Peter The Bar

Happy hour drinks: Spumoni and Tokyo Joe

Bar with a view.

Peter The Bar
The Peninsula Tokyo, 24F
1-8-1 Yurakucho
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo

Notes:
A lovely venue for a quick pre-dinner drink in Ginza, Peninsula Hotel's Peter The Bar features a happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 5pm to 8pm. The happy hour includes a selected list of drinks which are all priced at 700 yen. B went with a classic spumoni while I went with the bar's self-invented signature drink, Tokyo Joe, which turned out to be a lovely mix of gin, umeshu, drambuie, cranberry and lemon juices. The presentation was slightly tacky but fit the Peter Pan theme of the bar quite well. Recommended.

Decanter by Haut-Brisson

A glass of wine in serene surroundings.

Decanter by Haut-Brisson
St. Regis Lhasa Resort
No. 22, Jiangu Road
85000 Lhasa, Xizang (Tibet)

Notes:
After a rough 48 hour train ride on hard sleeper, a few days of ascetic living in Lhasa and another train ride back coming up, B and I were in dire need of an escape. B had just read about the newly opened St. Regis in Lhasa, and we decided that it would be a great place for a drink. The hotel ambience was calm and relaxed and provided an ideal setting for a few hours of relaxation. The Decanter's wine list was quite extensive given the middle-of-nowhere location, and even fairly priced. We had a bottle of wine for less than 300 yuan. Highly recommended.

The Blue Bar

Whisky sour + frozen fig daiquiry

The Blue Bar
Sardar Patel Marg
Diplomatic Enclave
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi

Notes:
I am not afraid to admit that this place is a favorite hangout spot in Delhi for B and I. Not only is the garden of the beautiful Taj Palace hotel like a little oasis in middle of hectic Delhi but on top of that they serve some of the most sophisticated cocktails you will find in the entire city. Add to that a fantastic happy hour - two cocktails (must based on the same spirit) for the price of one everyday from 18-20. That I tell you, dear reader, is a recipe for success. Unlike many other Delhi bars, Blue Bar will provide you with more experimental cocktails. I clearly remember a fig daiquiry (as pictured) and a tobacco-infused Manhattan which were both tasty and interesting encounters. Prices range from 600-800 rupees which is above average, unless you hit the happy hour that is. Tacky cocktail glasses and masala snacks are of course included in the experience - it's India after all. Very, very recommended.