Capital Bites: Luga Says The Wurst Is Yet To Come

Perhaps he was never away, but I've seen so little of Luga in the past year that I had wondered what he was up to. There was talk he was getting out of Beijing, had moved to America, or was planning to open a caviar lounge on the rooftop of the Workers' Stadium. And then the doors of a bar swung open and in he swaggered, Luga, legend of Sanlitun, with a massive grin on his face.

The Napoleonic nightlife icon was on top form when I ran into him last night, raving about business this winter being much better than last winter, and enthusing about his next project. Another project? You better believe it.

Business is good at Luga's Villa, he tells us. Luga's Little Italy is doing well where previous Thai and Vietnamese concepts floundered. They're doing a half-price pizza promotion on Monday nights (they sold 100 last Monday, Luga says).

He's recently renovated the original Luga's and Pho Pho - the pair look much better than they used to. "We changed everything - ten days! Only ten days! Hahahaha!!" Luga cackles. I'm not sure why this is so funny, but it does suggest that turning around a complete renovation in ten days is an impressive achievement in Beijing.

The first floor of Luga's Villa is the one that has had Luga scratching his head. But now he has the answer, and the answer is German. Luga tells us he'll be turning the space into a German-themed spot called "Taps," featuring German food - "simple!" - German beer, and taps at tables for people to pour their own beers. "Taps - on the table - hahahahaha!" Luga erupts. And then he was gone, cackling away into the night and looking like the happiest bar man in Beijing.

Luga says "Taps" will be open on April 1. This time, he'll allow one month for the construction job to be completed. Ha ha. Ha ha. Ha ha.