We walked up and down the street near Plan B, searching until we found it: the little out-of-place, old-timey barbershop with the lights still on at 8pm. Inside, if you look to your right there is a small, built-in bookcase with a hidden button on the side. Press it (you know you want to) and the back wall of the shop will pull back revealing a cocktail bar called Confidential.
Inside is a classic, polished wood bar and rows of backlit bottles and highball glasses. There is a good chance owner Ian Syer will greet you with a glass of Scotch in one hand and a suggestion of what to try first off the menu.
The menu lists classics like martinis, Manhattans, and Mai Tais, oh my! But ask the knowledgeable bartenders what they suggest and you might be treated to some creative off-menu twists.
For example, an old fashioned with a hit of cinnamon, or a French martini laced with cognac. Most cocktails run between RMB 88 and RMB 128, and everything we tried we enjoyed.
The ambiance was lovely, too. The bar seats were comfortable and offered hooks for bags and coats, while overstuffed booths offered perfect corners in which to sit all night chatting and playing cards with friends.
An excellent saxophonist played standards that added to the grown-up vibe, and I’m told there is live music several times a week.
So the next time you are looking to break the routine from your regular happy hour or grab one last drink after dinner, head to Shuangjing and step into a 1920s speakeasy.
Find it:
Courtyard 32, Beijing 22 International Art Plaza (just west of Plan B), Pingod Community, Chaoyang District
朝阳区苹果社区二十二院街艺术区32号院
Tues 7pm-2am Wed-Sun 6pm-2am
Images: Julie Wolf, the Beijinger
