HSK - Retro safari

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CITYLIFE / Bars & Cafes






Retro safari


By Viva Goldner
Updated: 2007-09-07 10:35







Buffalo Club, a new upscale venue channeling the glamor of Shanghai in
the 1930s, certainly made its impending presence known. Few could have
missed the man-sized billboards around town, bearing curious messages
presumably meant to build intrigue ahead of its recent opening on the
lively Lotus Lane strip at Houhai Lake. Instead, the high-exposure
advertising campaign achieved some degree of infamy as a prime example of
Chinglish. Its slogans included such gems as, "Shangri-La is in your
mind, but your buffalo is not", and "Utopia is beyond the world, but your
buffalo is not".

But this lavishly designed three-story bar and restaurant, with stunning
views over the water, has already become a favorite with international
visitors. Buffalo Club's al fresco seating right on the lakefront is a
highlight, and the restaurant was doing a reasonable weekend evening
trade, despite its menu offering mains for 180 yuan. The restaurant is
decorated in lush, tropical style, with slate floors, plenty of greenery
and water features, and soft lighting. Design influences are pan-Asian,
the mood meant to be, "mysterious and romantic".

The nightclub part of the venue has a more intimate, warm atmosphere.
Downstairs is a French-inspired bar with retro flavor, right down to the
old-style large, silver microphone the singer is cradling. Buffalo hosts
live jazz most nights, and on this evening, the solo singer is dressed in
a pretty, silk qipao, doing her best to draw in customers from the
passing crowds outside. But, like many of Beijing's flashier new clubs,
Buffalo suffers from a distinct lack of patrons.

Emphasis is placed on an extensive range of imported wines, with
Californian wine served by the glass. Top-shelf liquor is displayed in
glass cases, and there is a dedicated cigar lounge. The upstairs dcor is
elegant in a gentlemen's private club kind of way, with interesting
artwork on the walls and no intrusive loud music. The staff is
attractively dressed in traditional Chinese style. They are friendly and
attentive.

According to its website www.buffalostone.cn, Buffalo Club is inspired by
the Buffalo Stone - a "legendary supernatural stone" that has been buried
for 71 million years, "absorbing a substantial amount of both the earth's
and the universe's positive creative cosmic energy, which stimulates
creativity, energy, wisdom and love". Definitely creative, if nothing
else.

Buffalo Club
Location: 5 Lotus Lane, Shichahai), Xicheng District.
Tel: 010-6617-1666. 5























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