Beijing's Essential Bars for Visitors: Summer/Fall 2019 Edition
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Gone are the days when drinking in Beijing meant a choice between pricey hotel bars or cheap-Qingdao-slinging dives. Beijing’s bar scene has exploded over the past decade, with something to satisfy everyone from sophisticated oenophiles to obsessive hopheads. However, with new bars opening every week it can be hard to keep pace with where to go to get a decent drink. To help you out, the Beijinger has put together a list of the bars we consider essential stops on any visitor's Beijing itinerary, whether you are looking for a big night out or a quiet tipple with friends.
Bars are grouped by area and each is marked with the type of drinks they serve, along with a rough indicator for how much a night out there (based on two drinks per person) will set you back.
Price guide
$ - less than RMB 100 per head
$$ - RMB 100-200 per head
$$$ - RMB 250-plus per head
El Barrio Rooftop
Having drawn in much of the crowd that used to frequent the original Migas on the roof of Nali Patio, El Barrio Rooftop (above the adjoining Mexican restaurant downstairs) you can bet on a good night out at El Barrio, particularly at the weekend. Margaritas are strong and tasty and they offer a number of deals on bottles of premium tequila. Happy hour runs daily from 4.30-7.30pm.
$$ // Cocktails, Tequila
Daily, 4.30pm-2am. 3/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Beilu, Chaoyang District (6416 1716)
朝阳区三里屯北路81号那里花园2楼
Infusion Room
At first glance, Infusion Room looks like any other posh speakeasy, but in fact, they serve some of Beijing’s most delicious and inventive cocktails. Priced from RMB 110, the cocktails include inventive flavors such as oolong tea and kombu. They frequently host internationally-renowned bartenders.
$$$ // Cocktails
Daily, 8pm-2am. Above D Lounge, Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (6415 9837)
朝阳区工体北路4号院D Lounge 2层
La Social
Secreted away behind popular restaurant Mosto, La Social is a South American bar serving potent cocktails and hefty arepas (maize sandwiches with tasty fillings such as braised beef and avocado). The vibe here is great any night of the week, with a danceable soundtrack of Latin hits (not that there’s much space for dancing) and a friendly crowd.
$ // Cocktails
Tue-Thu, Sun 5.30pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5.30pm-2am. 3/F, Nali Patio, Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (5208 6030)
朝阳区三里屯路那里花园3层
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Paddy O’Shea’s
Paddy O’Shea’s is Beijing's most famous Irish bar. With the best poured Guinness in town and an afternoon-long happy hour, you can easily get trapped into a long session that will last you through to the early hours. Paddy’s is arguably the city's best sports bar, showing pretty much every sport you can imagine at every hour of the day. Free quiz nights every Wednesday from 8pm, with well-sponsored prizes.
$ // Beer, Mixed drinks
Daily, 11.30am-late. 28 Dongzhimen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6415 6389)
朝阳区东直门外大街28号
Slow Boat Sanlitun Brewpub
Slow Boat's south-of-Sanlitun brewpub is the beer brand's flagship location, although they boast a newer, equally as popular location in the Dengshikou area of town. The huge three-story space has ample room to fit the hordes of beer fans who come to sup a pint of one of their frequently-changing beers. There is also an extensive food menu, including burgers that have netted them several years worth of wins in the Beijinger’s annual Burger Cup (as well as several good vegan options).
$ // Craft beer
Mon-Fri, 11am-midnight; Sat-Sun, 11am-2am. 6 Nan Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6592 5388)
朝阳区南三里屯路6号
The Local
The Local serves up cocktails and American pub grub in a casual atmosphere in the heart of Sanlitun with a good selection of imported draft, local craft brews, and bourbon. A spacious two-story venue, The Local is great for hosting events, watching live sports, or playing a game of pool. They also serve a mean burger (try the avocado dry-rub) and some of Beijing’s best buffalo wings.
