Beijing Boyce

UPDATE: The Ice Bar has melteth.

China World Hotel opened Ice Bar a few weeks ago, just outside Aria. As reported earlier, the bar is, not surprisingly, made of ice and is cosponsored by Moet-Hennessy Diageo, so expect Moet Chandon Champagne, Belvedere Vodka and Grand Marnier. The bar itself is modest and fun for a quick drink. And the Champagne is definitely chilled. The only weird thing is the deafening hip hop - something a bit more relaxed would work better. For some reason, ABBA pops into my mind…

Coats are provided for those venturing outside.

(Thanks to Marc at MHD for the photo.)

Yesterday, Chad Lager of the The Rickshaw took me on a tour of the new Saddle location in Nali Studios (more on this later)  and we then went on a walkabout that ended at Scandinavian restaurant and bar The Little Mermaid.

The Little Mermaid offers more than a dozen kinds of Akvavit, Schnapps and bitters, at RMB 15 for 20 centiliters. Dane Torben Vester, who runs the place with wife Celine, gave us a tasting of his homemade concoctions, including walnut Schnapps made with eight-year old walnut essence, another drink infused with 11 herbs, and one that tasted of licorice. He also has a homemade candy-flavored drink called Blaa Ugla, a dill Schnapps, and imported Gammel Dansk and Gammel Dansk Citrus, which he says, “is a bitters, the most well-known one in Denmark.”

Given his background, there is plenty of Carlsberg, and at reasonable prices, too. Draft is RMB 20 for 500 ML and RMB 40 for 1.25 liter, with bottles costing RMB 25.

The Little Mermaid has food, too. Torben says the herring, beef stroganoff, and the dark bread (made in-house) are most popular. Even better, he and Celine are experimenting with cheese, though it is not on the menu. We tried homemade Brie that had a nice gooey-ness, a decent rind and pungent aroma, though it was salty - Torben says this is because it isn’t dulled down with preservative as are many store-bought ones.

To get to The Little Mermaid, go north on Sanlitun, past the main bar strip and turn right at the corner directly across from the 3.3 building. Walk down that street past the first corner and you’ll find The Little Mermaid on your left.