Take 5: Hot Cocktails to Raise Your Holiday Spirits

The festive feeling comes much easier after a few glasses of holiday spirits. These bars are offering drinks to warm your cockles as 2009 plays out.

Hot Toddy
It’s cold out there in Shunyi. The Pomegranate is doing its bit to keep suburban Beijingers fighting fit with its hot toddy, an RMB 15 bargain throughout December.

The Pomegranate. Mon-Thu 10am-midnight, Fri 10am-2am, Sat-Sun 8am-2am. 19 Kaifa Lu, Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District (8046 2558)
石榴园, 顺义区后沙峪西白辛庄开发路19号

Hot Buttered Rum
His surname is Lager, but Fubar boss Chad is playing around with stronger stuff this December. Try the Hot Buttered Rum (RMB 35-40, 330ml) – dark rum, brown sugar, nutmeg, a cinnamon stick and boiling water, topped off with a pat of butter. Fubar also offers glühwein from an Austrian recipe (RMB 35, 330ml) and hot toddies (RMB 35, 60ml).

Fubar. Sun-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-4am. Behind Stadium Dog, Gate 10, Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District (6593 8227)
福吧, 朝阳区工体东路工人体育场东门内10号进口

Hot French
2F’s “Hot French” is a quick hit of heat. Grand Marnier, orange and cloves are heated in a flask, which is then placed in boiling water. Once hot, the mixture is lit and poured – as a stream of flame – into a glass.

2F. Mon-Fri 6pm-2am, Sat-Sun 6pm-4am. Sanlitun Houjie (south of 3.3 Shopping Center), Chaoyang District (6416 4549)
贰楼, 朝阳区三里屯北街3.3服装大厦南侧

Mojito Mint Tea
Open again after recent refurbishments, e.a.t. has arguably the best choice of hot cocktails around. Try their classic mojito topped up with green tea.

e.a.t. Daily 10am-2am. 70 Gulou Dongdajie (east of Nanluogu Xiang), Dongcheng District (6709 1383, 138 1118 3659)
东城区鼓楼东大街70号

Mulled Wine
The Vineyard has been serving mulled wine (RMB 20) since the first flakes of snow fell in November. They use a Chilean red as the base, and top the brew off with a Grand Marnier kick. Don’t get lost in the hutongs after a few of these.

Vineyard Cafe. Tue-Sun 11.30am-10.30pm, closed Mon. 31 Wudaoying Hutong (just north of the Confucius Temple), Dongcheng District (6402 7961)
葡萄院儿, 东城区五道营胡同31号