Nali Patio's Latest Cocktail Bar The Black Moth Spreads its Wings With Grand Opening Party Sep 23

From its perch on the fourth floor of Nali Patio, brand new The Black Moth cocktail bar is hoping to lure Beijingers like winged creatures to a flame with their grand opening today, September 23.

Founding partner and managing director Leon Cai says the new venue's bartenders will swoop in to Beijing's F&B with some fresh ideas, explaining: "Our key bartenders are all handpicked from Hong Kong, so that we can bring new inspirations," adding that he wants to keep the drink menu even fresher, saying it will take "a seasonal approach, so it changes every three to four months. We will also be launching our fixed-price menu later in October and many more cool stuff to come."

Aside from invigorating patrons' palates with cumin, tom yum and black truffle infused cocktails, Cai says the new bar will also dazzle those visitors others senses. "We call ourselves a museum of liquid art, so apart from the taste of our drinks, everything that our guests see, hear and experience should be as stimulating as well."

To help in that regard, Cai enlisted none other than Dominic Johnson-Hill of Plastered 8 to adorn one of the venue's walls with his trademark manic designs. Johnson-Hill says he was compelled to help with the bar's aesthetic after chatting with Cai about his inspiration for The Black Moth's moniker: an old story of the same name about a moth that, unlike its fellow winged critters, decided not to fly into flames and die but rather strive to reach the big bright full moon.

"It was a nice dreamy story, and I love cocktails, so I conceptualized a comic strip," he says of his narrative design that is now painted on the bar's seven-meter-long wall. However, Johnson-Hill says his take on the story was different, explaining: "I came up with the idea of an epic battle between man and moth – a man trying to beckon a moth to candle to kill it, it goes out a window, and he chases it with a fly swatter and destroys buildings in its wake. But he ends up just dying himself, and the moth makes it to the moon."

From the backstory to the spirits and cocktails, is poised to be a Beijing nightlife standout. For more information about The Black Moth, check out a press release here. The Beijinger will have a more detailed review of its drinks, atmosphere, and service in a follow-up article soon.

The Black Moth
Daily 7pm-late. 4/F Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beijie, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District
北京市朝阳区三里屯北街81号那里花园四层

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
WeChat: 13263495040

Photos courtesy of The Black Moth, Dominic Johnson-Hill