Anchor Resurfaces From Xingfucun Turmoil
If you had worried that Anchor Bar sunk
for good earlier this year after the bricking up of most of the
street’s businesses, then brace yourself for a welcome bit of good news:
the bar has since relocated to a much bigger, spiffier location around
the corner at Yolee Plaza under the new name Anchor 2.0 (just behind the complex's popular Cafe Groove).
A less than subtle sign leads the way to Anchor's new digs
Known
for having a fun, low-key atmosphere, and for being LGBT-friendly, the
former Anchor had a dedicated clientele that eagerly made their way to
the new location for their reopening party this past Saturday (Jun 24).
Some last-minute renovations and decorating had yet to be completed at
the time, so the staff settled on a construction site theme and dressed
the part for the occasion.
Kai mixes up a mean tea cocktail
Co-owners Sherry Zhao and Albert Tang recruited her friend Kai,
a Taiwanese bartender friend of hers, to take the helm at this new
Yolee location. He has developed a handful of specialty cocktails like
the Anchor 2.0 (made with rum, dita, tea, sprite, and lemon; RMB 55), the Downing Street No. 10 (comprised of vodka, Earl Grey, lemon, and coke; RMB 50), the Luoshenfu (named after a Chinese fairy tale, featuring gin, red wine, reselle syrup, and plum syrup; RMB 50), and the Guanyinyun (also taking its name from a Chinese children’s story, made with gin, oolong, and orange juice; RMB 50).
Our
copper cupful of Guanyinyun packed quite a wallop thanks to a generous
pouring of gin, though remained palatable through the oolong tea
pairing, making for a tart but smooth concoction that went down a little
too easily.
The
venue’s concrete floors, wooden booths, a handful of small outdoor
tables, and a literally flowery decor at the entryway, all make for a
considerable upgrade over their prior, humbler digs. A small selection
of standard coffees are also available for customers that come in during
the day, and who may be looking for an energy boost before beginning
their boozing.
All that and more make Anchor 2.0 a down-to-earth
destination for cheap drinks and good times. Though many of us were
worried about how Beijing’s nightlife would fare after the original
Anchor and many venues like it shut down during the street business
crackdown that swept the city earlier this year, it’s a pleasant
surprise to see Anchor and others pop back up again so quickly and sail
on to hopefully smoother waters.
Anchor 2.0
Mon-Fri 10am-2am, Sat-Sun 10am-4am. 1/F, North Side of Yoolee Plaza, 21 Gongti North Beilu, Chaoyang District (5801 0515)
朝阳区工体北路21号永利国际购物中心北侧一层
Photos: Kyle Mullin, courtesy of Anchor Bar
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