Soju Sip Spot

Bamboo

Specialising in soju (Korea’s answer to vodka), Bamboo is the chic new bar from the husband-and-wife owners of the adjacent, beloved Korean diner, Saveurs de Corée. Filling an small and intimate space with whitewashed walls, pale wood fittings and grey slate floor tiles, Bamboo is but a hop along from popular after-dark hutong Nanluoguxiang, making it the ideal place for an after-work refresher or pre-dinner aperitif.

Distilled from rice, and with a distinct, slightly sweet taste, soju can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, with a soda mixer or better still, in a cocktail like Bamboo’s Pear Garden with pomegranate vinegar, chilli, and fresh pear, or the creamy milk and banana-topped concoction, Yellow Fever. Alternatively, opt for the Hot Cinnamon, a warming mix of house-made cinnamon tea infused with soju, perfect for a winter’s evening. Aside from the Korean classic, they serve a small number of local liquors as well as South Korean beers Cass and Hite. And being located next to a popular diner is not without its advantages, as peckish patrons can order delicious bites from Saveurs de Corée’s (mainly organic) menu, where grilled seafood is the specialty. Hwanho!