Stars Come Out at Night: MJ, V Bar and Sanlitun Soho

October 4, 2011 - V Bar - no comments

: All he needs now is a Bubbles impersonator.

V Bar / Wei Bar opened in Sanlitun Soho last night and made even more eclectic the B1 alley that includes Korean restaurant Ssam, Alsatian eatery Tonton, and European-style coffee shop Moment. The design and decor are simple – a bar on one side, a couple of living room sets on the other, and tables and chairs down the middle, all with a view of the stage — and might be called “classic” Beijing. Fans of the color purple will be pleased.

As for the drinks menu, the focus is on bottle service, with Jim Beam at rmb280, Johnnie Walker Black at rmb580 and “Carl Irla” / Caol Ila at rmb1080. There are a few beers, notably 500 ml bottles of Erdinger at rmb40, a pair of cocktails, including a Long Island, and a wine list — I didn’t know the brands and found the prices prohibitive, with glasses starting at rmb58. Opening night saw an appearance by a Michael Jackson impersonator (I didn’t see him perform, just hang at the bar) and a four-piece band that played classic Chinese rock.

I’m not sure how much demand there is in Soho for pricey wine and bottle service. That’s not really my scene, but if this place can get some decent bands, I could see myself stopping by for the occasional Erdinger.