SALON DE NING

Salon de Ning is a bar inspired by Madame Ning- Shanghai socialite, world traveler and fabulous hostess. As you approach the sexy venue, which is in the basement of the Peninsula hotel, you feel like you’re entering another time and place. The place has the spirit of an old-fashioned speakeasy. You ring a doorbell at the entrance. An LCD display on the door with fake eyes peering out through a peephole appears. You get buzzed in and when you enter, you’ll find a sumptuous world full of modern art and an eclectic East meets West atmosphere.

There’s a bar immediately as you enter with leather stools. Just beside it, is a decent sized dance floor facing a stage. The ceiling has lovely stain glass artworks with light shining through. Small tables for two with interesting flower arrangements and candles flank the dance floor. The colorful chairs are leather or velvet and have pillowcases in zebra, sequins or textured fabric. There’s a resident band which plays 60’s and 70’s classics but sometimes they will bring in live jazz and sultry torch singers.

There are 4 themed rooms behind the dance floor for bigger parties. Our favorite room is Africa inspired. At the entrance of this room is a big Lion’s head. There’s a Moroccan corner with carved wooden screens and a U-shaped banquette with throw pillows and luscious fabric hanging from the ceiling. On the other end is a large wooden ostrich statue with a painting of a sheik in a desert. The surroundings make you feel like you're on a safari! There’s another room which feels like a ski lodge and yet another that looks like a study with paintings which are hung upside-down. There’s also Madame Ning’s dressing room that has hats hung on the ceiling.

The rooms are supposedly for bigger groups and should be reserved in advance. However when it’s not that busy, they will let couples sit there for added privacy. You will often see lovers hiding out in the rooms- lips, hands and arms locked in passionate embrace. If you’ve been trying to seduce a date all night, this place may well be your deal closer.

The cocktails are beautiful and are served in carved tumblers- the kind of glasses you would have found in the colonies in the 1930’s. Our favorite drink by far was the ‘Caliente’ a spicy concoction of Grey Goose, Lychee Liqueur, Fresh Lime Juice, Cranberry and Tabasco. It also has chilies floating on top for an added punch. There are also other signature cocktails like the ‘Ning Sling’- a seductive combo of Absolut Mandarin, lychee liqueur and passion fruit purée garnished with mint and lychee. We also liked the Bombay Agatini – a blend of Bombay Sapphire, Midori and Cranberry.