First Glance: The Foxhole, Ritan Park

Whenever I hear the word ‘foxhole’ for reasons unknown to me (actually no, I blame YouTube) I think of an arctic fox hunting on the icy tundra, listening for the tiny pitter-patters of field mice footprints, before diving head first into the snow like a comical cartoon character, butt sticking out in one half victorious, half struggling, moment.

Ritan’s newest watering hole, The Foxhole, has however given me a much more sophisticated picture to imagine.

From the outside a welcoming golden light washes over the bricked exterior, with an off-centered, Broadway invoking typeface spelling out the establishment. Smooth opening glass doors beckon you into a long rectangular room, softly lit as most of the after work establishments are these days. Colors are the typical mix of dark to medium-light woods, which are to be found on the floor, bar bench, and small tables suitable for four to six people to gather around comfortably. The walls hold an aristocratic menagerie of portraits; think a wolf wearing couture 1700’s glam, and a monkey in full Napoleonic dress uniform and you get the picture.

Whiskey is the name of the game here, with three pages dedicated to single malts separated by source regions (Highland, Lowland, and Islay/Island are the main groups) though there are some mix blends and offshore whiskeys near the back pages. Hand chiselled ice balls in large, but not overbearing, glasses cradled the three whiskeys set before us. My Bruichladdich Port Charlotte (RMB 80) from Islay distillers was heavily peated, with a nose that reminded me of frost biting winters and left a sweetened aftertaste similar to vanilla. The Auchentoshan Three Wood (RMB 110) was definitely the fruitiest choice we made, though a slight cinnamon spice rolled on the tongue before being supped. Lastly the Tobermory 10 Year (RMB 70) led one to believe that after downing the heavily smoky, slightly peppered amber liquid, a rousing arm wrestle between cigar toting, potbellied gents should be happening nearby.

The menu is still in development, and while cocktails are nowhere to be listed we are told by Hank that he can rustle up some of the finest standard drinks around. If you feel like taking the world off your shoulders you should come between the hours of 5-8pm to take advantage of their buy-one-get-one-free on beers, cocktails, and select glasses of whiskey (RMB 85 and under). If you’re a beer drinker this is the deal you need because a bottle of Tsingtao will set you back RMB 45 at any other time.

PS the complimentary Japanese spiced bar mix and cute orange cups are a mega hit and will probably keep you there an extra half hour or so.

Worth it.

The Foxhole
Daily 5pm-2am. 4 Ritan Bei Lu, Chaoyang District (8563 5026)
日坛北路4号

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Photos: Erin Strong