The Sky Pavilion

Despite an abundance of elegant courtyard restaurants, Beijing has surprisingly few bars and clubs that draw inspiration from the capital’s traditional architectural legacy. XIU, the Park Hyatt’s upscale rooftop bar and lounge, is the jaw-dropping exception. Half palatial indoor lounge and half sprawling rooftop wonderland, XIU seamlessly fuses the traditional and the contemporary. Outside, water flows around the terrace’s sharp edges, while the recessed foundations of the buildings give revelers the impression of a colossal Chinese pavilion suspended in mid-air. Bartenders expertly mix divine cocktails while chefs barbecue meat and vegetables outside. The Grand Marnier cosmo (¥65) is sublime. Entertainment on weekends ranges from live jazz to peppy cover bands that drive the dance floor with updates on pop classics. The real star of the show, however, is the view looking over Jianwai Soho and into south Beijing. It’s the perfect spot to pop the cork on a bottle of Moët (¥880), light up a Cohiba Robusto (¥340) and celebrate how far Beijing has come.

By Blake Stone-Banks