Maiden Voyage Cocktail Bar Weathers Stormy Seas on Lucky Street

Some might call opening a cocktail lounge on Lucky Street a bold move. Others would say foolhardy. Not only is the strip already home to one of Beijing's long-time speakeasies, Mokihi, but Beijing is currently experiencing a lounge boom, and with so many mixologists rushing to open their own establishments, simply being a cocktail lounge is no longer enough to stand out.

So when Maiden Voyage set sail last year on the Solana Mall strip, many were doubtful that it could succeed.

Read our fun, Darwin-themed 2011 review of Mokihi here. 

But while many of its contemporaries have wilted, Maiden Voyage has held its own. A handful of commendable drink options made by owner and bartender Logan (王小七, of veteran Sanlitun south lounge Glen, pictured on the right above) certainly help in that regard. Chief among them: the reasonably priced RMB 90 Qin Meizi, comprised of a creative mix of homemade plum wine, plum and apple liqueurs, and orange bitters for a deft sweet-bitter balance.

Same goes for the Charming (also RMB 90). Its homemade wax berry infused vodka is unique and delicious, and its blackberry and Chambord liqueurs, a splash of gin, and mulberry garnish all give the cocktail, which is served in a wooden cup, a nice syrupy sweetness.

Sadly, there are only about four other such creative cocktails on offer, while the rest of the list is rounded out with old fashioned, mojitos and other such generic fare.

Nevertheless, the snug, softly lit bar area was about half full on the sleepy Tuesday night we stopped by. That's not a wall to wall Janes and Hooch or Arch Bar turnout to be sure, but still respectable compared to the dead quiet we’ve encountered at more dime-a-dozen whiskey and cocktail joints. 

With a few more creative drinks made with homemade hooch and Logan's ample imagination, Maiden Voyage should be able to navigate Beijing’s stormy F&B seas with nary a worry. For now, its a sturdy ship on a promising trajectory, and if what we tried is anything to go by, we look forward to them expanding their bespoke menu with more specialty cocktail options.

READ: Take One Cocktail Pioneer. Add a Dash of Maizidian. Remove Excessive Prices. Stir.

Maiden Voyage
Daily 7pm-late. Lucky Street, 1 Chaoyang Park Road, Chaoyang District (next to Mokihi) (5867 0247)
沁酒吧：朝阳区朝阳公园路1号好运街内

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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photos: Courtesy of Maiden Voyage