The Corner Bar and Cafe Opens in Lido

The Corner, located near the intersection of Jiangtai Lu and Fangyuan Xilu, looks at first glance like a hole in the wall. But once you step inside the bar and cafe, you’ll see that the slim entryway belies a deep and spacious interior. The decor creates a feeling of night and day with the first half of The Corner furnished by muted lights, high tables, and a sleek bar. You are compelled to sidle up to the bar, which takes up a big chunk of the ante-room, and order one of their signature cocktails. The Purple Haze (RMB 45, RMB 30 during Happy Hour) is a sweet, bubbly drink with a hue as violently violet as grape soda.

Similar to Twilight and Glen, The Corner serves its single malt whiskey Japanese-style – i.e. with a giant ice ball in lieu of ice cubes. Enjoy a range of single malt whiskeys all aged at least a decade from Europe and Japan, including Laphroaig 10 (RMB 50) and Macallan 18 (RMB 85). Along with the standard list, the bar also serves a selection of imported UK beers (Greene King and Old Speckled Hen to name but two). With Happy Hour prices set from 2-8pm, there’s no reason not to get loaded before dinnertime.

Night turns to day once you walk past the bar and further into the room. Mirrors and potted plants brighten up the space considerably, and large windows installed in the back wall let in natural light. If you fancy a cup of coffee (RMB 20-RMB 40) or a slice of homemade tiramisu (RMB 45), the interior room welcomes you. There is also speedy Wi-Fi.

For something more substantial than an espresso, The Corner has a café-style menu. A semi-open kitchen stands behind the bar and the chef can cook up some mighty tasty fare. The seafood salad (RMB 45) is refreshing, and they’re rather generous with the shrimp and squid; the cherry tomatoes are roasted, ensuring that you don’t have to worry about them ricocheting off your fork and into your lap. Though the house burger (RMB 98) is the bar’s specialty, the spicy chicken burger (RMB 58) is the real star with a filet that’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The kitchen is open into the night. After a couple beers, treat yourself to some surprisingly well-crafted, if pricey, bar food. Hopefully, The Corner will liven up a relatively quiet neighborhood by providing the first bar in the area more devoted to cocktails. Nothing brings the girls like a Mai Tai served inside a pineapple (RMB 58, RMB 38 during Happy Hour).

The Corner. Daily 10am-2am (happy hour 2-8pm). Unit 1-19, 2B Hairun International Apartment, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (5135 7607) 朝阳区将台路海润国际公寓乙2号商业1-19