Happy hour

It might be the last place an investment banker should go to escape, relax and unwind, but the W Hotel’s (Starwood Hotels & Resorts; HOT.NYSE) stock market trades with a more playful commodity. Every Friday night the hotel’s bar, the Living Room, hosts “The Exchange,” which features a 13-meter LED stock ticker that displays updated cocktail prices.

 Drink values are determined by market demand: The more chardonnays customers buy, the more expensive each glass gets. Drink prices start at HK$50 (US$6.50), and once a drink hits its maximum price, it will then “crash” and drop. Matching the stock market theme, the Kowloon bar offers special cocktails including the Wall Street Manhattan.
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Shanghai

A piece of Shanghai Bund history is back, thanks to the opening of the Long Bar in the Waldorf Astoria. Once a watering hole for aristocrats, business magnates and elites, the original Long Bar was home to the former Shanghai Club, an exclusive gentlemen’s club. The 34-meter L-shaped bar was the longest in Asia when it first opened in 1910, and soon became a barometer of social stature: Newcomers were relegated to the back end of the bar, while elites sat on the eastern side for a view of the Huangpu River.

A hundred years later, the Long Bar’s reincarnation – a masculine space with rich, dark décor – is open to all. Enjoy a premium Cuban cigar and special cocktails passed down from Waldorf-Astoria New York, or arrange a casual gourmet business lunch. Try the Long Bar’s newly-launched Potocki Wódka vodka martini – which is served alongside caviar, smoked salmon appetizers or fresh oysters.

 
Guangzhou

Perched up on the 33rd floor, the Club Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton (Marriott International; MAR.NYSE) in Guangzhou offers a panoramic view of the Pearl River, as well as landmarks like the Guangdong Museum and Guangzhou TV Tower. Exclusive to Ritz-Carlton Club Level guests, the spacious lounge offers a wide selection of international newspapers and magazines, and has the look and feel of a living room.

The Club Lounge’s five daily food presentations are its main attraction. At any time, guests can enjoy a number of different treats: a hot breakfast buffet; mid-day snacks including small sandwiches and fresh salads; afternoon tea complete with scones and international tea; evening cocktails, and chocolates and cordials before retiring for the evening. The Club Lounge also offers complimentary alcoholic beverages from noon to 10 p.m.

Although it only opened in August, Atmosphere has quickly established itself as a must-visit destination for both first-time visitors and Beijing’s business professionals.
As the highest bar in the city – 330 meters up on the 80th floor of Shangri-La’s (00069.HK) China World Summit Wing Hotel – its floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking 360-degree view, taking in everything from the Forbidden City to the Bird’s Nest. The view indoors isn’t so bad either: elegant and intimate décor featuring jewel-hued furnishings, a ceiling resembling a starlit night, and comfortable lounge seating in amethyst shades. Guests can enjoy an extensive selection of vintage cocktails and top-shelf spirits while swinging to live jazz. Atmosphere’s location in Beijing’s Central Business District also makes it a convenient spot for jet setters and business executives.

 
Tianjin

Guests who stay in Raffles Tianjin’s executive rooms or suites can find a quiet respite inside its business lounge – the Library. True to its name, the venue caters to literary enthusiasts, offering an array of books, magazines, albums and newspapers. Housed in a classic, residential setting, the Library also includes a private area – separated by elegant glass panel doors – allowing for a relaxed chat with friends or a meeting with business partners. In addition, business travelers can take advantage of the lounge’s attentive secretarial services.