Zeta Bar

The Hilton's entrant to the upscale hotel-lounge category is bright, shiny and very slick. Following the formula already perfected in London, KL, Bangkok and Sydney – Zeta Bar’s Beijing incarnation is a colourful metal and perspex dream, with soaring ceilings, illuminated bar and modish décor.

The aviary-inspired interior incorporates bird-motif carpets and huge chrome cages in the bathrooms and at the bar, the latter housing an impressive wine collection (50-75RMB by the glass). The focus, however, is champagne (POA) and vodka-based cocktails. Impressive to say the least, originals such as the dark chocolate and wasabi martinis (70-80RMB) are delicious twists on a classic, while the Zeta Long Island is a sweetly satisfying sucker-punch. A minimal menu incorporates Indian, Asian and European styled finger-food.

Zeta’s music policy is befitting of its lounge-bar status, largely incorporating acid-jazz, boutique electro and house in its various guises, provided by in-house local and international DJs. Patrons can make use of the central – albeit small – dance-floor, or recline on the illuminated bar stools, the second-level private mezzanine or in the glassy, Warhol-inspired VIP room.