Club Bâtard, a new private members’ club in Central, has opened its doors, offering wine enthusiasts an unparalleled selection of fine wines at retail prices, alongside world-class dining and whisky.
Set within the historic Pedder Building, the club boasts a 2,500-square-foot, glass-fronted wine cellar that houses over 10,000 bottles, providing members direct access to a global collection without typical restaurant markups.
Spanning three floors and designed by the acclaimed Joyce Wang Studio, Club Bâtard is now home to two of Hong Kong’s popular restaurants, Bâtard and Hop Sze.
Bâtard, known for its French cuisine expertly paired with the world’s finest wines, now occupies the second floor. The restaurant offers 108 seats, including two private dining rooms that overlook Chef Jun’s kitchen, and is open daily for lunch and dinner.
Hop Sze, famed for Kuen Gor’s homestyle Cantonese dishes, has transitioned from Sai Wan Ho to Club Bâtard’s third floor. The restaurant offers 88 seats, including six private dining rooms, and is also open daily for lunch and dinner.
On the first floor is Le Clos, a newly established restaurant inspired by France’s prestigious vineyards. Catering to members throughout the day, Le Clos serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening drinks, and late-night snacks. Its menu combines Asian and Western favorites, offering a culinary haven in the heart of Central.
The club also features OBE Whisky Bar, a 35-seat venue on the third floor led by internationally renowned whisky expert Diego Lanza. The bar boasts an impressive selection of whiskies available by the glass or bottle, inspired by the “Old Bottle Effect,” a term used by whisky connoisseurs to describe the natural aging process in bottles.
A central highlight of Club Bâtard is its state-of-the-art, glass-fronted wine cellar, spanning all three floors and offering over 10,000 bottles. Members can explore the collection directly, browsing not only the wine list but also the physical bottles. Uniquely, wines and whiskies at the club are offered at retail prices, with no typical restaurant markups.
Membership to Club Bâtard is highly exclusive, with only a limited number of spots remaining. The membership joining fee is HK$128,000, with a monthly fee of HK$1,500.
Club Bâtard was co-founded by Michael Wu, owner of The Fine Wine Experience, and Hong Kong restaurateur Randy See. The duo initially launched the Bâtard restaurant in Sai Ying Pun in 2019, offering wines at retail prices with no markups, a concept that proved an instant success.
“When Hong Kong removed wine taxes in 2008, it quickly became the wine hub of Asia,” Wu said. “But we felt the missing element was an ‘Embassy’ to showcase the best wines at fair prices. The success of Bâtard confirmed that we had found the right combination of comfort, cuisine, value, and range. Club Bâtard takes this to a new level, with an iconic location, exceptional design, world-class cuisine, and an unbeatable wine cellar.”
Randy See added, “The response to our membership offering has been overwhelming. So many supporters of The Fine Wine Experience, Bâtard, and Hop Sze have joined us on this journey. While we wish we could offer unlimited memberships, we are committed to ensuring our members have full access to the club, so space is limited. For those interested, I encourage you to come take a look while memberships are still available.”