Inside Bar is Vying for the Title of the CBD's Most Speakeasy of Speakeasies

Like Bruce Wayne in his stately manner, you’ll enter Inside Bar's foyer looking for a hidden switch and door that’ll lead you to a secret lair. No, that switch is not under the head of the bust placed prominently in the center of the room (although fans of the '60s Adam West-starring classic would certainly assume that).

Instead, look for the antique telephone in the far right-hand corner of the Dawang Lu speakeasy’s entryway, push #7 on its keypad, and that’ll ring the Inside Bar’s staff to open a concealed door and admit you inside to an all the more chic bar area.

It’s a very fun and elaborate way to start your visit at Inside Bar. And sure, cynics might dismiss it as a gimmick. But such pessimists will be certainly be won over by the cocktails, which are miles ahead of anything in the sleepy CBD and rival all but the very top lounges in Sanlitun.

Of their dozen or so specialty cocktails, we tried The Tourist, consisting of Gordon’s Gin, Midori (described as a sweet bright green-colored, muskmelon-flavored liqueur), grapefruit juice, and a spoonful of sugar. It proved to be a light and fruity cocktail mixed so expertly enough that I only noticed how strong it was a few moments later when the buzz slowly and cozily settled around my grey matter. Priced at a pretty standard RMB 98, it more than did the trick, though the bar has other specialty cocktails that reach the RMB 120 range, featuring Chinese yellow wine and other offbeat ingredients that I couldn’t dream of ordering this far from payday.

Judging by how much I enjoyed The Tourist, I’d be tempted to come back again and indulge in those pricier drinks another time. That said, I was annoyed that the menu featured poetic, beautifully written descriptions of the drinks without listing their ingredients, though the clearly skilled staff is more than happy to let you know in Chinese or fluent English.

Standard cocktails like their Negroni, Old Fashioned, and daiquiri cost RMB 88 per glass, and there’s also a standard selection of whiskey at prices that measure up nicely with any of Inside Bar’s competitors around town. The décor, atmosphere, very solid service, and the laudable creativity of the Chinese-themed cocktails (despite the frustrating lack of ingredient details on the menu) will all be more than enough to lure you into Inside Bar.

Inside Bar won’t exactly be easy to find for anyone unfamiliar with the CBD area. There are Annie’s and Hatsune branches nearby, which work well for a bite to eat before a nightcap at the cocktail joint. Directly across from Annie’s is the Soluxe Winterless Hotel, and if you duck inside that complex’s B building and head upstairs to room 210, you won’t have any trouble. It’ll make for a fun surprise for anyone accompanying you, especially if you refuse to give them any details about what’s coming until you enter the weirdly empty foyer, dial the phone and enter bar through the secret door.

Inside Bar
Daily, 7pm-2am. Block B210, Winterless Center, 1 West Dawang Lu, Chaoyang District (8595 0927)
西大望路1号温特莱中心B座210

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Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle

Photos courtesy of Inside Bar, Pinterest