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In October 1949, the People’s Republic of China was formed. In that same year the Beijing Machinery and Electric Institute opened a factory in the Sanlitun district of the city. It is this factory space, derelict for a number of years which now houses Beijing’s newest and chicest drinking and dining hotspot: 1949 – The Hidden City, a multi-restaurant and bar destination. Nestled amongst city skyscrapers in a 4,000 square meter neo-industrial walled city within the city, 1949 – The Hidden City features a multitude of indoor and outdoor restaurants, bars, a café, and out-door beer garden– in addition to an exclusive private members' club and a contemporary art gallery. A former factory and research facility, 1949 – The Hidden City has kept a part of the original factory building and built around it to now seat over 500 in various dining environments and venues, amid mature trees and landscaped gardens. Starting the day late morning, 1949 – The Hidden City meanders towards lively lunches and a faster-paced evening scene attracting the young and beautiful to dine and play. Developed by one of Asia’s leading hospitality groups, Elite Concepts which is headquartered in Hong Kong, 1949 - The Hidden City is the company’s debut project in Beijing following numerous successful restaurants launches in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Jakarta since 1991. 1949 – The Hidden City has grown from the city’s changing tastes and embraces the evolution of tradition, devoting itself to quality dining, entertainment, and culture. It even houses Beijing’s and indeed China’s first Bollinger Champagne Bar. 1949 – The Hidden City combines cutting edge design and décor with trees, outdoor gardens, terraces, decks and seating areas. With little change made to the original building where 1/5 is located. Many of the newly built buildings has been styled to reflect the original with high ceilings, exposed beams and brick work with wide oak panelled flooring. The entire site consists of ten buildings all interconnected and over half of the 6,000 square meter space is dedicated to natural landscaping with trees, grass and shrubbery. Restaurants each serve a distinct style of cuisine - from 1949’s signature restaurant, Duck De Chine, preparing the best Beijing duck and duck dishes and a Bollinger Champagne bar; international tapas and Mediterranean at 1/5taverna - the city’s laid back dining spot; traditional Beijing in a bowl at the intimate Noodle Bar; and coffee and all things sweet at 1949’s picture perfect café; Sugar Bar. Watering holes include 1/5, a ultra cool split level lounge and bar with regular featured DJs and the Well Bar – an outside shady beer garden serving ice cold beer. The exclusive Club49 private members club is devoted to food, fine wine, art and culture enthusiasts and is the place to see and be seen, with only 100 memberships granted to Beijing’s elite, whilst Gallery49 showcases emerging artists with a confirmed line-up of exhibitions in place for autumn 2008. Already known as the best and most popular bar area in Beijing, Sanlitun has just got even cooler. Outlets at 1949 – The Hidden City: Duck De Chine The Hidden City’s signature restaurant, not least offering some of the best duck dishes in Beijing , but its own - and China’s first - Bollinger Champagne Bar to wash it all down. A predominately duck based menu, Duck De Chine offers a number of innovative and traditional duck dishes, together with several well known French renditions of the noble bird. Built around a central courtyard planted with grass, and firewood duck oven, choose from a fine dining lounge with rich red lanterns and sleek but cozy table settings; or a more casual affair around the fabulous Bollinger Champagne Bar. Noodle Bar Noodle Bar is Beijing's best kept secret for those looking for a traditional, integrity-filled, artisanal, hand-pulled wheat noodle experience. Seating a cosy 12 around a u-shaped bar indoors, and 12 outdoor garden-side seating for those who like it green, watch as cooks kneed and hand-pull wheat noodles to create a variety of delicious dishes and soups. The place for super sleek and tasty slurping. 1/5 taverna Industrial chic with high ceilings, oak wood floors and open kitchen flanking one end of the dining hall, 1/5taverna is 1949 – The Hidden City’s casual dinning and drinking spot. Catering for easy light bites, as well as hearty meals, the ‘designed to share’ menu offers a selection of olive oil-drizzled Contemporary Western dishes and an extensive wine and drink list. Offerings include meze, pizza, pasta, fresh fish, prime cuts of meat and a selection of tempting deserts. With regular live music performances from Tequila Sunset, a band of 4 players from Xinjiang and Beijing playing blues numbers, it is a great place to let your hair down, relax and enjoy quality food in a casual hip space. A cosy private room is also available upon request with access to a balcony where smoking is permitted. Several 1/5 taverna dishes include homegrown herbs sourced fresh daily from a glass house outside 1/5 taverna that basks in natural sunlight. Sugar Bar A refined glass house café and place to watch the world go-by, Sugar Bar is the café of choice for all in the area who love good coffee, light bites and a selection of all things sweet. (Wi-fi enabled.) 1/5 1949 - The Hidden City’s ultra cool split level lounge bar and loft with regular featured DJs, pole dancing and bartenders mixing hip cocktail concoctions. With a glass floor separating part of the upper and lower levels, together with a colorful mosaic island bar 1/5 attracts the young and stylish to drink and play. Well Bar 1949 - The Hidden City’s outdoor watering hole, styled with LED lights and where guests can enjoy dancing under the clear skylight around or even on top of the bar. Originally an old firefighting water well, now turned beer garden with shady trees, Well Bar serves ice-cold beer - perfect for daytime leisure or late-night stargazing. Gallery 49 Gallery 49, Beijing’s first choice for the viewing and buying of local and international art. Join an open forum of discussion with artists who are currently under the spotlight in the contemporary Chinese art milieu and decipher your Da Vinci from Donatello. Club49 The only members club in Beijing devoted to cuisine, fine wine and art culture enthusiasts, Club49 is a hidden gem in the heart of Sanlitun. Surrender to your senses without retreating from the prime point of the city center; Club49 stands alone as Beijing's only club that harmonizes good taste, good fortune, and the good life. Private rooms available. About Elite Concepts Elite Concepts is one of the Asia’s leading hospitality groups. Founded in Hong Kong in 1991 by Paul Hsu, Executive Director, Elite Concepts manages a diverse portfolio of restaurants & bars in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Jakarta. Outlets in Hong Kong include yè shanghai in Pacific Place; cinecittà and 1/5 nuevo on Starstreet; Dirty Duck Diner at The Broadway, Wanchai and yè shanghai Kowloon at the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel. Outlets in Shanghai include yè shanghai in Xintiandi and yè shanghai in Pudong. (information provided by the pr company)
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