By Matt P. Jager (thatsbj.com)
Updated: 2008-03-17 11:20

Tucked in an alley behind a xiaomaibu and a funeral home, Lugar aims to provide a haven of Western amenities to a mature area clientele. There are plans to eventually sell organic food and deli fare; for now, Lugar focuses on wine and whiskey. Even though this is no place for a raucous beer-swilling crowd, the fridge holds a full stock of retro cans of Taiwan Beer (RMB 20). An eccentric selection of spirits includes a Japanese shelf with Suntory whiskeys aged between ten and 17 years (RMB 40-60), and a Caribbean shelf which stocks hard-to-find rums like Royal Oak Trinidad and Antigua Cavalier (RMB 60). Bar food includes full curries, as well as cocktail munchies such as sweet potato wedges. Because the house chef is Vietnamese, the manager has been experimenting with lemongrass-infused rum and vodka. The rum, at least, is smooth and flavorful, with aged three-year Havana Club at RMB 40 a shot, and the vodka and standard rum priced at RMB 35.

Lugar features some of the best toilets in the Nanluogu Xiang area. The owners are particularly proud of this. To reach the washroom, you pass a lounge-cafe area with custom-made swivel-chairs and sofa-booths. For now, Lugar is only open nights, but they are available any time for private bookings, and in April plan to open for lunch. A ceiling-sized skylight, which makes up the floor of the roof-top terrace, promises that daytime in Lugar will be as pleasant as night.

Lugar
Daily 6pm-late.
82 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
6709 1383