The Snapshot

Full House (满堂) by Bar Choice is an homage to the serene beauty of Hangzhou’s West Lake in design aesthetic, menu concept, and calming atmosphere. Opened on July 1, the 22-seater invites visitors into its garden oasis, seemingly a world away from the bustling Bund Financial Center in which it resides. 

Here, the disparate worlds of tea culture and mixology collide, with a menu orbiting Hangzhou’s pride and joy: aromatic roasted Longjing tea. In collaboration with the 12th generation inheritor of West Lake Longjing Tea Co., Mr. Qi Yingjie, Full House (满堂) by Bar Choice uses the family’s 300-year-old flagship brand, Gong Pai, grown on UNESCO protected Intangible Cultural Heritage land, for their crafted libations.

At the helm of this innovative venture is Ring Zhao, a visionary mixologist who scored the title of Bacardi China Legacy Champion in 2020. She went on to open Bar Choice first in Shenzhen, then a second location last year on Huashan Lu, right here in Shanghai, with a focus on oolong tea from Chaozhou.  Ring works alongside Mango Yang, a talented sommelier, and Chef Chad Zhu, a French-trained culinary innovator whose pedigree includes Michelin experience in France and Ambra in Shanghai. 

Together, they have created a menu that celebrates the essence of Longjing tea, with 60% of the drinks incorporating this revered ingredient, a nod to the legacy they safeguard. More than just a drinking establishment, Full House (满堂) by Bar Choice is an experience steeped in culture and craftsmanship.

The Drinks & Food

The drink menu, designed by Head Bartender Wilson Chen – who cut his teeth at Vender (No. 20 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025), is categorized into four themes: Fresh, Umami, Light Pairing, and Lingering Notes, spanning easy drinking, unconventional tastes, cocktails made for pairing with food, and booze-forward sippers, respectively.

Ease into the menu with the Plum and Longjing (RMB108), a refreshing concoction that juxtaposes the bitterness of Longjing tea with the sweet tartness of green plum-infused rum. Grassy green tea-laced coconut oil is painted over the cubed ice, lending additional floral aromas that melt into the drink, altering its flavor and allowing it to evolve as the sun drops.

The umami-driven Dashi Tomato (RMB108) is a bold blend of mezcal and homemade dashi consommé, integrating the depth of Anhui tai ping hou kui (太平猴魁) green tea with a kick of Tabasco chili for a delectable dram.

Lychee & Longjing (RMB108) – Longjing tea, chardonnay, goat cheese, lychee, white cacao, basil, milk-washed

With an ingredient lineup that reads more like a winter soup recipe, the Yunnan Forest Root Elixir (RMB108) presents a roster of root vegetables in slurpable form. Mixed mushrooms are first sautéed in brown butter that then fat-washes tea leaf-infused bourbon. Carrot in two forms – fresh and sous vide into vermouth – finds its way into the glass, alongside homemade rhubarb liqueur and a dusting of dried mushroom powder.

Pro tip: The dense Blue Cheese Basque Cheesecake (RMB58) makes for an expert pairing, the pungent umami richness of the cheese amplifying the mushroom’s musk for the ultimate mouth-watering marriage.

Longjing Tea-infused Prawns (RMB88)

Japanese-style Cured Scallops (RMB78) 

The same tea-focused ethos carries over to the food side of the menu, featuring creative bar bites, like Longjing Tea-infused Prawns (RMB88) fried to succulent perfection with Longjing tea leaves before being stir-fried with tea oil; and Japanese-style Cured Scallops (RMB78) dressed in a zippy yuzu and soy sauce.

The wine program spans 30 rotating SKUs that lean predominantly Old World, all offered by the bottle, mostly in the RMB500-600 range.

The Atmosphere

From the moments guests approach the entrance, they are greeted by a striking Longjing tea tree and historic Hangzhou statues. The decor resonates with the lush greens and yellows that evoke the freshness of tea leaves, enhanced by the curated seasonal plants and bamboo detailing that surround the sign. This natural aesthetic extends to the terrace seating, accommodating 10-15 guests in a tranquil leaf-filled outdoor setting, perfect for sipping cocktails and soaking in the ambiance.

Inside, the bar is divided into two distinct sections: one dedicated to cocktails and the other to a bespoke tea experience. The dark slate bar counter sees a warm wooden table offshoot with extended bar seating for even more onlookers of the steeping and shaking processes. Hanging hand-drawn paintings of Hangzhou’s 梅花 (plum blossoms), symbolizing resilience and beauty, adorn the walls, while a 3D-printed dragon's head, mimicking the same sculpture in West Lake’s Longjing Museum, serves as a whimsical tap for all manner of libations. Even the earth-toned walls are flecked with actual Longjing tea leaves for added texture, further adding to the tea motif.

The commitment to preserving tea culture while pushing the boundaries of modern mixology is evident in every detail. As you sip your tipple, you’re not just tasting the drink; you’re partaking in a narrative that bridges centuries of tradition with contemporary cocktail culture.

Full House (满堂) by Bar Choice, 106A, N1 Building, BFC, 73 Renmin Lu, by Dongmen Lu