True speakeasies, the kind selling illegal hooch, have all but disappeared. In Beijing, paying homage to those hidden gems of the Prohibition era is a more modern version – the secret bar. Tricky location aside, what that often means is vintage fixtures and a selection of carefully-crafted cocktails.
Behind an unassuming façade, Miles is a refreshing contrast to its raucous neighbors on nearby Sanlitun Houjie. Proprietor Xiao Ming – the man behind Revolution and Hidden House – has expanded beyond the cozy confines of those two charming spots to a slightly larger space located within walking distance.
The dimly-lit bar is both smart and practical, with comfortable, dark, leather upholstery and bare floors. Music set at a low volume allows for easy conversation, and like that of Hidden House, the atmosphere is intimate, and casual rather than snooty.
Cocktails and whiskies are the order of the bar, and if anything attests to the seriousness of the owner’s endeavors, it’s the chalk-scrawled sign on the wall declaring that “drinking is an attitude.” The cocktail menu slings together the old-school standards with some punchy variations, all reasonably priced at RMB 60-65. The classic Mint Julep is pleasantly satisfying, and the Pisco Punch is a refreshing, fruity variant of the original Pisco Sour, minus egg whites. One of six signature cocktails, the Peking Autumn, a fruit-based osmanthus wine concoction, packs a sweetness just on the right side of intense.
Slip in for a cocktail during happy hour any day from 6-9pm and you’ll get a third off the price. A word of warning, though – this is not the place for rambunctious antics. Ming hopes his customers will keep the noise level down, or, shall we say, “speak easy.”
Also try: Hidden House, Maltail
Miles
Sun-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-3am. 33 Sanlitun Xijie, Chaoyang District (131 6111 8808)
朝阳区三里屯西街33号
Photos: Ken