Le Refuge is a newly opened Alpine-themed rooftop bar just a flight of stairs away from its parent, Kartel wine bar. A large open-air deck boasts an incredible view of the Jing’an skyline, and the bar itself resembles a wooden alpine chalet with small but cheerful interiors, perfect for grabbing a drink during the cold winter evenings.
Lanterns, frosted windows, and a pile of thick blankets in the corner for guest use imbue the vibe of a quaint ski lodge. We cozied up next to one of the space heaters by the bar and tried a few of their signature cocktails.
Up first, one of Le Refuge’s warm cocktails to fight the chill. The Pomme Captive (RMB70) comes with freshly sliced apple, orange and lemon slices with Grand Marnier, Calvados apple brandy and a hint of caramel, and results in a bracing blend of sweetness and alcohol to warm your stomach. However, if the intense orange flavor of Grand Marnier isn’t up your street, steer clear.
The Spicy Maiden (RMB65) came with a simple question from the bartender that doubled as a warning. “This is really spicy, are you sure you want it?” The answer was a resounding yes, and we found the Calvados, passion fruit, caramel, ginger and red pepper to be the best cocktail we’ve had this year. (All 13 days of it, that is.) But please heed our warning – don’t let this drink touch your lips! One particularly enthusiastic sip burned our upper lip for around 10 minutes, but we kept drinking through the tears because it was so darn good.
The Caesar (RMB65) came with white rum, grapefruit, triple sec, lemon juice and a few slices of sugar-glazed banana. The banana alone was the clincher – we could have eaten a few of those alone. The drink itself was a delightfully sweet and melt-in-the-mouth concoction. Definitely a great drink to satisfy a sweet tooth.
For those who prefer a simpler tipple, Le Refuge also stocks a decent range of hard to find French aperitifs, spirits and a few absinthes. For eats, they have a small but chalet-appropriate menu that includes raclette (RMB70), pumpkin gratin (RMB45) and roasted pork shoulder (RMB95).
So does Le Refuge offer boozy sanctuary from the urban chill? We say yes, but the place is suited for quiet, casual drinks rather as opposed to more raucous après ski action. We also see a lot of potential for its amazing rooftop location when the weather heats up, although the decorative sleds and mini pines might have to be swapped out for an inflatable pool and palm trees.
Price: RMB50-120 per person (Happy Hour from 6-8pm for beer and wine only)
Who's going: expats, Europeans
Good for: casual drinks, dates, rooftop bars, casual French food, mulled wine
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