You could be forgiven for being surprised when stepping into XIU (秀), the newly opened roof top garden bar on the sixth floor of the Beijing Yintai Center.
It is rare to see such an ancient Chinese-style wooden pavilion, with such a large alfresco area, in the busiest part of Beijing, surrounding some of Beijing's most modern skyscrapers. Water, fish and bamboo add a more natural feel to this establishment.
The designers of XIU have made it a place suitable for different age groups, in different moods - be it a boisterous get-together, or a quiet drink and conversation. Besides two big open-air spaces with cool rattan chairs and soft cushions, there is a cigar bar, a main bar, a wine bar, a vodka bar and a whisky bar, each decorated in different styles, each big enough to match the size of an independent bar elsewhere.
The main bar has counters of glass bricks lit with a mellow golden light, and a long range of glasses on the top. In the evening a seven-piece American band, Liquid, performs a wide range of musical styles, from disco classics, to hip hop hits and jazz tunes. The wine bar has a long wooden counter, and comfortable sofas. Besides an extensive range of white and red wines, including Chateau Lafitte, the bar has 35 beers, and a range of special cocktails, some of which are inspired by local drinks, such as the famous white liquor Maotai, and huadiao, yellow rice wine.
The whisky bar has a huge furnace in the middle, and exciting scarlet colors all around. Meanwhile, the vodka bar is decorated with traditional Chinese style pottery in a relaxed atmosphere with comfortable sofas.
XIU also offers light meals and snacks, and tempting desserts. In one corner of the main bar, a chef cooks Peking roast duck from a wood fired furnace. Some other popular choices are Sichuan spicy wings, chicken nuggets, spicy beef fried rice, Australian beef tenderloin, and jumbo prawns. The bar's set meal costs from 60-90 yuan. Drinks start from 30 yuan a glass, wines start from 60 yuan a glass. There is no service fee.
Lunch from 11:30 am-2:30 pm, Monday-Friday. Dinner and bar from 5 pm-2 am, Sunday-Wednesday, 5 pm-3 am, Thursday-Saturday. 6/F, Park Life, Beijing Yintai Center, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district. 8567-1108.
建国门外大街2号银泰中心6楼秀餐吧
(China Daily July 13, 2009)
