On a business trip time is precious and it has to be utilised – breakfast meeting, power lunch, catching up with colleagues from the overseas offices over coffee and dinner in private rooms with important clients. And if all goes well, you will need to find a bar for post-dinner drinks, either to celebrate a successful deal or just to relax after an action-packed day. We have done the legwork for you in a selection of Asia cities and checked out the sleek drinking venues that are good for bringing clients or simply hanging out.
HONGKONG
Ask most visitors to this city what they like most about it, and the answer would be “the vibe”. There is always something happening somewhere, and it’s rarely more than 20 minutes away by taxi. The super-efficient transport network means that it is possible to hop from one nightlife precinct to another quickly and all you need to worry about is which bar to choose.
The harbour is one of Hongkong’s greatest assets and the food and beverage industry here always knows how to capitalise on it. Establishments near the waterfront would install full-length windows if conditions permit. But it is only in recent years that altitude has become another winning factor – surprisingly for a city that has long been known for skyscrapers. Rooftop bars or venues on high floors with open terraces are opening up one by one, and the views make them ideal places to which to take business contacts.
Skyscrapers were once characteristic of Hongkong Island, but with height restriction for buildings lifted in Kowloon following the closure of the old airport 12 years ago, new buildings on the peninsula have been breaking records in vertical development.
One of these commercial blocks is iSQUARE, across the street from Holiday Inn Golden Mile on Nathan Road. On top of it is Nanhai No. 1 (852 2487 3688, www.elite-concepts.com), a sleek Chinese restaurant with nautical décor and named after a famous merchant ship from the Southern Song Dynasty more than eight centuries ago. Adjacent to it is eyebar, which runs in the same theme but is in itself a popular drinking place.
The name of the venue refers to the “eye” painted on the prow of old Chinese ships to protect the sailors from “evil” on their voyage. But it may as well mean that a feast for the eye. At press time, the outdoor terrace was still not open pending some paperwork, but the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows still make it worth the trip. A binocular is on hand, if you want to closely inspect the cityscape.
Nearby, there is The One, the latest luxury commercial building to open in Tsimshatsui. One of the first restaurant operators to move in is Wooloomooloo (www.wooloo-mooloo.com), which began in 2004 as a single Australian steakhouse and bar in Lan Kwai Fong but has since expanded to become a collection of entertainment venues occupying many key locations around town. Its latest Wooloomooloo Prime (852 2870 0087) takes up another fantastic spot on level 21 of The One.
The well-stocked bar serves up a creative line-up of creative martinis such as 21 Prime and Chocolate Peppermint as well as other original concoctions, namely Thai Lily, Terrace 21, Tortola Painkiller. The 929sqm dining hall at the back seats up to 120 but it is the separate bar and lounge area with a capacity of 80 that you will see first at arrival. From here, you can access the outdoor terrace for the impressive vista.
Back on the main island, newly opened Crowne Plaza has been attracting trendy partygoers with Club@28 (852 3980 3300, www.cphongkong.com/en/dining_3.asp), where cocktails, wine and snacks go down well with views of the iconic Happy Valley Racecourse. The interior is posh but it is the outdoor area by the swimming pool that really gives the ambience the oomph. On the wine front, there are 17 choices by the glass and more by the bottle, making this bar a great place for wine buffs.
BEIJING
The fast-developing capital of China certainly has no lack of watering holes and, other than hotel options, they are usually clustered in one of the many “bar districts” such as Houhai lake and Sanlitun, or in one of the many entertainment complexes that have recently been developed. The infamous traffic jams in the sprawling city also mean that travellers may want to consider proximity as one of the main factors. You’re more likely than not staying in the Chaoyang district, east of Tiananmen Square, where most hotels are located. But it is still a huge area to cover.
The Drum Tower and Houhai area features a bourgeoning scene of cocktail bars, many of them housed in hutongs that are increasingly scarce in this city. Sanlitun, further east, is probably Beijing’s best-known bar district. It was getting a little run-down until the Swire Group opened upscale entertainment arcade Sanlitun Village and boutique hotel The Opposite House a few years ago. The two structures have injected new life into the stretch, the bar street between them as well as the surrounding area. The success of this development lies in how the new buildings are strategically placed to form synergy with the old ones.
