2011 Reader Bar & Club Awards: Hutong/Non-Sanlitun/Hidden Gem

Sanlitun is the black hole of Beijing nightlife - it's easy to get sucked in and then you find yourself unable to escape. That’s why we like trying some places off the beaten path, whether it’s in a hutong far away from the Sanlitun strip, or hidden in an obscure high-rise. Here are Beijing’s best Hutong Bar, Non-Sanlitun Bar, and Hidden Gem as voted by you in our Readers Bar & Club Awards.

Hutong Bar
Best
Mao Mao Chong. Character and cocktails. Settle into this quiet bar for some outstanding cocktails that hold their own against the fancy lounges infesting Sanlitun and the CBD.
Outstanding
Salud. A favorite Nanluogou Xiang spot.
Bed. One of the original hutong hipster bars still pulls a crowd with its courtyard area and cozy seating. Slip off your shoes and hop on.
Editors' Pick
Amilal It's like you invaded somebody's living room just when their distant relatives from the Mongolian grasslands showed up for a jam session. A good beer selection and small but discerning choice of Islay whiskies (all a flat RMB 50) make this one of Gulou's best spots for a good drink.

Non-Sanlitun
Best
Lush. You don’t get much further from Sanlitun than this Wudaokou student hangout.
Outstanding
Mao Mao Chong. The winner in the "Best Hutong Bar" category also proves popular as a refuge from Sanlitun's excesses.
Atmosphere. The furthest vertical bar from Sanlitun in Beijing also offers some of the city's best cocktails.
Editors' Pick
The Green Cap Their slogan is "Average at Best" - we reckon it's a little better than that. Pat and Nana Walsh are among the city's friendliest hosts, though we're still waiting for Pat to come good on his promise to serve Buckfast on tap at some point in 2011.

Hidden Gem
Best
Twilight. A quiet cocktail spot in the unlikeliest of spots. Don’t let the sterile appearance of Jianwai Soho keep you away.
Outstanding
12 SQM. No longer as small as the name suggests, this tiny hutong pub is not to be missed, and yet sadly is by many. Great beer selection, and they might just let you play DJ if you bring your own iPod.
Pomme O’Shea’s. Tucked out in Shunyi off a dirt track, in a tiny village that seems permanently under the shadow of the wrecking ball, this bar inside a lovely courtyard defines the meaning of hidden. But a true gem if you can find it.
Editors Pick'
The Green Cap Not so much of a secret for those who live in Shunyi, but Chaoyang kids should go out for Thursday quiz night with Beijing's hardest working quizmaster.