Red Poppy, the Chinese-inspired cocktail bar and speakeasy Shanghai Surprise, in the 13th arrondissement.

In the heart of Chinatown, step into a cocktail bar with the allure of an Asian temple, and discover its dimly-lit speakeasy, which intends to awaken the evenings of the 13th arrondissement.

In the 13th arrondissement, renowned for its Asian specialties and Chinatown, evenings are rather quiet, sometimes punctuated by a few blockades on the Tolbiac side. But recently, Red Poppy has moved in, with a cocktail bar that's easy to spot at first glance thanks to its meticulous, immersive decor, designed by Mei Ho, at the heart of Chinese legends. In the early evening, the atmosphere is confidential and intimate, but as the hour progresses, the place puts on its night clothes to take you down to the basement, to its speakeasy, Shanghai Surprise.

Pagoda roof, opium bed, lanterns on the ceiling, lacquered tables and red neon lights welcome you to sip incredible cocktails, with or without alcohol, that are not lacking in originality. Sencha, ginseng, pickled plum and lotus are just some of the Asian ingredients used in this tastefully illustrated menu of legendary cocktails. Each drink has a name associated with a Chinese legend, such as theCelestial Archer, the Nine-tailed Fox or the Moon Goddess, for an even deeper immersion.

With an alcohol content of up to 31%, some cocktails are quite spicy. To accompany them, delicious pork or shrimpravioli, lemon chicken, pickled cucumbers or cassava French fries. We opted for the Kami, a sweet and fruity cocktail, where the sweetness of apricot blends perfectly with turmeric kombucha and vanilla. What's most impressive is the strength of the fruit flavor, which seems to be all in the glass, as with the Kaihua, with its mix of green apple, osmanthus and kaffir lime leaves.

From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., the speakeasy is a cocoon of eclectic programming and antique decor. A space that can be fully or partially privatized, it also offers self-defense classes, afterwork karaoke, DJsets, blind-tests and evenings in the 30s, with old movies and Chinese board games, thanks to the Bart&Baker duo. We've taken the change of scenery so far that even the toilets are in the theme!