Charlie Chaplin Bar Opens 2nd Location for Roaring 20s-Themed Bespoke Cocktails; Russian Mixologist Takeover, Jun 8-9
Following the success of the original Charlie Chaplin Bar in Sanlitun North, the team have now gone on to quietly open a second location on the west side of Xinzhong Jie, just by the 7 Eleven and Scott’s Family near Great Leap Brewery #12.
You won't be able to miss it given that the whole outside wall and the ground floor terrace are painted emerald, and there are antique dressers, hanging gas lamps, and a Victorian-style door to navigate before you have even made your way inside. The war-era antiques, dim lighting, showy fur pieces, vintage furniture, and delicate tableware inside will make you feel like you're inside a scene from Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children rather than a speakeasy.
This second location is slightly larger than the first, an aside from the dark wood bar seating, there are several well-decorated booths, a parlor with additional tables and leather sofas, as well as the aforementioned terrace with several tables and chairs to lounge on underneath emerald umbrellas. Service is down-to-earth and unpretentious.
So why Charlie Chaplin? After having cultivated an obsession with the roaring 20s, owner Yulianna Diao moved back to Beijing from Finland before opening the bar and filling it with the secondhand antiques that she managed to haul back. In her mind, there’s no one who represents that era better than Charlie Chaplin.
Moving onto the drinks, there are more than a dozen classic cocktails (RMB 80-100), and over a handful of signature drinks (RMB 85-90) on the menu. The bestseller, Charlie Chaplin (RMB 90), and is mixed using a simple base of gin, amarillo, and topped with lime. This classic cocktail is just what we expected: strong, nutty, and well-balanced.
Next, being particularly skilled at making bespoke cocktails, we decided to put the bartender to the test, describing our favored flavors to see what he could come up with. The resulting cocktail was tart and tangy and made using raspberry juice and a mix of top-shelf booze shined through. A sprig of rosemary, a slice of dried lemon, and a maraschino cherry, made the fruity aroma pop, and gave a sweetened alcoholic kick. We heartily approve.
For those looking for an easy liquid dessert, try Chaplin's popcorn-flavored cocktail, which is topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips. Baileys and coffee liquer add the boozy kick.
Aside from cocktails, there are also over 50 kinds of whiskeys from Japan, America, Taiwan, Canada, and Scotland. They also recently cooperated with Scott’s to provide brunch and afternoon tea, including four specialty coffees (RMB 58-68) such as Panama Geisha, Mandheling from Indonesia, mocha from Yemen, and santos from Columbia, as well as a handful regular coffees (RMB 30-38). They also offer various teas (RMB 45-50), and food such as salads, steak, and cakes (RMB 45).
If you're looking for an occasion to visit, Russian mixologist Elizaveta Evdokimova will be heading the bar on June 8 and 9. Winner of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition in 2013 with her creation cocktail The Knight Cup, Evdokimova went on to became Bacardi’s brand ambassador in Eastern Europe, and currently works as part of the Sober Kitchen team in Shanghai. Ivan Iufriakov, another popular Russian bartender of Chainaya Tea & Cocktails Bar, and The Box in Moscow, will join her. The duo will bartend at Charlie Chaplin's original 27 Sanlitun Beilu location on June 8, before heading to 18 Xingzhong Jie on June 9, both from 8.30pm till late. Make a reservation by calling 134 8885 3994.
Finally, we’ve been told that Diao is also preparing to open her third location at Honglingjin Park near the East Fourth Ring Road. Keep tuned in for more information.
Charlie Chaplin Bar
Mon-Fri 7pm-2am, Sat-Sun Midday-2am. 1/F, 18 Xinzhong Jie (Next to Golden Pineapple Youth Hotel and Scott’s Family Italian Cuisine and Bar), Dongcheng District (177 4656 0731)
卓别林：东城区新中街18号(金菠萝国际青年酒店东侧)
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Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos courtesy of Charlie Chaplin, Tracy Wang