$ // Cocktails, Craft beer
Daily, 11am-2pm. Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (6591 9525)
朝阳区工体北路4号院
Union
The Opposite House's new bar Union (also pictured at top) is a world away from the previously-uninspiring lobby space it occupies, boasting sumptuous, copper-tinged decor and both intimate and expansive seating areas, depending on where you choose to sit. Unions 12 signature cocktails (all RMB 98) draw inspiration from the Silk Road and Marco Polo's globetrotting escapades, while the remaining 20 pages of menu span everything from classic cocktails (RMB 90) to red and white wines and spirits from all over the world.
$$ // Cocktails, Wine, Champagne
Daily, 11am-1am. 1/F, The Opposite House, 11 Sanlitun Nan Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯街道11号三里屯太古里北区瑜舍酒店
Atmosphere
Set on the 80th floor of China World Summit Wing, Atmosphere is Beijing's highest bar, boasting views all the way to the Forbidden City and far beyond. Behind the bar is Turkish bartender Volkan Ibil, who shakes up some truly creative cocktails, and there is also a very extensive list of old and new world wines from the hotel's cellar. Of course, the views are only worth it if the skies are clear, so check the weather/air quality before you go.
$$$ // Cocktails, Wine
Mon-Fri 2pm-2am, Sat-Sun noon-2am. 80/F, China World Summit Wing, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6505 2299)
朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸大酒店80层
Beersmith
This huge gastropub in the heart of the CBD doesn't mess around, with seats for more than 250, 12 copper beer tanks brewing tasty craft beers on-site, and a live band every night. The beers are brewed by Australian brewmaster Wilson Hede, who comes up with frequent creative seasonal beers. Look out for their long weekend happy hours and Wednesday ladies night, when women drink absolutely free from 5-9pm.
$$ // Craft beer
Daily 11am-2am. 1/F, Hotel Jen, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6505 2277)
朝阳区建国门外大街1号新国贸饭店1层
Mei
Set in top hotel Rosewood Beijing, Mei has pretty much everything you want from a hotel bar, with a wide-ranging menu of cocktails, wines, and beers and an excellent house band. That being said, it feels much cooler than your average hotel bar and attracts a sleek crowd, especially on the weekend. There's also a sizable terrace for when the weather's on our side.
$$$ // Cocktails, Wine
Mon-Wed, 6pm-2am; Thu-Sat, 6pm-3am; Sun, 5pm-midnight. 5/F, Rosewood Beijing, Jingguang Center, Hujialou, Chaoyang District (6536 0083)
朝阳区呼家楼京广中心北京瑰丽酒店5层
Migas Mercado
The original Migas in Sanlitun may be gone but its spirit lives on at Migas Mercado, a sprawling bar and restaurant in the heart of the CBD. Creative cocktails (try one of their many different sangria recipes or their bottle-aged negroni variations), frequent live music and DJ sets, and unparalleled views of the iconic CCTV Tower make this one of the city’s best venues of the moment.
$$ // Cocktails, Wine
Daily, 11.30am-2am. 7/F, China World Mall North Zone, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6500 7579)
朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城北区7层
Centro
Centro was the first in Beijing to make the hotel bar "cool" again (it's located in the Kerry Hotel) and over a decade later that is very much still true thanks to their drinks and a decent house band. Centro is perhaps best known for being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and for their daily happy hour (5-9pm), with buy-one-get-one-free deals on cocktails, beer, and wine by the glass.
$$ // Cocktails, Wine
Daily, 24-hours. 1/F, Kerry Hotel, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (6561 8833)
朝阳区光华路1号北京嘉里大酒店1层
Jing-A Taproom Longfusi
Located in the brand new Longfusi development near Dongsi, local brewery Jing-A's newest taproom offers 20+ of their beers on tap alongside draft cocktails and wines. The kitchen, under Executive Chef Simone Thompson, specializes in sourdough thin-crust pizza, complemented by fresh salads and Mediterranean-inspired bites.
