Beijing This Month | Business Beijing | Beijing Official Guide | Map of Beijing | Beijing - The Magnificent City | Beijing Investment Guide | Beijing Fact File
Article featured in Beijing This Month, December 2002
Publication sponsored by Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government,  Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism

Beijing 2008 Olympics

Arts & Culture
Beijing Basics
Business
Dining
Editorial
Health & Wellness
Love & Life
Nightlife
Shopping
Sport
Classifieds
Get by in Beijing
English 1000, Chinese 1000

Foot-tapping Christmas

2002/12/01

Sanlitun's still the hottest spot in town, despite great advances by opposing groups of bars in various parts of Beijing. But the specific "hot" we're talking about in this instance involves superstar bartenders able to maniacally juggle and swivel expensive bottles of Scotch whisky while gyrating to hits with a back-beat rhythm likely to send even comatose barflies into convulsions.

Nashville Bar is one of the city's handful of country-and-western theme bars. Modelled after a Texas ranch house (complete with limestone walls), this popular watering hole features live music with an occasional pop cover thrown in.

This venue is home to all that's best in the bar firmament, a cool place packed with interesting, largely clean-cut patrons and some truly fine music from celebrated bands to enhance the excellent grub. It also offers fine cigars, notably Cohiba from Cuba, and the only place in China where you will find the redoubtable Manchest Cream. Or so it's claimed. Enjoy. That's what it's there for.

Insian Christmas-Mirch Masala

Indian food is becoming more and more popular in Beijing, witness the number of excellent specialized restaurants that have opened in the past few years. Among the latest is Mirch Masala, which flung wide its doors a few months ago and almost from the word go attracted a steady clientele because its fine, authentic mix of northern and southern flavors are as good as one would find on the sub-continent itself.

Watch out for its Indian Yogurt and Lassi (sweet or salty), both pretty good. The Naan comes freshly baked and steaming hot from the tandoor oven, and tastes all the better with Mirch Masala's curry chicken, cooked from a secret recipe.

If at first you find difficulty getting to grips with Indian food, don't worry-at least not here. Simply ask proprietor Daya Prasad what you want to know, and you will find yourself speaking to a highly friendly expert. Indian restaurateurs are noted for the honor they feel when feeding a guest; it seems at times to border on the spiritual. Trust his advice. It's always impeccable.

This restaurant's food is reasonably priced, especially on Sunday when an excellent Brunch is available. You will find almost 20 kinds of food from all over India, and an equally fine choice of drinks. Live music too, and dance for good measure. All this for 68 yuan can't be bad.



 
*