Being Sophisticated Won't Break the Bank at Ponte's Secret Bar

原创 Robynne T. theBeijinger

Can we let you in on a secret? The new hidden speakeasy at Ponte, the upscale Italian restaurant from local restaurant group Annie's, might be one of Beijing's least pretentious, best value places to drink whiskey. Beyond providing a wide variety of well-priced whiskeys, the bar also perfectly rounds out Ponte's already strong food and drink offering and brings a welcome late-night option to this part of the city.

Inspired by the "venue within a venue" trend popular in New York and other major cities, Ponte Secret Bar is a new departure for the Annie's family, their first venue in their 20-year history to focus on drinks rather than food. Ponte was created to satisfy the demands of Lido residents for a casual, community-focused venue that also offers a high-quality product and the Ponte team see the bar as an extension of that.

The bar has space for just over 30 people that, together with a wood and leather-led decor scheme, gives it a sort of high-end hunting lodge feel, matching well with the focus on whiskey. We almost feel bad spoiling the fun of finding the entrance so suffice it to say: "look out for the white brick wall."

Once you've managed to find your way inside, the bar offers a list of more than 20 different types of whiskey by the glass, primarily featuring drams from Scotland and Japan. Most will set you back around RMB 60-90 a glass, with the most expensive being the elegant, well-balanced The Dalmore 15-year-old at RMB 128. Prices are competitive and even more so when you consider that they serve larger-than-average 40ml pours. If you're more of a by-the-bottle person than a by-the-glass person, Ponte Secret Bar will oblige you too, with a longer list of bottles that they will store behind the bar for you once opened.

It's not just about whiskey, however. The bar stocks a full range of premium spirits that you can enjoy alone or in a cocktail (classic cocktails RMB 58-68). They have also created a batch of oak barrel-aged negronis, a good complement to the Italian dishes served in the restaurant outside. The barrel aging makes the negroni smoother and less bitter, which may appeal to people who usually find them a bit too pungent.

Bartender Kevin, who has been working at different bars around Beijing for several years, will even whip you up a tailor-made cocktail based on your flavor and spirit preferences (RMB 88). This kind of personalized service, together with the bar's small size, really make it feel like a community venue.

With the addition of the secret bar, Ponte has truly become a dawn-to-well-past-dusk venue, a bridge between dinner and a great night out. Call in for morning coffee alongside other local residents, pick up some bread and Italian cold cuts for lunch, grab an early evening aperitivo before dinner (the Saturday night aperitivo deal, which runs from 6.30-9pm and includes free-flow wine and antipasti, is a steal at RMB 120 and regularly attracts crowds of 60-80 people), and then while away the rest of the night sipping your favorite whiskey.

This year marks Annie's 20th anniversary (23rd if you count owner Annie Lee's original café) and to celebrate they are pricing a number of their most iconic, classic dishes at just RMB 20, changing every week until the end of the year. The deal is also available at Ponte, which will be offering dishes such as truffle pumpkin soup, minestrone soup, salmon rolls with arugula, and prosciutto di San Daniele with melon (the latter being a real steal at RMB 20). Speak to staff in-store for more details.