Team Behind Beiluogu Xiang Favorite Hoper Opens Spiffier New Lounge Off Xingfucun
Having cemented a strong reputation for creative cocktails and offbeat events at his charming Beiluogu Xiang-adjacent bar Hoper, James Hao is now setting his sights on a much different challenge: opening a cocktail lounge in the spiffier Sanlitun area. First impressions of the new Hoper GT (short for Gongti) show that he's off to a good start. Upon entry you'll be struck by the venue's long and narrow floor space stretching straight out from the entryway, past the bar, and onto a handful of tables and chairs at the back, all of which is much more reminiscent of Liangmaqiao's spate of sleek Japanese izakayas than the original Hoper's spacious, hutong courtyard vibe.
That being said, this new lounge still retains some of its predecessor's scrappy streetside spirit. For one, it's not located in a glitzy Sanlitun compound or high-rise, but instead in humble alley running perpendicular from Shizipo Street, around the corner from Great Leap's now defunct #12 digs and the new Xiao Ming-founded bar Inception, along with older cocktail joint Chaplin (and the less memorable Social Circle, which we reviewed last year when it opened, is the new Hoper's closest neighbor, just one door down in the same nook).
And while its softly lit ambiance and more streamlined layout are more modern than the age-old Beijing vibe of the Hoper 1.0, Hao's new venture also retains the original's penchant for clever cocktail recipes. Going beyond the older bar's East-meets-West ethos (complementing Chinese herbs and teas stirred in with Western spirits), Hao now offers a globetrotting array of drink options inspired by varying cities like London, Ho Chi Minh, and Guangzhou, each priced at RMB 88 per glass.
Among our menu favorites was the Rome cocktail, made with whiskey, cherry liqueurs, hazelnut syrup, a dash of bitters, and a chunk of chocolate atop the ice cube. Served in a stout glass and boasting a 35 percent ABV, this cocktail is both indulgently rich and packed with a hefty wallop. The Guangzhou cocktail, meanwhile, carries over some of the Sino inklings of the Beiluo Hoper, what with its combination of Ceylon black tea and lychee along with rum. Hao says this new menu will always have at least one such cocktail inspired by a Chinese city and a sprinkling of its popular local ingredients, though the entire menu will also change seasonally to ensure fresh and weather-appropriate constituents are utilized.
Hao's plans to open the bar at a mindbogglingly early 3pm to serve cheap spritzes, sangrias, and tea, also set the bar apart (and make it of dangerous persuasion for dedicated barflies; those drinks are RMB 48 each during the unweildy 3pm-8pm happy hour, while they range from RMB 78-88 after that). The safer bet on his part was also to offer a number of by the glass and bottle wines on the menu (highlights including Hemisferio Sauvignon Blanc for RMB 78 per glass or 328 per bottle, and Zonin Classici Pino Grigio for RMB 88 per glass and RMB 380 for bottle), though it would be great if he also added few beers to ensure the place has a broad enough appeal. Hao's staff should also strive to mix up their specialty cocktails a little more speedily, because the wait time after each round we ordered seemed to really drag, though we can't complain about how well balanced and delicious those drinks were once they arrived.
Together, these elements make Hoper GT a worthy successor of its sturdy hutong elder and its location near Jing-A and other Xingfucun hotspots make it an attractive pre- or post-dinner destination. That, along with its subtle, but never over the top elegance, help Hoper GT straddle the slim overlap between the hutongs that Hao has already won over and the glossier Sanlitun sphere.
Hoper GT
Daily, 3pm-2am. 1-6, 18 Xinzhong Street (around the corner from Chaplain, next to Social Circle)
新中街18号1层6
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photos courtesy of James Hao
