I just love quirky tidbits of colonial history.
This fan advertised the bars and restaurants at the Mandarin in Hong Kong when it opened in 1963.
What caught my eye was the ad for the Chinnery, fourth panel from the left: A masculine retreat with a club-like atmosphere.
That sounds so old boy network, so I was intrigued to see an ad from 1969 (right) describing it in a little more detail. Again, it touts the masculine retreat, but specifically calls it a men-only bar.
…a luncheon of succulent Roast Beef from the wagon, international cheese board, and man-sized drinks.
They certainly couldn’t serve woman-sized drinks, that’s for sure.
Of all the restaurants and bars advertised on the fan, a staggering number still exists: Man Wah, the Mandarin Grill + Bar, Clipper Lounge, Captain’s Bar, and something re-branded as Cafe Causette.
Oh, and the Chinnery is still there, too. But it’s no longer men-only.
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