Co-Founder/Bartender

Nepal-born Hong Kong-based Saan Dhakal has worked in the hospitality industry for over 10 years, becoming the seasoned bartender widely known by the global bar scene today. Driven by an insatiable passion for all things hospitality, Saan moved to Hong Kong in 2014, working with various bars and restaurants before becoming a founding team member of The Old Man (No.1 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019; No.9 World’s 50 Best Bars 2019) and its sister venue The Sea by The Old Man, alongside co-founders and industry veterans Agung and Laura Prabowo. In 2020, as part of the founding team, Saan took on the role of Beverage Supervisor as well as Sustainability & Operations Manager at Hong Kong’s first ever close-loop cycle bar, Penicillin (No.24 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024). Gradually becoming the Creative Beverage Manager of the hospitality group, Saan created and ran the beverage programmes that landed Penicillin in Asia’s 50 Best Bars for 4 consecutive years, and launched LOCKDOWN, a quirky Prohibition-era concept across the street in the heart of Hong Kong’s Soho. Most recently, Saan has teamed up with Khatri Ranjeet, former Bar Manager of Tell Camellia (No.23 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021), in launching his own innovative concept Courtroom. With doors opening in August 2024, the sensibly contradictory cocktail bar will bear witness to a combination of inventive mixology inspired by the range of court trials and shine a light on global social sustainability.

Throughout his career, Saan has consistently taken inspiration from cultures, flavours, and trends around the globe, striving to curate libations that not only tantalise the taste buds but also ignite the imagination. His approach of mixology as a form of art is to seamlessly blend flavours, textures, and aromas to create sensory masterpieces. His multi-dimensional approach to sustainability also comes from his commitment to being environmentally and socially conscious and using his innovative skills and knowledge towards this purpose.

Beyond the bar, he is deeply committed to sharing the knowledge and igniting the same passion within aspiring bartenders. Through mentoring and training, he aims to inspire a new generation of creative bartenders who will shape the future of the industry. In every interaction, he is fuelled by a genuine love for hospitality, as he believes that creating memorable moments goes far beyond the cocktail in the glass.