Bartenders in hot tubs, etc: 99 Degrees to ‘soft open’ in Sanlitun on Friday

June 13, 2012 - Uncategorized - 2 comments

A test run at 99 Degrees...

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I don’t get out much, so perhaps this city has other places where the bartenders stand in the middle of a hot tub and the patrons surround it, although I can’t recall any. But that is a racier feature 99 Degrees has in mind for its two-floor venue atop the youth hostel just west of the 3.3 Building in Sanlitun North.

Headed by Tom Cu, who is known for Club 99 in Jianwai Soho and Le Petit Gourmand in Sanlitun, this place has slated its soft opening for Friday from 7 PM, although that the hot tub won’t be ready until the official opening on June 29, says Cu.

99 Degrees is reached via a narrow staircase — one that passes By the Tree — at the back of the building. Key features on the main floor include a long bar backed by a wall of single malts, a smaller station dedicated to the brand Edradour, lounge areas, a “pass out” room with bed for that one member of your party who always indulges too much, and “gals” and “guys” rooms.

(Note: The busy green wallpaper in the guys room might well make you feel twice as drunk, though Paul Rochon of Le Petit Gourmand says it is a short-lived reaction. Judge for yourself by staring at the image below for two hours while draining half a bottle of Talisker 12.)

The rooftop is fringed with open-air bench seating, is centered by a gazebo with a small bar and lounge areas, and offers good views. As for prices, I’m waiting for the final numbers, but don’t expect your Old Fashioned to come cheap. And while that location in Sanlitun won’t appeal to everyone, I expect a good number of people to make their way up to 99 Degrees in the next month to try the cocktails, relax on the rooftop, and perhaps ask for a dip in the tub.

99 bottles of malt on the wall, 99 bottles of malt...

Somebody is a fan of Edradour.

The indoor part of the rooftop

Guys, stare long and hard, with Talisker in hand.

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