d. lounge

Since it’s hush-hush opening last month, the trendy yet glamorous d. lounge is aimed squarely at the cool crowd. Opened by the people behind Jazz-Ya and with an ex-Punk barman at the helm, drinks are reasonably priced but expertly made.

Our favourite is the refreshing Falling Water cocktail (50RMB), but it’s also well worth sampling the signature Saketini (60RMB) and Campari Mojito (60RMB) while you schmooze.

But what stuns most people about the place is the interior. Six-metre high ceilings and brick walls give the place that distinctive converted factory feel, while the bright white bar that stretches up to the ceiling, like an altar to alcohol, adds a futuristic twist. This venue has been painstakingly designed, from the aforementioned bar to the large moon gate on the opposing wall, and all of it has been built entirely from scratch. The moon gate is currently hiding another as-yet-unfinished section of the bar which the owners hope will be used as a fashion catwalk amongst other things.

Since Browns closed, this small pocket of Sanlitun – which also houses Salsa Caribe, Rock & Roll and Nanjie – has mostly focused on the cheap drinks and loud music market. But d. lounge’s stated aim is to move away from this.

Although they have a DJ booth, the music is never turned up to an obtrusive level, and conversation stays at the forefront; a welcome change. Although this bar would do better during the week if it was located in the CBD, the weekends will be helped no end by its central bar district location.Ross Goulding