The Brickell restaurant transforms the ancient Chinese game into a 16-drink cocktail experience filled with unexpected flavors, tableside theatrics, and a little bit of chance.
What if your next cocktail depended on the luck of the draw?
At Hutong Miami, the answer might be hiding inside a mahjong tile. The Brickell restaurant has introduced Tale of Mahjong, a new collection of 16 cocktails and zero-proof creations inspired by the symbolism, strategy, and social rituals of the traditional Chinese game.
Developed collaboratively by Hutong’s bar teams across Miami, New York, Hong Kong, London, and Dubai, the menu turns the progression of a mahjong game into a cocktail journey, inviting guests to explore flavors, textures, and presentations that become increasingly adventurous with every round.
And for those who want to embrace the spirit of the game, there’s an unexpected twist: guests can draw a custom mahjong tile from a specially designed case and let fate decide which cocktail they’ll enjoy.
Four Stages, Sixteen Drinks, One Game
The experience unfolds across four stages inspired by the rhythm of mahjong: Shuffle the Tiles, Draw a Tile, Form the Hand, and Win the Hand.
Each chapter introduces a different approach to flavor, beginning with sophisticated alcohol-free creations and building toward more complex combinations and theatrical presentations.
Shuffle the Tiles: A Fresh Start
The opening chapter features four entirely zero-proof cocktails, proving that an alcohol-free drink can be just as layered and interesting as its spirited counterparts.
One standout is West Twilight ($16), combining kumquat, yuzu, dan long jiao chili, and Lyre’s Amaretti. Bright citrus flavors meet a gradually emerging heat, while a silky foam adds texture and balance.
Draw a Tile: Expect the Unexpected
As the game progresses, the combinations become more adventurous.
Misty Bamboo ($22) brings together Great Jones Bourbon, peanut, sesame, and Sichuan peppercorn, creating a warm, nutty cocktail with the distinctive tingling sensation associated with Sichuan cuisine.
The finishing touch? Applewood ignited tableside, releasing aromatic smoke into the glass before the first sip.
Form the Hand: Finding the Perfect Combination
Just as mahjong players assemble seemingly unrelated tiles into a winning hand, this chapter brings together ingredients from different culinary traditions.
The Gorgeous One ($22) combines spiced rum, five-year Metaxa, Jufeng grape (also known as Kyoho grape), blackberry, and Hutong spices.
Rich and fruit-forward, the cocktail is finished with a delicate piece of Jufeng grape leather resting along the rim.
Win the Hand: A Grand Finale
The final chapter celebrates the excitement of a winning hand with the menu’s most dramatic presentations.
White Dragon ($22) combines dragon fruit-infused tequila, silver needle tea, citrus soda, salt, and Peychaud’s bitters for a crisp, tea-driven cocktail.
But the real spectacle comes with its presentation: the drink arrives from a sculptural dragon head surrounded by smoke and finished with dehydrated dragon fruit.
It’s the kind of cocktail designed to make the entire table stop and watch.
Let the Tiles Choose Your Cocktail
Perhaps the most playful element of Tale of Mahjong is the opportunity to leave the decision-making to chance.
Guests can select a tile from a custom mahjong case, with each Hutong-designed piece corresponding to a drink on the menu.
Rather than choosing a cocktail based on familiar ingredients, the experience encourages guests to discover something new, turning a simple drink order into a moment of anticipation and surprise.
The Miami collection also highlights spirits from brands including Hendrick’s Gin, Weber Ranch Vodka, and Santo Gusano Mezcal.
Beyond the Cocktail Glass
Hutong is also planning to bring the game itself into the restaurant through its upcoming Mahjong Parlor, with future gatherings and mahjong programming designed to introduce guests to the social traditions behind the menu.
The initiative reflects a broader interest in mahjong as both a cultural pastime and an opportunity for people to connect around the table.
With Tale of Mahjong, Hutong brings together the creativity of modern mixology and the traditions of a centuries-old game, offering a cocktail experience where storytelling, flavor, and a little friendly competition share the spotlight.
Whether you’re a seasoned mahjong player or have never touched a tile, there’s something particularly appealing about a cocktail menu that invites you to play along.
Tale of Mahjong is now available at Hutong Miami.
Visit Hutong Miami
Address: 600 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131
Website: hutong-miami.com
Bar Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 12 PM–12 AM; Friday–Saturday, 12 PM–1 AM.