Barco at Soho

Barco
42 Staunton St., Soho, Central, Hong Kong
TEL: 852 2857 4478

A few weeks ago, while going out with several friends, we strolled by Barco. It was completely packed and we failed to get seats, so we left. Finally, after hitting the Catch, it was just around the bend, so we decided to drop by. On the outside, Barco looked like an Italian Bistro type of place. The night we went, it was already quite late, around 12AM and it wasn't that packed.

First impressions, smokey... literally, smokey. I was drenched immediately with a thin coat of tobacco smoke like running into a cigarette bonfire. The bar was relatively empty and there might be only a couple of people smoking but the smell was definitely aged through time.

The interior decoration was quite modern. The round edges of the bar and the teak coloured furniture reminded me of danish modern designs. The shape of the bar is more of a square than a rectangle, which gives you a feeling of roominess. The bar is also more lit than most, which gives it a more bistro feel. Barco is divided into two sections: the entrance area consists of a bar and several high bar tables and chairs; the back has several couches for smaller parties.

I have to say the interior design is done quite well and the overall feeling is very comfortable. The washroom is hidden so discretely that you can hardly find it! The night I was there, I had a pint of Hoegaarden and San Miguel. The bottle selection is the usual Tsingtao, San Miguel, VB, Boddingtons etc. The music was alright and the volume was bearable for conversation.

Beside the smokey conditions, I think Barco is quite a comfortable place to hang out.