Async: A Futuristic Cocktail Journey Through the Flavors of China

Hidden Behind Tradition Lies Innovation

Tucked discreetly behind YongChuan, a traditional Chinese restaurant known for its regional Sichuan dishes, lies one of the city’s most captivating bar experiences. Welcome to Async—a cocktail bar that doesn’t just serve drinks, it reimagines cultural storytelling through spirits and science.

From its futuristic interior to its boundary-pushing menu, Async isn't just a speakeasy or a trendy bar—it’s a liquid journey across China, with every cocktail crafted to reflect the diverse provinces, ingredients, and rituals of Chinese tradition, interpreted with cutting-edge techniques and contemporary flair.

An Idea Born in Shanghai, Realized in New York

Async was conceptualized by a creative force behind Shanghai’s critically acclaimed Epic bar. Known for transforming global perceptions of cocktail craftsmanship, Epic brought an elevated narrative style to mixology in Asia. Now, Async brings that same philosophy stateside.

At the helm is a head bartender whose resume includes stints at several award-winning bars in Shanghai. His vision? To blend traditional Chinese ingredients, regional profiles, and modern mixology into a seamless and sensory cocktail experience—one that feels simultaneously local and global, familiar and surprising.

Design: Where Minimalism Meets Sci-Fi

Async’s name is a nod to asynchronous time—a fitting concept for a place that feels both forward-looking and deeply rooted in heritage. The design mirrors that duality. Step through a narrow corridor at the back of YongChuan and you enter a sleek, dimly lit lounge where textured walls, polished surfaces, and ambient lighting create a cinematic, almost futuristic vibe.

There are no windows. No natural distractions. Just floating shelves of obscure spirits, glassware that looks sculpted for space, and bar stools positioned like theater seats facing the performance of cocktail creation.

The Drinks: Every Sip Tells a Story

The menu at Async reads less like a list and more like a map of China’s sensory geography. Each cocktail is inspired by a specific region, cultural motif, or culinary memory. Infusions, fat-washing, clarified juices, smoking, and fermentation are all tools used here—not for show, but to unlock deeper flavors and meaning.

Notable signatures include:

Jasmine Breeze

Inspired by the Fujian province, known for its tea culture, this cocktail combines jasmine tea infusion with vodka, citrus, and floral bitters. It's bright, aromatic, and subtly complex—an ode to the morning mist of tea plantations.

Imperial Smoke

A true standout, this drink is a tribute to Peking duck, Beijing’s most famous dish. Bourbon is fat-washed with duck fat, giving it a silky, savory body. It’s then smoked tableside with five-spice aromatics and topped with a black vinegar reduction for a slight acidic tang.

Sichuan Snap

Numb meets zing in this playfully spicy cocktail. Featuring Sichuan peppercorn-infused gin, green apple shrub, and lemon foam, it tingles, shocks, and refreshes all at once.

Lychee Noir

A romantic take on dessert in the tropics—this cocktail mixes lychee liqueur with activated charcoal, coconut milk, and a hint of lemongrass syrup. Mysterious, sweet, and elegant.

Each cocktail is prepared with theatrical elegance. Glassware is chilled to perfection, garnishes are carefully hand-placed, and some drinks arrive under a cloche of fragrant smoke—making the unveiling just as memorable as the first sip.

The Concept Behind the Bar

The philosophy at Async is simple: every drink should transport you somewhere. Instead of reinventing classic cocktails, the bar focuses on creating new flavor compositions that feel like cultural references brought to life through modern mixology.

The bar team regularly researches regional Chinese ingredients—dried hawthorn, salted plum, osmanthus flower, longan, and lotus seed—and explores how these can be used in alcohol extraction, infusions, and garnishes. As a result, the cocktails here don’t just taste unique—they taste intentional.

There’s also a deep respect for sustainability and small-batch ingredients. Many of the bitters and tinctures are made in-house. The ice is hand-carved for slower melting. Leftover citrus peels are reused in syrups. Nothing is wasted unless it enhances the experience.

For the Curious, the Cultural, and the Cocktail Curious

Async isn’t your typical walk-in bar. It’s ideal for those looking for:

• Exploratory tasting experiences

• Cultural immersion through cocktails

• Low-key but elevated date nights

• Small-group drinks with conversation-worthy presentation

• Solo exploration for serious cocktail lovers

The bar’s staff adds to the experience by narrating the origin of each drink, offering insight into ingredients you might not find on any other NYC bar menu.

Pairings and Hidden Bites

Though Async isn’t a full restaurant, a small bar snack menu offers fusion fare that’s just as inventive as the drinks. Items may include:

• Mini bao sliders with hoisin-glazed pork and pickled mustard greens

• Tea egg halves topped with XO mayo and scallion

• Fried lotus chips served with chili oil aioli

• Cold glass noodles with sesame and black vinegar drizzle

The bites are light enough not to compete with the cocktails, but flavorful enough to enhance the overall tasting journey.

An Evening at Async: What to Expect

Upon arrival, guests are greeted and guided through the back of YongChuan into Async’s moody lounge. Seating is typically first-come, first-served, though reservations are available for groups of four or more. The bar staff asks about preferences, regional interests, or spirit likes before suggesting cocktails that suit both your mood and curiosity.

Music is subdued—electronic ambient, soft jazz, or cinematic soundscapes play in the background—so the focus stays on the drinks and conversation. Expect to spend about 60 to 90 minutes here to savor at least two cocktails and a few small bites.

Final Thoughts: Where East Meets Innovation

Async is more than a cocktail bar—it’s a bridge between heritage and experimentation, between Eastern flavors and Western mixology methods. It’s a place that doesn’t aim to imitate, but to originate, showing that cocktails can be more than drinks—they can be a cultural, sensory, and emotional journey.