Downstairs was already packed. Champagne and tidbits rushed around the room by an army of waiters. Little chunks of pate de foie gras on crunchy toast, prawns in a Chinese spoon dressed in a ginger and yellow wine (?) drizzle. And more Champagne.

The theme this year was red and black and the dining room was indeed red and black. As always the Hyatt table decoration was spectacular, with under table lighting, enough glistening wine glasses to make any experienced drunk know there was more than enough to go around.

Speeches went on a little long, but hey, it is a charity event and sponsors need to be recognised. FInally food to soak up all those drinks. The menu was slightly strange given the event: The prawn with green tea sauce tasted great, but pumpkin and sharks fin soup for 300 at a charity event? Heavy tasting braised beef cheek in China? An awful lot of Chinese poeple dont eat steak at all. It was good, but most of my table guests didnt touch it.

Speaking of table guests. I was invited by a woman who owns a spectacularly smart spa on Jianguo Road and she brought many of her staff with her. Surrounded by girls.

At the end of the meal the raffle gave away weekend getaways in many of the hotels around east Asia – I was hoping for the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong. No such luck… As usual the room emptied so fast after the raffle somebody could have walked in screaming, “I have swine flu!” Left us lot to the music. Little grooving to just dead Michael Jackson and back to Bellevue.

Hangzhou Hyatt Regency Summer Ball, 27th June 2009

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.

“Let longe Hyatt”. English isn’t his strongest suit. 45 minutes later, laptop and swimshorts (in hand) I am settling into a teak chair outside the Hyatt restaurant. It’s a bit early for a White Russian, but we had been drinking those the night before, and didnt really want to mix it up. And while English may not be my company’s forte, vodka, with small amounts of additives, is.

Back at home 5-star hotels and MacD get kind of lumped together – wouldn’t be seen dead in either. Sorry Hyatt; it’s not about food or service, but at home there are better ways to get either a burger, or a veal escalope on mushroom risotto. In Hangzhou however, I find myself frequently in Hyatt, and MacD. (Again, sorry Hyatt). Normally, of course, it isn’t just to laze around on the terrace all afternoon, being gently massaged by a few White Russians. Not much talking: little bit of Facebook (The wireless from the bar, Bellevue, upstairs is fast); sun soaking through for the first time since, err, September; loads of people wandering buy, some even worth looking at. All in all, a pretty relaxed way to spend the afternoon.

Followed by a swim and a sauna. Life can be good in Hangzhou.