Hangzhou is decidedly short of a cocktail. There are supposed to be nearly 2 million people living within the main city area, which means there is one decent cocktail bar per million people. Can you imagine only 6 places in London to get a cocktail?? Or 15 in New York? They’d be busy. And when I say ‘cocktail bar’ I mean the sort of place that doesn’t give you a pint of vermouth when you ask for a Dry Martini.

JZ Bar is busy. And Bellevue isnt, really, which is a great pity. It sometimes gets a good buzz on, but on the whole it is the sort of place to kick back in huge leather sofas and drink your 3oz Martini with a large cigar. The inside is opulent and designed with thick carpet, black, granite. Sofas and tables are low, and loads of room between tables. Three sides of the room are plate glass with views out over Hubin Road and a bit of West Lake. The main entrance of the hotel is just below so there is always the chance of having a good laugh at somebody who really can’t drive parking his Ferrari.

Many of you might think, hey no way am I going to hang out in a hotel bar. The sentiment is understandable. But 5 star hotels do have their advantages too. The cocktails here are really worth the effort, and the price tag. 65Y a drink on average seems like a lot, especially for Hangzhou, but the drinks come quick, and they are good. Cosmpolitans, Mai Tais, Caipirinhas, James Bond Martinis. All good. And they are large too – a couple of those Dry Martini’s fix all of the world’s most intractable problems. Another great advantage of a 5 star is the kitchen. Few places in Hangzhou offer anything but the most rudimentary snacks, and they are usually of the spicy duck neck variety. Hyatt has a menu full of all sorts of real food.

Afternoons are pretty good too – although check what time they open, perhaps earlier over the weekends. This bar has wickedly quick wifi – I go there for my Mac OS updates. What would 2 days at home to download, the Hyatt handles quicker than you slurp a cappuccino.