$ // Craft beer, Cocktails, Wine
Sun-Thu 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-2am. 38 Qianliang Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区钱粮胡同38号
The Merchants
Wine bars are thin on the ground in Beijing so when one as good as The Merchants comes along you want to bookmark it straight away. Their globe-spanning list of reasonably priced boutique wines is matched only by their care to detail – Coravin openers, which allow servers to pour without actually having to open the bottle, means that they can serve every wine both by the bottle and the glass, a rare but welcome feature in Beijing. The location used to house the Meridian Space gallery and the metal-framed exterior carries on the artsy vibe.
$$$ / Wine
Daily, 10am-1am. C&C Park, 77 Meishuguan Houjie, Dongcheng District (400 7990 299)
东城区美术馆后街77号
4corners
We wondered whether to include 4corners in our "best restaurants" piece instead of this one about bars since chef/owner Jun Trinh serves up some excellent, Southeast Asian-influenced food, but in the end, we decided that this venue really comes into its own as a bar. With pretty much daily events, including a quiz night, open mic night, and games night, you’ll always find a good crowd sipping on reasonably priced cocktails and beers.
$ // Cocktails, Wine, Beer
Tue-Thu, 4pm-1am; Fri-Sun, midday-3am. 27 Dashibei Hutong, Xicheng District
西城区大石碑胡同27号
Great Leap Brewing #6
The original location of local craft brewing titans Great Leap is set in a converted siheyuan, with a large courtyard for alfresco drinking in the summer months. They serve a rotating selection of their own brewed ales, pale ales, stouts, and more. We recommend starting with the popular Honey Ma Gold before working your way through the lot. Great Leap also has three other venues: two near Sanlitun and another in Lido.
$ // Craft beer
Sun-Thu, 2-11pm; Fri-Sat, 2pm-midnight. 6 Doujiao Hutong, Dongcheng District (5717 1399)
东城区豆角胡同6号
Nina
Italian cocktail bar Nina is a great choice for those looking for something a little more casual than the many other artisanal mixology joints in Beijing or, more importantly, for those looking for a really good Aperol spritz. A small but perfectly formed selection of cocktails and wines is complemented by a menu of Italian finger food such as cartoccio (deep-fried croquettes) and cold cuts. A great stop for pre-dinner drinks and snacks after a long day in the hutongs.
$ // Cocktails, Wine
Daily, 6.30pm-2am. 66 Beiluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷66号
Mai Bar
Owner Jeff Ji wants you to treat Mai Bar like home. That’s partly why the name sounds like "My." One of Beijing’s (and more specifically, Gulou's) original crop of artisanal cocktail bars, Mai Bar has been serving up specialty cocktails on Beiluogu Xiang for years. Their classics are solid and they have a good line of more creative concoctions such as the Lost in Thailand, which features spices and flavors more commonly seen in Thai curries. Good whiskey selection, too.
$$ // Cocktails, Whiskey
Daily, 6pm-1am. 40 Beiluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District (183 0117 8873)
东城区北锣鼓巷40号
Modernista
Modernista has been through a lot of changes over the years but what has always remained is one of Beijing's most packed line-ups of local live music and performance acts, fuelled by a competent drinks menu. The whole venue has a feeling of faded old-world glamor, with checkerboard flooring, art deco light fixtures, and shabby chic furniture that is often adorned with the area's last hangers-on come weekend mornings.
Daily, 6pm-2am. 44 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng District (158 1093 7206, 136 9142 5744)
东城区宝钞胡同44号
Xian
Another of Beijing’s growing crop of excellent hotel bars, Xian manages to be a whiskey bar, craft beer dispensary, live music venue, and a pizza place, all under one roof. The venue unfurls over a series of well-designed lounges, including private spaces, and there is a large terrace outside, which hosts a mega-sized screen during bigger sporting events.
$$ // Whiskey, Cocktails
Daily, 5pm-2am. 1/F, EAST Beijing, 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (8414 9810)
朝阳区酒仙桥路22号北京东隅酒店1层
Lush
A Wudaokou hotspot for more than 15 years, Lush provides students with a caffeinated study haven by day, and a place to cut loose by night. Expect simple, strong, well-priced drinks, great pizzas and burgers, and frequent events like quiz and open mic nights.
$ // Cocktails, Mixed Drinks, Beer
Daily, 10.30am-3am. 1 Huaqing Jiayuan, Chengfu Lu, Haidian District (8286 3566)
海淀区成府路华清嘉园1号
Photos courtesy of the venues, the Beijinger
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