BARCODE

(04) 2323-0778, ext. 2217
9, TaiZhongGang (Taichung Kang) Road, Sec. 2, 2F (Landis Hotel)
Hours: 7 pm-2 am
Credit cards accepted. Parking available.

The owners of Taipei's well-known Room 18 and Barcode establishments have brought a branch of Barcode to Taichung. Located on the second floor of the remodeled Landis Hotel, this high-end lounge bar definitely resembles its Taipei sibling with neon-red highlights around the bar, white marble floors, distorted-mirror wall panels, curving white wall sofas, and small, candlelit cross-shaped and round tables. The decor goes well with the lounge and house music that Barcode focuses on. In October, the bar opened with Taipei's DJ Jimmy and up-and-coming Singaporean pop diva Alicia, and Manager Takuya says that more special guests and parties can be expected in the future. There are DJs every Friday and Saturday from around 9 p.m. Takuya and his staff also run a great bar, offering a variety of unique (and potent) Barcode originals like the NT$300 Black Mystery and Bella Luna. Other favorites include the Space Gin Smash; Honey Berry Royale; mango, strawberry or "Turbo" Mojitos; the Big Appleberry; Bellini; and a flaming cognac-based drink called The Blazer. There are also NT$200 beers and a very big selection of wines and other spirits, including eight tequilas/mezcals, nine rums, 11 vodkas and over 30 single malt scotches. For food, The Landis' full room-service menu is available. There is a NT$5,000 minimum charge for the wall sofa areas (up to about 10 people) and NT$3,000 for tables (five to six people), but none if you sit at the bar.

--By Douglas Habecker, translated by Kiki Wu