Travel Weary? Unwind with a Sublime Drink at the Long Bar

Your flight was grueling – a non-stop torture session of turbulence, wailing kids, stuffy air, horrible food and snippy flight attendants. But you've finally landed, a little worse for the wear and longing for a relaxing drink before you settle in for a good night's rest. The T3 shuttle whisks you to the nearby Hilton Beijing Capital Airport hotel. Immediately after checking in (without even bothering to bring your suitcase up to your room first), you dart straight towards the bar on the first floor, expecting nothing more than a nondescript lounge that might at least serve a middling bevy to alleviate the stratospheric trauma that you just endured. 

Your expectations are quickly surpassed. Scott Fang, supervisor of the hotel's Long Bar, immediately and warmly greets you, ushering you to a chair. As he does so, you quickly realize that the lounge is aptly named: the massive bar stretches to the far side of the room. You ask Fang about it, and he cheerily explains that it measures 50 meters and is "reputedly Beijing's longest bar."
 

As Fang pours you a drink and you pull up a stool, another attribute of the bar becomes apparent. Aside from its impressive length, it also has another, shorter section jutting out perpendicularly from its end, giving it an "L" shape that evokes the establishment's moniker. 
 
"The L-shaped bar is discreetly divided to offer music along one side and a quieter lounge environment on the other," Fang explains, while rhythmically jostling a drink shaker as he prepares your cocktail. 
 

"You can feel the buzz and excitement in the overall ambience of the bar area," he adds, pointing out as you soak in the warmth and sleek atmosphere. Other customers start trickling in, and the barmen behind the counter are quick to take their orders.

Fang then points to the other section of the room on the opposite side of the bar. "This lounge area is a classic gentlemen’s lounge,” he explains, pointing to row of comfortable sofas and hearty looking wooden furnishings. “The sights and aromas of the lounge create an atmosphere that invites you to have a cigar.”
 

You pause for a moment as the tension in your head starts to dissipate; and you notice other distinctive features: a spindly "dragon" made from thin white cloth draped over skeletal bars stretched across the ceiling from its overhead perch; two suits of armor standing guard on the far wall – one steely grey, the other as a pale as ivory; and a sprawling TV projection wall, where a group of customers are watching a live football match via satellite. 
 

Fang then finishes mixing your drink and fills your glass as it gives off a satisfying fizz. He finishes pouring and explains: "We provide a special mojito cocktail here. Normally, bartenders just make mojitos with rum and soda water. But we use Sprite."

He explains how he has tried his share of drinks at other establishments around Beijing, but has rarely been satisfied with the selection. "There’s always a shortage of beverage materials – they can never serve what I want. It’s really disappointing," he says, adding how he works hard to ensure that Long Bar never has the same problem. “You won’t have to worry about a shortage of drink materials here. We can always prepare all the beverages on our list for you."

Fang adds that in addition to the signature cocktails and spirits, Long Bar also offers a selection of Western, Asian and Chinese-style tapas, and explains how his dedication is a natural extension of his hotel’s high standards and commitment to customer service. "We are different from most bars, where the customer is treated in a casual manner. We really care about our guests’ overall experience in our hotel, and our barmen act as our brand ambassadors to ensure that our guests receive the best service.”

Long Bar will offer a special wine promotion throughout November and is open daily from 4pm-1am. 
 

As the first international business and convention hotel at the airport, Hilton Beijing Capital Airport offers five-star comfort and unique convenience for people in transit, business travelers, trade fair visitors and event organizers. With 322 luxurious guestrooms, all with 3.5 meter high ceilings and finished to the highest standard with sound-proofed floor-to-ceiling windows and comprehensive in-room facilities, the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport is one of the largest hotels in Beijing. Guests can enjoy an extensive range of food outlets featuring the most distinctive Chinese regional cuisines as well as classic Western and Asian dishes in their choice of four stylish restaurants, with a total of 32 private dining rooms. 

For more information on how to book your room, and avoid the stress and anxiety of rushing to the airport at the last minute, click here.

This post is sponsored by the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport.

Photos courtesy of the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport, Uni You