Shenzhen Software base has become the city’s hottest spot for bar hopping. This month, we took a look at Ciao, which is notably always full – even during weekdays. We made an appointment for 7.30pm on a Tuesday, but when we arrived, three tables were already crammed with customers sipping the mixologist’s evening creations.
Jiajun Xu, the bartender of Ciao, came to southern China from Shanghai, where he had worked for six years. His experience has rubbed off on the bar, setting its atmosphere apart from other late-night hangouts at the base.
Cocktails here are works of edible art, each adorned with sprigs of pine or chunks of fruit and whole spices.
We start with a light and sweet drink to ease into the night. The Lilium Fizz (RMB118) comes with baked egg white on top and a base of old Tom, a kind of sweet gin. When we bring the glass to our lips, the frothy egg white is trailed by fruity apple and fresh lemon juice, creating a creamy yet thirst-quenching first sip.
Another remarkable yet uncreatively named drink is Ciao’s lady (RMB98). Combined with yogurt and osmanthus liqueur，the cocktail delights with its smoothie-esque taste.
“Balance is the key element of a great cocktail,” Xu says, now preparing a smoky coffee flavored drink called the Pop Negeroni (RMB128). He lights up a cigar and collects the smoke before setting it into the cocktail, giving it a delicious aroma of burned wood.
Besides the drinks, Ciao offers main dishes and snacks such as pork knuckle pate (RMB68), served with pickled peppers. There’s also the odd best seller: smoked beef tongue skew (RMB118). Don’t judge it before you try it – the succulent meat is as tender as rib-eye steak but not greasy.
On the music side, a DJ from Shanghai’s famous bar Mint has created a series of original jazz songs for Ciao, saving us from another night of tired top 40 hits.
For young ladies, Ciao has one more point worth mentioning: complimentary designer perfumes in the washroom. You can choose between three selections from Dior and Marc Jacobs to freshen up, whether you plan on saying “hello” or “goodbye” to your date at Ciao.
Price: RMB100
Who’s going: demanding customers, tuhao
Good for: free perfume, making a proposal, sweet cocktails
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