In the historic northeast corner of Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, a two-floor retreat named TIAO has, in two years, established itself on the global cocktail stage. The bar now holds a position on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2026 list, an achievement announced at a ceremony in Macau on July 28.
TIAO is situated within the city’s historic Caochang hutongs, and its philosophy is anchored in the traditional residential life of these neighbourhood lanes. The bar’s approach blends this deep sense of place with modern artisanship, aiming to capture the communal warmth of its surroundings.
Local Authenticity
The team, led by Bar and Beverage Manager Miranda Xu and Head Bartender Matt Guo, focuses on local authenticity. Their method involves coaxing subtle cultural flavours into refined cocktails. One of the bar's signatures is the use of delicate tea-infused spirits, served alongside luxurious Beijing-inspired bar food. The cocktail list, including the signature Quicksilver, invites guests to explore the city’s past and present.
Richard Langonné, Area General Manager for the hotel and Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, views the recognition as a shared success. “It is a privilege to share the soul of Beijing's luxury hospitality with the wider world,” he says. “This recognition belongs entirely to our dedicated bar team, whose craft and passion breathe life into TIAO every evening, and to our local community and loyal guests who have shared this journey with us.”