Beijing Boyce

Free vodka cocktails from 9 tonight...

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Six comments about a visit to Club Le ZaZou an hour ago, just ahead of its 9 PM opening, and a talk with head of PR, Angelique (hat tip to Andy at Union for the intro):

1. I have been working on a post about how when I have business acquaintances or friends in town, it rolls around to 2 AM and the question comes up, “Where should we go?” Some of the current options – Chocolate, Maggie’s, Suzie Wong, et al – don’t always fit the bill. What I want is a nice lounge, kind of a Q Bar but that stays open late. This place might be it. The lounge has plenty of plush armchairs and sofas, done in a wide range of neutral to warm colors, from off-whites and tans to mochas and chocolates, with plenty of space in between. And Angelique says the place will be open until 5 or 6 AM.

2. Le ZaZou is huge at 1040 square meters (I don’t even want to know what the rent is). It is divided into more than a half-dozen areas – the lounge area, a Champagne bar, a vodka bar, an area with a DJ booth and dance space, several private rooms, and a second floor with a bar on one side and a dining room – focused: French fusion cuisine – at the other.

3. It will have a Perrier-Jouet Champagne bar – Angelique says it is the first is Asia. In a town dominated by Moet and Mumm’s, this is good to see.

4. I am told the drinks will be cheaper than at Xiu, more along the lines of Suzie Wong. There will be free vodka cocktails at the Absolut bar from 8 PM to midnight for the next two weeks.

5. There is a noticeable and welcome lack of neon.

6. The place will have live music. Up tomorrow night: The Verse.

My first thought on hearing about this place was to imagine yet another overdone oversized undercapitalized establishment, and in a mall no less. My first impression is that Le Zazou is far more subtle than I expected, the space is nicely divided, and it is doing something a bit different, with the Perrier-Jouet bar an example. If it can provide an alternative to places such as Xiu and, even better, a relaxed late-night option,  it should have positive spinoff effects for other places on that third floor. But that’s an “if” – the real task is always getting people in the door…

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Massive “cocktails / fine dining /  live music / sexy grooves” establishment Club Le ZaZou kicks off a “2-Week Long Glamorous Soft Opening” tonight at 10 PM on the third floor of Sanlitun Village. The club will have free Absolut cocktails until midnight as well as a two-for-one on bottles of Perrier-Jouet Champagne and “sexy funky house” music. As the flyer states, “Party deep with your friends and loved ones.”

I’m at Union, so I’ll pop over now and report back if there is any additional news, such as the club’s definition of deep.

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The new Purple Haze Bistro has finished its move from China View to 1 Dongsiliutiao, where Chaoyangmen Beixiao Jie and Dongsiliutiao cross. And the tradition of live music on Wednesdays continues, with No Name Trio playing tonight.

The much cozier digs include a long hallway near the entrance with book shelves, a bar, and a computer terminal for those who wish to do a quick email or sports score check. The courtyard has seating below a glass roof that provides views of the gnarled tree outside, while the side room presents a perfect spot for a dozen people and the back area is decorated with black and white images of jazz, blues, and soul greats. The place can get a bit chilly, so heaters have been placed throughout. And the semi-transparent serving area in the courtyard seems out of place, though manager Toby says there is still work to do on the decor. I did get a laugh from the “Devastatin’ Dave: Turntable Slave” print in the toilet.

Expect a similar food menu to that at the previous location, with Stella and Beijing beer on tap. I had the green curry chicken: a generous serving that hit the spot on a cold night.

Purple Haze Bistro also offers close proximity to spots such as Palette Vino, Bomb Shelter, and Blue Crescent Xinjiang restaurant. Perhaps we have the beginnings of another cool area in the making…

Hen hao, Miao!

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Acupunture, which has established a strong following the past two years with its lineup of DJs , massive events, and digital and CD compilations, is set to own and operate its own club – Lantern.

The club will be in B1 of the 3.3 building in Sanlitun and is slated for a January 8 and 9 weekend launch. Acupunture co-founder Miao Wong says the place can fit about 500 people and will be open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 PM. While Acupuncture had looked at opening in the Workers Stadium area, Lantern might work out better in Sanlitun given its proximity to the area’s many bars and to fellow clubs such as White Rabbit and Punk.

Soon with 24 more square meters of pub power

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Just received a message from Joseph at 12sqm, the tiny Nanluoguxiang bar that consistently punches above its weight or, rather, size. He writes that after two and a half years of business, the bar will nearly triple in size next month. That means fans of the place, or those who want to see it before it changes, best drop by before January 1 when the renovations start.

I’ll have more on the new 12sqm soon.

Note: The photo of 12sqm is from the pub crawl that Nicolas Carre and I did on the night of the Olympics opening ceremony. The full list of venues visited is here.