In a bird-themed cocktail bar, it’s easy to imagine things going disastrously wrong. Say, a cocktail-with-chocolate-bird-nest-and-boiled-quail-eggs wrong.
Perch, thankfully, doesn’t fall for the over-themed trap, and though the menu has pages of bird-named cocktails (‘Waiter! Three bald eagles, please!’), presentation is slick and simple, with drinks arriving in hand-carved crystal sporting minimum garnishing.
In fact, the most extravagant drink decor we see is a burned rosemary sprig laid across the rim of the oriole (RMB88 before tax and service charge). Elderflower syrup, lime juice and muddled rosemary mask beefeater gin while giving the mixture a bitter kick.
The more masculine RMB88 parakeet features onsite barrel-aged rye whisky, vermouth and bitters – basically an old fashioned without the sugar.
We’ve heard praises for Perch’s food selection, though, sadly, we didn’t have a chance to sample it. For what it’s worth, we’d take the complimentary dried, salted sweet potato over salted peanuts any day.
But rather than avian-themed drinks and bar snacks, Perch’s main draw is its location: walking distance from Chegongmiao Metro Station in an affluent area of the city sorely lacking after work spirit stops.
Technically part of the Langham, Shenzhen, it’s accessible from behind Pacific Coffee and up two escalators. With a third-floor view hemmed in by the area’s glass skyscrapers, it makes for an inviting, if premium priced, date night – as long as the weather cooperates.
It seems these days everything has an app, and the playlist is no exception. Something called ‘Discover Music’ allows you to add a song to the queue, though we imagine this feature will either add something unique to the bar or result in loops of ‘Rockin’ Robin.’
Price: RMB88
Good for: Futian after-work cocktails
Who’s going: bankers, cocktail connoisseurs
Nearest metro: Chegongmiao (Exit B), 10 minutes
0 User Comments