Opposite the entrance to the Chaotiangong underground car park, Le Bar has become a watering hole for B-list actors and actresses working with a film director based in the up-and-coming, adjacent creative park.
And friends and acquaintances of the owner, a man who knows everyone who’s anyone in Nanjing.
Old timers who were sufficiently alert to remember the city’s original den of hedonism, Scarlet, will be intrigued to know that Le Bar is a latest project of the icon’s former General Manager.
The experience shows in his choice for a cocktail-concocting professional and the selection of spirits on offer. Rums such as Dead Man’s Fingers and The Kraken join the usual suspects while on the whisky front can be found Monkey Shoulder and Talisker, again with many more predictable options.
And for the really daring, lurking almost out of sight on the top shelf behind the bar lies likely the strongest drink in Nanjing; a bottle of German Absinthe at no less than 89.9 percent
With a list price of ¥1,898 and at 53 percent by volume, then there is also the Yellow Mountain “whisky” referred to earlier. Yes, it comes from Huangshan, where it is distilled by a Frenchman no less. Hence, it tastes more like cognac and IMO, is pretty repulsive.
Yet, if either of the former do tickle your fancy, exercise caution; the bathroom is up an alarmingly steep set of stairs that also leads to additional seating for 16 around four tables.
Those looking for a decent beer will, however, be sorely disappointed; Corona is as exciting as it gets at Le Bar. Fair dues though, given the size of the place, kegs are out of the question and there be little space for case after case of suds.
Simple foods such as spring rolls and spaghetti bolognaise are also on offer, with the latter having its “secret sauce” recipe allegedly provided by the former chef at a prestigious local five-star hotel.
But it’s the street-side seating that will be the draw for many readers. Happiness after all, is a glass of strong liquor watching the Nanjing evening pass you by. Opened in July of last year, Le Bar is the kind of bright spot which the desolate landscape that is this hitherto dowdy end of Nanjing really needs.
Le Bar is located at 295 Mochou Lu.
