Are you growing increasingly depressed and irritated with news headlines? Terrifying attacks in Kunming, a mysterious missing flight from Malaysia, a brutal knife-wielding assault in Hunan… The list goes on.
If only there was a place to escape the world’s gloom and doom, if only for a little while. Enter Nine Lair Bar.
Concealed in the innermost part of Starlight Walk in the less-visited Haizhu District, Nine Lair Bar is a two-story cafe, watering hole and barbecue restaurant with an impressive glass facade. Its English name is translated from its Chinese name, 9窝, which in sounds like 狗窝 (a dog’s kennel). As cozy as a dog’s kennel – that’s what the owner wants to convey through the name. But clearly the bar is too large to be a kennel. So instead we have a 'lair.' Ah, language, what confusion it creates.
The minute we walk in, we find ourselves standing in a vintage British-style house. Leather sofas, big cushions and bookshelves are placed in a casual manner along brick walls. Crystal-clear glass separates us from the humidity outside. It’s homey and warm.
Listening to bossa nova, we order our drinks. According to the friendly waitress, bubble water and fruit tea are two hot sells here. Fruity Bubble Tea (RMB38) is served in a big square glass cup and made of mashed cherry tomatoes, salted plums and Nine Lair’s signature homemade carbonated water. Disappointingly, it is not as fruit filled as its name suggests, but the sweet-salty combo is still worth a try. First Love Symbol (RMB38) is a glass of peach juice with blocks of fresh apple, pineapple and longan; a drink as sweet as reminiscences of childhood sweet- hearts.
Besides these special offerings, coffee, tea, beer and cocktails are also on the menu, alongside desserts like waffles (RMB36) and puddings (RMB36).
Another appeal of Nine Lair is its seafood charcoal grills, served after 5pm. Every day, Nine Lair sends out its kitchen team to see what fresh produce is available from Huangsha Seafood Market: oysters (RMB5/piece), prawns (RMB38/ piece), scallops (RMB12/piece) and many more oceanic delights frequently appear.
For a lazy afternoon with refreshing drinks, diverting books and numerous sefie opportunities, Nine Lair Bar is a hidden gem.
// 10am-3pm. Starlight Walk, 352 Xingang Zhong Lu, Haizhu District 海珠区新港中路352号珠影星光城 (8963 7681)
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