders, One Evening of Discovery

At the centre of the takeover will be Bastien Ciocca and Geumseong Liu, who will bring Hope & Sesame’s distinctive approach to the ZLB23 bar. Guests can expect an evening shaped by the bar’s interest in Chinese ingredients, contemporary techniques and inventive flavour combinations.

Rather than simply transporting a familiar menu from one city to another, the guest shift offers an opportunity to experience the creative thinking behind a bar whose influence now reaches far beyond its home in Southern China.

It is this exchange of ideas that gives international bar takeovers their appeal. Each brings a different perspective on ingredients, technique and hospitality, allowing the local cocktail scene to engage directly with the people and philosophies behind some of the world’s most celebrated bars.

From Guangzhou’s historic streets to Bengaluru’s discreet speakeasy, the evening will bring together two distinct settings through a shared commitment to craft.

The Details

For one evening, Bengaluru becomes a meeting point for two distinct cocktail cultures, with Hope & Sesame bringing a decade of experimentation and international acclaim into the intimate setting of ZLB23.

Two bartenders. One of Asia’s most celebrated bars. And a night dedicated to the possibilities of what happens when great cocktail cultures meet.