The cosy Jazz Bar at the Fairmont Peace Hotel has an atmosphere almost akin to a medieval castle, with gothic chandeliers, dark wood beams, stone pillars and heavy red drape curtains.
The main thing here is the jazz that made Victor Sassoon’s hotel so famous back in the day – the highlight is the band that play nightly from 7.30-10pm, a charming group of mostly octogenarians in matching braces and bow ties, who first played at the Peace Hotel in 1980. The place is almost always packed for their slow-paced standards, mostly with Chinese tourists.
The bar is over-lit, and doesn’t have the sensual allure of a genuine jazz den, but there’s something unique, fun and surprisingly friendly about the experience (it’s a good place to bring visitors), and overall it's worth the 200RMB per person minimum spend that the Peace Hotel now imposes upon visitors (two drinks will probably get you there).
Though it feels more like a medieval den, and some notes don’t quite feel right, the old band are brilliant and the atmosphere is unique – you’ll have fun.
