Following in the footsteps of Bed, Luna Lounge is the latest Jiu Gulou Dajie offering to capitalize on its unique hutong location, providing another reason for Beijing's upwardly mobile to head for Houhai.

Though drinks are prepared and served from the bar of adjoining restaurant Luce, Luna will soon be endowed with a drinks menu of its own, which will feature an extended wine and cocktail selection. Owner Zhang Dali, who also designed the minimalist lounge, is refreshingly frank when outlining his ambitions for Luna. Rather than spread itself thin over a broad range of everyman cocktails, the bar seeks to forge its reputation with a few select drinks. "At the moment we're still searching for some good barstaff, who are hard to find in Beijing." Quite. While Luna fine-tunes its service to cater to the city's classier clientele, its laidback atmosphere still warrants a visit.

Luna Lounge
Daily 12pm-late. 138 Jiu Gulou Dajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 010-8402 4417