The Village features many restaurants/bars with pleasant outdoor seating areas and the ultra-posh Mesh (86 10 6417 6688, www.theoppositehouse.com) at The Opposite House is also famous for its well-heeled crowd and exotic cocktails. But if you want somewhere that is more of an insiders’ place then you need to stroll off the beaten track a bit for d.lounge (86 10 6593 7710). The industrial chic décor makes this a quintessential Beijing experience. The crowd consists of the city’s young elite, who comes here on weeknights for drinks with friends and on weekends for cutting-edge techno. By day, this place is an arts space. The velvety banquettes are great for lounging and the bartenders are skillful and good with their shakers. Language is not an issue here as English is widely spoken, but trying to find the place for the first time takes a bit of effort. Get off the cab on the Gongrentiyuchang Bei Lu side of the Village, in front of Uniqlo, and cross the street to the south for the web of alleyways where the bar is located. The best- known venue nearby is library-restaurant The Bookworm (www.beijingbookworm.com), and once you find it, walk further in and you will come across the inconspicuous door with a “d” inscribed on it. Get your mobile phone ready as you are likely to need direction from the bar staff. If you are staying near the south of Tiananmen Square where the Railway Museum is located, you may want to consider Capital M (86 10 6702 2727, www.m-restaurantgroup.com/capitalm), the youngest brainchild of restaurateur Michelle Garnaut who garnered fanfare with her former M at the Fringe restaurant in Hongkong and also owns M on the Bund in Shanghai. On one hand Capital M is a continental restaurant, on the other, it is also a classy place for drinks and events. The Art Deco-style interior is pleasant enough, but it is the garden terrace facing the historical Gates of Tiananmen Square that truly sets this venue apart. Make use of the extensive wine list and excellent canapé menu, and soak in the imperial glamour of one of the world’s most famous historical sites. As with many Asian cities, some of the most exclusive nightspots tend to be in hotels. If there was only one in Beijing worth making a point of visiting, it would be XIU (http://xiubeijing.com) by the Park Hyatt. Located on level six of Beijing Yintai Centre, near the China World Trade Center, this hotspot has its own entrance outside of the hotel and has established itself as the place to be seen in town in recent years. It is a sprawling club divided into many theme areas. The elegant wooden structure houses five bars and lounges. There is the main bar where a funky live band plays in front of a cosy dance floor, a wine bar, a wood-fired oven for Peking Duck, a martini and vodka bar, a quiet cigar area with Art Deco-style chairs and an executive lounge for private gatherings. There is also the outdoor terrace where, against the backdrop of dynastic Chinese structures and the modern cityscape of modern Beijing, the city’s affluent crowd sips their US$20 cocktails while enjoying some freshly barbecued food. If you want the tables in the lounges or on the terrace, you are advised to book in advance, and as early as you can. On weekends when it gets really crowded, you may not even be able to get in without a reservation. There is also a minimum charge attached to booking a table. TOKYO Tokyo’s drinking scene is based primarily on a series of nodes around the central business and government districts of the Japanese capital. These are often the places where the working men and women of Tokyo change trains as they head home for the evening – but are often tempted to stop off for a drink first. Dotted around the Yamanote Line, which runs as a huge loop around the centre of the city, are the renowned drinking districts of Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu and Shinagawa, while Tokyo Station in the Marunouchi business district has earned itself a new reputation for nightlife with a series of recent development projects. Roppongi and Kabukicho are the districts that have earned slightly shady reputations, with Roppongi in the news here recently for a sudden upswing in the number of foreign patrons having their credit card details stolen. In general, however, the visitor to Tokyo does not have to take too many precautions that will get in the way of having a good time.In less than 18 months, Two Rooms (81 3 3498 0002 www.tworooms.jp) has established itself as one of the hippest hangouts in town. Popular with the expat crowd as well as professional young Japanese, its fifth floor position above the city gives it stunning views, including an impressive panorama of the Shinjuku skyline.
The interior is all glass, wood and steel panels that reek of sophistication. The bar is a square of solid wood panels from where the tender goes about his business with aplomb. The drinks list is hefty and cover all tastes. A bottle of wine starts at ¥5,500 (US$64) and will be drawn from a cavernous glass-walled cellar. The creators of the bar pride themselves in the array of cocktails, their fresh-fruit alter egos, as well as an appetising selection of bar snacks.
