Xian-sational: East Hotel's New Bar

The Jiuxianqiao-Lido area has a new whiskey bar, a live music venue, a pizza joint and a pub sports lounge. Impressively, they’re all under a single roof at Xian, which stretches out across a sequence of well-designed lounges, with private spaces on the upper level.

Time your first visit to coincide with the 6-8pm happy hour (Monday-Friday), when there’s a buy-one-get-one-free deal on selected cocktails, wines and beers. I used this to try a blueberry and lavender martini and the “Archer’s Soul” (Remy Martin VSOP, lychee and lychee liqueur) for RMB 70. The martini edged it, but both had a well-balanced punch, and I wouldn’t need persuading to try the other cocktails.

Slow Boat beers (RMB 35) are on tap, and I’ll return to try the pizzas, starting with the prosciutto, cherry tomato, mozzarella and rocket. If you don’t fancy pizza, alternative snacks on offer include spring rolls, potstickers and sliders (RMB 25-88).

There’s lots going on at Xian, but the highlight is the whiskey bar, which demands repeat custom with malts and blends from Scotland, Japan, Canada, the US and Ireland. They were still stocking up when we visited, but when they reach their goal of 180 whiskeys, Xian will eclipse most bars in Beijing for choice.

Downstairs, the games room is the kind of place where Tom Hanks might have hung out in Big. Playing vintage 1990s arcade games like Outrun free of charge, with foosball and pool also available, is the icing on top of Xian’s sweet, multi-layered cake.

Also try: The Malt, Fuel

Xian. 1/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (8414 9810) 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号东隅北京酒店1层

By subway: 4km northeast of Sanyuanqiao station (Line 10)

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Photo courtesy of East Beijing