Train No. 1 Bar in Shuangjing is Worth the Ride
What appears to be an abandoned train car, parked just south of Today Art Museum in Shuangjing’s Pingod pocket, gets on-track after dark – no ticket required.
Approach Train No. 1 Bar from Huangmuchang Road, and you’ll encounter a neon sign screaming near the entrance: “You have a story,” its cursive font beckons. “I have wine.”
This whimsical bar will remind you of a bygone era
Inside, on a recent Wednesday night, a party of five enjoyed a bottle of red over cigarettes. Aside from wine and whiskey, Train No. 1 Bar’s modest shelf was crammed, but with few options. A tapped Boxing Cat keg meant only Guinness remained on draft. Bottled beer? They’ve got a few. Crafty cocktails? Nope. So we went for whiskey on the rocks. Roger, the bartender, defaulted to Jameson (RMB 50).
Take in the charming decor of this museum-meets-shabby speakeasy from one of the train’s eight tables, over cheap skewers of meat, or a bowl of free peanuts. The joint could use some music, but the gramophone player near the bar looks a bit too vintage to be up to the task.
The drinks are startlingly basic, with an RMB 50 glass of Jameson being one of the best options
Sure, nearby in Shuangjing you can indulge in scores of craft bottles at Naughty Beer or endless flashy spirits at Mulan Whisky and Cocktail Bar. But where else can you get an inexpensive, unpretentious nightcap...on a train? Its cool simplicity makes Train No. 1 Bar a perfect spot for late-night, post-buzz conversation.
Hop aboard for a drink inside a well-traveled place straight out of a bygone era.
Daily 6pm - 2 am
Baiziwan Nan Yilu, Shuangjing, Chaoyang District
北京市朝阳区双井苹果社区今日美术馆百子湾南一路西口
Photos: Patrick Flanary
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