Manchuria

Up an unassuming stairwell in a Chinatown laneway you'll find Manchuria - one part opium den, one part jazz club and several parts good times. Clustered couches make a great spot for a catch-up while smouldering jazz tunes and moody lighting conjure a perfect first-date atmosphere. Dapper bartenders whip up a Lemon Drop Martini with finesse or help with selections from the extensive whisky list. The food taps into the Chinatown vibe, with Peking duck and salt-and-pepper soft-shell crab among the choices. Manchuria seems to be off the corporate crowd radar, so you can have an after-work drink and still hear yourself think.