The Place
Although the Michelin Guide hasn’t yet landed in Shenzhen, you can now experience that level of fine dining at Alcove, a new bar spanning two levels on the top floor of the Futian Shangri-La. Alcove is attached to its sister restaurant Ensue, a farm-to-table concept headed by Christopher Kostow, the executive chef of a three-Michelin star restaurant in California’s Napa Valley.
Image courtesy of Alcove
If you’re wondering how this West Coast chef happened to venture over to South China, the project came to fruition after a cool USD7-million injection from 26-year-old Ricky Li, whose family owns a Chinese investment firm. With that knowledge in mind, it comes as no surprise that Alcove spares no expenses when it comes to delivering a first-class experience.
The Drinks
All cocktails on the menu were designed by the same award-winning team at Kostow’s three-starred Meadowood. Alcove’s cocktails are all priced at RMB118, so we asked the head bartender, Adrian, to recommend his top three.
Hole in the Sky. Image courtesy of Alcove
The first drink he served was the ‘Hole in the Sky,’ which is sure to win over any cocktail connoisseur. Sweet and sour, with subtle hints of cinnamon, this gin-based cocktail was easy to sip on (and had a delectable layer of froth on top).
Next up was the ‘Sea of Stars,’ a Tiki-themed drink that’ll give you a bang for your buck. This tropical passion fruit, pineapple and Jamaican rum concoction contains not one, but two rum types – one of which sits at 69% ABV. It also came with a reusable metal straw (bonus points for sustainability!).
Moonlit Lake. Image courtesy of Alcove
For those whose drink preference leans towards something stiffer, like an old fashioned, try the ‘Moonlit Lake.’ This rye and apple brandy-based drink is topped off with a piece of handcrafted candy cap (type of mushroom) chocolate. Adrian suggested we alternate between sipping the cocktail and nibbling the chocolate, and his suggestion did not fall on deaf ears – much to the delight of our palates.
The Vibe
As we arrived at around 7pm, we caught the tail end of a beautiful orange sunset streaming through Alcove’s windows. True to its name, the space evokes a cozy, yet ethereal charm. It’s an inviting place to take a date you’re looking to impress, schmooze afterwork or a catch up with old friends. We’ll also let you in on a little secret: Up the stairs and hidden behind a bookcase is a secret room, which is where (if you’re lucky) you’ll find the VVIPs hanging out.
Image courtesy of Alcove
Price: RMB118
Who’s going: glamorous globetrotters, cocktail lovers
Good for: sophisticated cocktails, amazing views, penthouse vibes
Nearest metro: Futian Station (Exit 4A), 9 minutes’ walk
Wed-Sun, 5.30-11pm. See listing for Alcove.
[Cover image courtesy of Alcove]
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