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Ralph's Bar

Chengdu

New York style meets Sichuan spice

Sitting above the Ralph Lauren flagship at Chengdu's Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li, Ralph's Bar transplants the spirit of a clubby New York tavern into the heart of Sichuan. The American cuisine takes its cue from Ralph Lauren's own favourites, so expect a room of warm timber, leather and brass where the signature burger, made with premium beef and seared to a thin, charred crust, holds court alongside classic shrimp cocktail and New York cheesecake. The room itself does much of the work, conjuring the easy confidence of a members' club where time moves at its own pace, whether over a long lunch or a nightcap that drifts well past midnight.

The cocktail programme, developed in collaboration with Guangzhou's Hope & Sesame, is organised around the landscapes of the American West, and the drinks carry that romance convincingly. The Canyon layers cardamom-infused Michter's bourbon against tawny port, Campari and Mr Black coffee liqueur for something richly bittersweet, while the Frontier Oak takes the same bourbon base and turns it earthy and warm with sandalwood, bay leaf and black walnut. Whispering Pine makes a strong case for brandy country, blending Torres 10-year with pine, honey, raspberry and cherry bitters, while the Ol' Pal brings together Michter's rye, Suze, Aperol and dry vermouth in a sophisticated bitter-sweet profile brightened with orange and fig. Whisky drinkers are well looked after with a deep selection that rewards slow exploration, and the classics section adds further depth for those who prefer familiar ground. For a city better known for teahouses and hotpot, Ralph's Bar remains a quietly cosmopolitan corner, poured with genuine craft.

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