They do things differently at Bar Rage (81 3 5467 3977). Cocktails are not served with clichés of fruit or a paper umbrella at this up-market Ginza establishment. They come topped with a sprig of thyme or a grilled tomato floating on top. Cumquats instead of olives. Maple syrup, not salt around the rim of the glass.
Originally a European invention, the art of mixology has arrived in Tokyo, although on a fairly small scale. The plus in this case is that Japanese bartenders have always been ready to experiment and have access to some uniquely Japanese ingredients to play with. Bar Rage relies heavily on premium gin and vodka as base spirits, but after that the sky is the limit. One variant is the deep green tea from Kyoto prefecture combined with maple syrup, lemon and vodka; another in martini glass contains a carefully measured combination of European pear juice, grapefruit, vodka and topped with a sage leaf. The counter bar is dark and discreet; perfect for putting one’s sense of taste through its paces. A taste of Big Apple in Tokyo can be had at Fifty Seven (81 3 5775 7857 www.fiftyseven.co.jp), inspired by New York’s 57th Street where East and West Manhattan meet. The place is spacious and full of contemporary twists but still retains an atmosphere that oozes class. For privacy there are the VIP areas with deep-coloured carpetting to make use of, but much of the mixing goes on around the huge standing bar. The adjoining restaurant has built a reputation as the best reproduction of a genuine New York grill in the city, while the bar has the largest selection of martinis and mojitos in Tokyo. The wine list is equally impressive. Fifty-Seven also regularly hosts events, including live music, guest DJs and magic parties, while a Masquerade Ball is an occasional addition to the menu.SINGAPORE
Once dismissed by many as a sterile and unexciting city state, Singapore has recently reinvented itself with the openings of notable projects such as Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands.The latter is also home to the stunning SkyPark, where eating, drinking and even skywalking and swimming can be done with the city under your feet.
While the altitude game is definitely on, it would be unfair to Singapore to dismiss its long-standing efforts in redeveloping historical buildings and districts into popular entertainment areas. Riverside places such Clarke Quay and Boat Quay have been famous for years as where executives loosen their ties and let their hair down after a long day. And more options continue to appear.
In Singapore’s historical Chinatown Confucius-inspired Ying Yang (65 6808 2188) has recently opened at the rooftop space of The Club Hotel. As the name suggests, this venue tries to reflect a sense of balance and contrast, serving as a relaxed lounge earlier in the evening and a more pumping party haunt when resident DJs including Brendon of Zouk fame, Ramesh from Centro and Jean-Baptiste work their magic and jive up the atmosphere with the turntable. Early evening or late night, customers can enjoy a wide selection of premium pours with a thoughtfully designed bar-snack menu that features the likes of grilled scallops with bacon and cauliflower mousse and sauteéd beef cubes with blue cheese fondue. For a more low-key vibe and rich European setting, Prelude (65 6538-9038) at the Fullerton Waterboat House provides a sophisticated ambiance that captures the breathtaking view of the Marina Bay. The building is part of The Fullerton Heritage, which includes many restored buildings and five-star hotels. Minutes away from Singapore’s central business district, it is loved by a corporate clientele and after-work drinkers. The drinks available here play up the cool factor, with choices including Lychee Mojitos with a “Prelude” twist and the Melon Spice Martini. The bar also imports Japanese craft beer Baird Brewing. A floor below the bar is modern European eatery Boathouse, which provides gourmet pub grubs such as truffled prawns, pan seared Hokkaido scallops and beef sliders. To experience the cutting edge of modern Singapore, it is 1-Altitude (65 6438 0410), boasting as one of the world’s highest alfresco bars and with a 360-degree panorama of the spectacular Singapore skyline, where you should be headed. The place has only soft-opened so not everything is fully functional and customers are asked to queue up at the bar to buy their drinks. But we have heard that by the middle of this month, the operation will be more or less ready. Occupying the roof of One Raffles Place, 1-Altitude is part of a sports-and-lifestyle complex that includes City Golf, where customers play virtual golf through interactive stimulators, and Stella, a modern-cuisine restaurant. With its Mediterranean-meets-Manhattan setting and the view, 1-Altitude is definitely set to be one of the most visited drinking venues in Singapore in the years to come.
