Last week, we had the chance to visit Salon De Ning
and watched our cousin, Bea, perform. It opened last night to the public, so do visit the place and enjoy a new experience at the Peninsula Hotel
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Shanghai, Shoes, Zeppelins, Fantasy Islands and Boxing Amidst Art Deco Decadence
Joining The Peninsula Hotels’ signature collection of exquisite 1930s Shanghainese Art Deco- inspired bars and lounges is Salon de Ning at The Peninsula Manila
Inspired by an elegant private residence from a bygone era, Salon de Ning is an extravagantly unique combination of clubby lounge venue complete with a collection of travel mementoes and objets d’art reflecting the glamorous lifestyle of Madame Ning, a celebrated Shanghai socialite, bon vivant, peripatetic world traveller and international hostess. From Istanbul to Paris, the desert palaces of Rajasthan to the canals of Venice, the Serengeti and beyond, she presided over salons in her many stylish residences around the world, entertaining her friends and guests in a warm and welcoming environment filled with bibelots and precious objects sourced during her many journeys. Her elegant 1930s Manila seaside mansion will inspire the eclectic design of Salon de Ning at The Peninsula Manila.
Upon arrival at Salon de Ning at the Makati Tower Lobby, guests will be greeted by a hostess in an elegant oriental dress with Art Deco details. The entrance will lead to the main lounge with its DJ booth and stage for the resident band, each making certain the dance floor stays lively. Surrounding the main lounge will be five themed rooms decorated with Madame Ning’s intriguing collection of objets and items displaying her varied interests and pursuits.
The first room will be “Le Boxing Room”, a shrine to 1937 World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis (who was rumoured to have been madly in love with her).
The second room – the “Shoe Room” – with its collection of over a hundred boots, stilettos and sandals, will be her homage to shoemakers who transform ordinary footwear into works of wearable art.
The design of the “Fantasy Island Room” will reveal her fascination with 19th-century science fiction, particularly Jules Verne and his books Around the World in Eighty Days and The Mysterious Island, and space, underwater and air travel before navigable aircraft and practical submarines were invented.
Other themed rooms include the “Zeppelin Room” which is inspired by her long friendship with the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin who pioneered the design of the first rigid airships the world had ever seen.
A range of cocktails is available at Salon de Ning, including the signature “Ning Sling”, a refreshing combination featuring Absolut Mandarin and lychee liqueur, garnished with mint leaves and a lychee. Fans of bubbly will love Salon de Ning rosé Champagne, an exclusive label created by Deutz of France for The Peninsula Hotels.
A simple, light Asian-inspired menu will also be available.
Just a few steps from Salon de Ning and a short walk from the famous Lobby, The Bar will be the perfect setting to enjoy a Manila Mango Daiquiri or a quiet smoke in an intimate ambience.
The area will be marked with a Cuban accent. Havana and its shadowy siesta-draped colours will imbue the space with a warm and welcoming mood, while the plush divans and armchairs will invite guests to sit back and relax. A place of honour will be reserved for the jewels of Cuba – the humidor – that will delight cigarillo, Dominican and Cuban aficionados.
“Throughout its 35-year history, our hotel has always embraced the idea of change. We want to give our loyal clientele a new place they could call their own. Salon de Ning and The Bar will be privileged spots, reserved for lovers of wine, food music and art, all highlights of Manila life!”, enthuses Jonathan Crook, General Manager of The Peninsula Manila.
Salon de Ning and The Bar at The Peninsula Manila is designed by Henry Leung, the Hong Kong-based Design Director of Chhada, Siembieda Leung Limited, who has created several Chinese heritage projects for The Peninsula Hotels, and designed Salon de Ning in the style of a traditional Shanghainese “Shikumen” (“stone gate house” in Chinese).
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