"We're the first Greek-themed bar in Beijing," the amiable owner, Tim, assures me. Grilled chicken wings and cold, Qingdao beer as the shadows lengthen around the Bell Tower are pretty nice, but are a far cry from lamb pita and goblets of retsina on a cliff overlooking the Aegean. He obviously senses my skepticism.

"We want people to come here to relax and enjoy a Mediterranean feeling," Tim concludes. In this they have succeeded. With a menu featuring assorted meats grilled by their resident expert (not Greek, unfortunately) and boasting genuinely unique marinades and spices, the bar will no doubt attract a small following of expats and locals to the chill outdoor patio or the cozy Mediterranean interior.

Hunks of steak, skewers of mushrooms, crispy chicken wings and jumbo shrimp are on offer, all at very reasonable prices (RMB28 for steak), complemented by a full range of cocktails, mixed by Tim himself. Tim's background is in film and his fiancee who helps run the place is from the Central Drama Academy, so they plan to set up a projector and show films or whatever strikes their fancy in the evenings.

Tel: 010-6404-5189
Address:52 Zhonglouwan