Beijing Boyce

A source at that’s Beijing says Centro has been nominated in a leading 11 categories for the magazine’s annual bars and clubs awards, though it didn’t make the ‘bar of the year’ list. The other leading nominees are:

Suzie Wong’s - 10
Face - 8
China Doll - 8
The Den - 7
Stone Boat - 6
Rickshaw - 6
Q Bar - 6
Lan - 6

There’s plenty of new blood this year as Face, China Doll, Rickshaw and Lan have been open less than a year, with Q Bar just over that hump. Other notable newcomers include Kokomo with four nominations (best new bar, terrace, cocktails, and events / parties) and Hilton’s Zeta with three (best bathrooms, happy hour, and decor).

Browns, which won as best bar and best new bar last year, received nominations as best sports bar, best for business networking, and best for people-watching.

The finalists are based on nominations by 150 people, from F&B writers to bar lovers, including yours truly. Voting starts within a week and I’ve listed some nominees here (I’ll add the rest when I get them).

Torres is busting out the bubbles for a “garden Champagne cocktail” at Westin Hotel on June 14 (7:30-9:30 PM). For 180 kuai, customers get three glasses of Taittinger (”mainly Taittinger Brut Reserve and Prestige Rose Brut,” says Torres’ Galia Stern), finger food by the hotel’s executive chef, Christoph Suter, and live jazz. Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger will host the event. Tickets must be bought prior to the event. To RSVP, contact sophie@torres.com.cn at 5165-5519, extension 208.

(Note: Torres also has a tasting, on June 16, at the Ritz-Carlton. It features the wines of Baron Philippe de Rothschild and food of German 3-star Michelin chef Dieter Muller. At 1888 kuai per person, it’s not for the light of wallet.)

An inside source at that’s Beijing says that Centro has been nominated in a leading 11 categories for the magazine’s annual bars and clubs awards, but didn’t make the “bar of the year” list. Suzie Wong’s was close behind with 10 nominations, while newcomers Kokomo, Rickshaw and China Doll received multiple nods. I’ll have more details on the nominees in an hour or so…

Here is the second of two recent tips delivered straight to my mailbox and now straight to you…

Carolyn O reports on a bar she says doesn’t make the listings of the English-language mags - Jianghu. “Thursday nights are gypsy jazz nights,” she says, with the duo of Nico Torrese (French) and Daniel Brustman (American) providing entertainment.

“They are, in my untrained opinion, very good musicians,” she says. The shows starts at 9:30 PM and, says Carolyn, the pair also play on the first Saturday of every month at La Baie des Anges in Houhai, the first Sunday of every month at the Vineyard Cafe, and occasionally at Salud.

Sounds like it’s time for some exploring Houhai way…

Note: Carolyn provides the following directions to Jianghu / 江湖. “Head east along Ghost Street (鬼街) until you hit the junction where if you keep going straight, you hit 鼓楼东大街. Turn left onto 交道口南大街 (往南走). Stop at the second traffic lights. You will see a hutong on your right, 东棉花胡同. The bar is just about 50 meters in (6401-4611).”