Located on the 38th floor of the Far Eastern Plaza hotel, this sky
lounge guarantees a panoramic view of Taipei to enjoy while sipping
luxurious champagne and taking in the smell of Cuban cigars to the sound
of mellow jazz.
Entering the arc-shaped lounge, one first notices the two-story
ceilings, the bay windows and the long, hanging beige curtains. The
setting simply begs one to settle into the low, comfy chairs and stare
out the windows. On clear days, one can see as far as the Grand Hotel to
the north and even the red Kuantu Bridge crossing the Tamsui River.
The view is not the only attraction of this five-star hotel bar. The
decor is in the European royal chamber style, as is the food and
beverage service. Bartender Salim Khory, from the classy Savoy Hotel in
London, has designed a special drink menu for the lounge, which makes
the Far Eastern Plaza the only place in Taiwan to have Savoy-class
drinks.
According to service manager Alan Yau (邱傳濤), the dry Martini remains
the house favorite. Other popular drinks also include the Tender Love, a
Malibu- and pineapple-flavored cocktail, the Blushing Monarch, a fruity
drink originally designed for Princess Diana, and the Savoy.com. Among
the champagne cocktails, the Peach Royal has a nice balance of sweet and
sour flavors, with champagne, peach juice and liqueur.
The bar is open from 11am until 1am and serves lunch, English afternoon
tea and dinner. The busiest time at the bar is after 8pm. There is a
minimum charge of NT$580. The chocolate buffet (NT$450) is this month's
special promotion, featuring dozens of original chocolate desserts. The
special for next month will be an oyster and caviar buffet.
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