Loong Bar
“Dragons are central to Chinese culture” says Gary Li, manager of Loong Bar, “and the dragon is part of our interior design. It flows through the bar and people love it.”
This sophisticated hangout pays a fine tribute to the fire-breathing beasts: the bar itself curves in and out like a dragon’s back, a dragon leaps above guests’ heads, picked out in trailing strands of glass, and ornamental dragons sit alongside elegant, tapered decanters on burnished metal stands.
When you’ve finished taking in the scenery, start your evening by grabbing a barside seat while the silk-shirted staff make you a cocktail creation from ice cold Grey Goose vodka. The menu holds enough intriguing options to keep you tippling for a month: Li recommends the Dragon Iced Tea and the Dragon Cosmopolitan, as well as the delicious Lychee and Mulberry Martinis.
If you’re in need of something to nibble, there’s a great menu of shareable snacks, including delicious seared tuna summer rolls, crab cakes and dainty baja-style shrimp and avocado. Loong Bar’s central space is scattered with sink-in sofas and deep leather armchairs - perfect for kicking back and catching up with friends - and live jazz and lounge music provide a funky backdrop to the night.
Regular promotions - including daily happy hours and Champagne discounts on a Thursday - help make this an exceptionally popular bar. As Li says, “Loong is the sort of place that you’ll visit for one drink and end up spending the whole evening.”
JW Marriott Hotel Beijing
83 Jian Guo Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing, Beijing 100025 China
83 Jian Guo Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing, Beijing 100025 China