The Peninsula Hotel has long been known for its Pen-Top bar, but last week the hotel unveiled a new and improved alfresco cocktail option—the Salon de Ning. Inspired by the tale of Madame Ning, a celebrated 1930s Shanghai socialite, the rooftop features an intimate interior bar and two outdoor terraces, designed by Hong Kong-based designer Henry Leung, sporting the exquisite details of a Merchant-Ivory film set, such as Chinese lattice screens, daybeds, and candlelit Moroccan lanterns.A menu of elegant small plates by executive chef Thomas Piede includes Lapsang Souchong-dusted shrimp with tamarind dipping sauce, and crab and avocado maki roll with smoked pepper aioli, which pair nicely with couture cocktails like the Ning Sling—Absolut Mandarin, Soho French Lychee, and fresh mint leaves shaken with lychee and passion fruit juice. The bar also features Baojing Vodka, a Chinese vodka that’s handcrafted and distilled through 168 carats of diamonds. (The number 168 symbolically represents “being on the road to infinite prosperity” in Chinese custom.)
Salon de Ning is on the 23rd floor of the Peninsula Hotel at Fifth Avenue and 55th Street. The 1,600-square-foot Westside Terrace is available for private events and holds 125 for cocktail-style receptions, while the entire rooftop (about 3,600 square feet) can now be bought out for a group of 250.
Salon de Ning is on the 23rd floor of the Peninsula Hotel at Fifth Avenue and 55th Street. The 1,600-square-foot Westside Terrace is available for private events and holds 125 for cocktail-style receptions, while the entire rooftop (about 3,600 square feet) can now be bought out for a group of 250.
Photo: Courtesy of the Peninsula Hotel Group