2009 Dec 08 Bar News: White Rabbit Reopening, Obiwan and Q Bar Team Up
A few new openings and updates ...
White Rabbit will complete its eagerly anticipated move to Tongli Studio in the next few days. It's officially open for business again as of Friday. Rabbit regulars like co-owner Yang Bing and Donald Summer will play along with Jiong Jiong on Friday; Ben Huang and Mickey Zhang will play on Saturday. Free entry both nights, and - perhaps most difficult for most former White Rabbit regulars to get used to - doors open at 9pm. Look out for our full interview on the new club with White Rabbit co-owner Thomas Gaestadius on the blog on Thursday.
There's a fine new cocktail/whiskey bar called Twilight down in Jianwai Soho. It's on the third floor, in behind the large branch of Starbucks. It's run by the people behind Japanese bar er, who are also investors and managers at current bar of the moment, Apothecary. The drinks are excellent, so if you live or work around there be sure to stop by. They also have lunch specials and pizzas, pasta etc.
Is anyone getting tired of hearing - or more likely reading - that Wudaoying Hutong - most famous for the Vineyard Cafe - is "the new Nanluogu Xiang"? It seems the people at music bar-cafe Mao Mao Chong prefer the original - they're moving to a space on Banchang Hutong, just east off Nanluogu Xiang. They tell us the new space is "a larger version of the old one, set in a traditional Beijing house with a rustic, high-beamed ceiling complemented by a modern concrete and wooden bar, modern artworks and lighting, giving a relaxed homely atmosphere while still being a cool bar." The new location should certainly provide them with ample opportunity to attract new customers. If you never visited the old venue, check out their new spot when it opens later this month.
Meanwhile, it seems Obiwan is set for a facelift, intriguingly aided by the people at Q Bar. The talk is of a combination of Obiwan's music policy and laidback attitude with a bit of Q Bar's class. We first noticed this news earlier today on Beijing Boyce, but weliveinbeijing.com have the full story: read their report here.
You might also be interested in :
Talking Pints: Rabbits, Lanterns and Christmas Cocktails
As mentioned several times on the blog recently - see our interview with co-owner Thomas Gaestadius here - White Rabbit is opening in Sanlitun in the Tongli space where the original China Doll – not the 3.3 one, which is still open – used to be. The waiting’s over, because White Rabbit reopens this weekend with a double-header of parties featuring Yang Bing, Ben Huang, Mickey Zhang and others providing the beats. Entry is free tonight and tomorrow and the doors open at 9pm. Just don’t go there at 4am like you used to.Talking Pints: New Year Parties and Post-Holiday Highlights
Our office has already shuddered several times over the last week. Fireworks sound much, much louder on the 28th floor. Sporadically, but without doubt, the week of morning-to-next-morning explosions has begun. Keep your pets inside, if only so you can also avoid going outside and putting life and limb at the mercy of some toothless octogenarian launching rockets from the doorway of your flat block.White Rabbit Reopens Friday
White Rabbit is back, and now in Sanlitun. The new club opens on Friday night (Dec 11); co-owner and self-professed disco lover Thomas Gaestadius gave us the story ahead of the opening.Cocktail King George Zhou Opens George's
Former Q Bar man George Zhou - voted "Bartender of the Year" by the Beijinger's readers in 2009 - is back with George's, his new cocktail bar. The official opening party is tomorrow night (June 25), but the bar's been doing business since last Saturday night, when we stopped by for a look. Just 20m round the Workers' Stadium from Chad Lager's Fubar, George's is a low-lit lounge featuring the martinis, mojitos and other cocktails that Zhou made his name with at Q Bar, as well as simpler options like Tsingtao at RMB 15 and basic mixed drinks from RMB 30. You know that care's going to be taken with your drinks here, so take a seat and enjoy yourself.George Zhou opens new bar, White Rabbit closing parties and Jing Pride
Summer, and the World Cup, are in full swing and when the sun goes down, there is little more on one's mind than where to get a nice drink, watch the match and sit out the next thunderstorm. There are times when a three-kuai Tsingtao around the chuan'r table will hit the spot. There are other times, where a draft pint or bourbon and coke is more fitting. But what about when you're looking for a fine mixed cocktail catering just to your tastes ... where to go then? Perhaps George Zhou has the answer.
