Ramo’s dynamic duo, owner Paca Lee and manager Michael D have got all bases covered at their new bar and party space behind Ramo on Fangjia Hutong. To be known as Mimi e Coco, the new venue is set to open this coming Wednesday.
Cold winters and angry neighbors have long been a challenge faced by many hutong bar owners, with the former reducing patronage for months on end and the latter placing restrictions on opening times and outdoor functionality. We won’t bore you with the details of the venue’s acoustic panels and double-glazed atrium, but on our visit the alley outside was as quiet as a church while vinyl span at high volume inside. Happy neighbors and later nights aside, we’re also looking forward to getting some quality vitamin D under said atrium this coming December, with constant temperatures in the mid-twenties courtesy of Mimi e Coco’s heated floor.
Mimi e Coco’s concept is simple. Bottled cocktails (RMB 40-65) and coolers (RMB 35-45) mixed daily from homemade ingredients, chilled out weekday evenings, and some of the city’s best DJs on weekend nights. The impressive lineup already scheduled includes DJs Cad 73, Bowflex, and Nassdak.
Barring spirits, Michael plans to produce one hundred percent of his mixed drink ingredients on site, and has already concocted an entire alchemy lab’s worth of cordials, syrups, shrubs, and bitters. Of particular note is the homemade suanmeitang (酸梅汤), paired with a healthy pour of Plantation Original Dark rum. Also fantastic is the Devil’s Ruby, an aromatic blend of Cocchi Americano, Cabernet Sauvignon, strawberry, blueberry, cranberry shrub, and pink and black peppercorn syrup. We also very much enjoyed a mixture of rum, yangmei (杨梅) syrup and lavender syrup that has yet to be named.
In addition to coolers and cocktails, Mimi e Coco will also offer a decent selection of 10 (mostly craft) beers, wine by the glass, fresh juices, and light bar snacks including pocket sandwiches, charcuterie, and dips.
Stay tuned for the complete lowdown on Mimi e Coco's upcoming events, but the venue has already established a partnership with the Beijing LGBT Center that will see regular LGBT events, as well as giving the Center its own cocktail, to be known as The Stranger. Five percent of the profits from the boozy, Jaeger-based drink, described by Michael as “just a solid cocktail” will go directly to supporting the Center’s projects in Beijing.
Mimi e Coco strikes a one-two punch for Fangjia Hutong, bringing the up-and-coming alleyway a second cocktail bar (following Fang) and a second live music venue (after Hot Cat Club). “We’re really confident in this space,” Michael told us. “People are going to see the work we’ve put into it and I think they’re going to really appreciate it.”
Mimi e Coco
Sun-Thu 7pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 7pm-late (soft opening hours). Behind Ramo, 64 Fangjia Hutong Dongcheng District (8403 5004)
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Photos: Garth Wilson