Good Things Come In Threes: PanSi Palace

In Beijing the movie-star lifestyle can be found in PanSi Palace, a tripartite alignment of hair and beauty boutique, women’s fashion, and speakeasy saloon, which together hold an overwhelming vibe of glitz-and-glam in an otherwise lackluster area.

Bubble Bar was the first concept to be developed, and has already established itself as an experimental speakeasy bar. The newest additions to the family are Love Boutique and Beauty Salon – one an internationally branded female oriented clothing store with partitioned makeup area, the other a cutting edge hair salon.

In the middle is the gargantuan Love Boutique. Through the door you are met with floor to ceiling whitewash accentuated by vintage coving and shimmering chandeliers. A large swathe of empty space must be cut through before you get to the clothing collections. Femininity exudes itself here with an ample mix of both pastel and punchy dresses (RMB 1000-4000) and edgy two-piece items (RMB 1000-3000) hailing from far-reaching places in America, Asia, and Europe. Small statement piece jewelry shines in-between the clothing (starting RMB 600) and a raised make-up room with Dior, Givenchy, MAC, and other reputable global brands sits at the back, consultations go for an average RMB 300.

Beauty Salon is accessible via an inner walkway pass. Near the front are cutting stations with vivid red Perspex planes hanging between sections. Walk to the back of the salon and you will find curtained-off rooms for hair washing, and more segregated cutting and styling pods surrounded by high mirrors. Prices are determined by which stylist you want, women you’ll pay more regardless your selection, with the top director going for RMB 1100 (women) and RMB 800 (men) for a cut and finish treatment. A range of color and styling options are also available for discussion.

With a fully enclosed walk-through system between the three divides one partner can go off and get their hair styled while the other browses luxurious clothing or relaxes with a superbly crafted cocktail, all without leaving the premises. Don’t be surprised to find a few hours of your day gone before stepping back out into the real, unglamoros, world.

PanSi Palace,1Love 2Beauty 3Bubble
Daily 10am-9.30pm/10am-10pm/7pm-2am, 8 Xindong Lu, Shoukai Bojun Neighbourhood, Chaoyang District 8418 5641/8418 5342/8418 5331
新东路8号院 (首开铂郡北区)
800m northeast Dongsishitiao (Subway Line 2)

Photos: Erin Strong