In business for over twenty years, Mr Wing restaurant has opened its own little bar, providing the same exceptional Chinese food and service but now with exotic cocktails thrown into the mix.

The Venue
Yes, this is a Chinese joint. No, it is far from dingy. Nestled inside Mr Wing restaurant, Wing Bar is a little cosy room at the back of the ground floor: you will have to pass a few tables and the till to get in.

Whilst the basement restaurant is heavily and splendidly decorated with a fish tank occupying an entire wall and an indoor waterfall, the bar area is no less luxurious, drawing every possible inspiration from the Far East but throwing in the occasional twist. The small seating area has a colonial feel to it: bamboo curtains cover two walls whilst another is panelled with wood, Chinese prints are hung here and there and old wall hangings complete the East-meets-West feeling. In contrast, the furniture is rather modern, with a low couch wrapping around the walls.

The Atmosphere
The upscale restaurant rightfully draws in a crowd from other parts of town (especially from nearby Chelsea) alongside a few wealthy locals in their late twenties. The oriental bar concept, however, isn’t going down too well with most people stuck with the preconception that bars are an entirely western phenomenon.

The customers, despite enjoying their drinks, seem to feel slightly uneasy in the small bar, aware that most pass the door of Mr Wing for a sit down dinner rather than a cocktail paired with a snack. The fact that you are served by the same slightly rigid staff of the restaurant doesn't help, but it's best to toss conventions and preconceived ideas to the wind and give Wing Bar a chance - it deserves it.

The Food
The lounge bites (£5.50-£10) have prawns as the most prominent ingredient: the king prawns with chilli and garlic are particularly mouthwatering, and the steamed pork and coriander dumplings are no less delicious. Due to its main function as a restaurant, the bar food here is not the usual unremarkable sidekick to the much more palatable drinks. The dishes at Wing Bar are exceptionally tasty and fresh, ordering something to go with your wine is definitely more advisable than anywhere else.

The Drink
The list of cocktails (£5-£8.50) is rather short (unfortunately fostering the idea that the bar is, in reality, a serviced waiting room for the restaurant). Oriental inspiration prevails with Singapore Sling, Mai Tai and others. A house favourite is Slowboat: rum, brandy, orange juice, lime juice, sugar.

Wing Bar also offers rice wine (£4-£5) and an impressive selection of reds, whites, rose and sparklers. All a tad overpriced, most bottles are sold whole ranging at £16-£120. Worth a try - at least for the unusual experience - is Noble Dragon (£24), a Chinese wine in red or white produced near Beijing.

The Last Word
You will have to forget about the surrounding restaurant completely and fit in with the luxurious environment of Wing Bar to fully enjoy yourself, which isn’t impossible. Give it a try and you may discover a new regular haunt.

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