A Closer Look at the Bar & Club Awards: Best Place to Take a Date

Tracy Wang, Senior Editor | Dec 31, 2016 5:00 pm | Add a comment | 2886 reads

With the "A Closer Look" series, we raise our glasses in recognition of the Beijinger 2016 Bar & Club Award winners, before giving a toast (in text form, of course) about why they were selected by you, our readers. 

Mai Bar on Beiluogu Xiang was crowned as the Best Place to Take a Date for its intimate, living room-style atmosphere. The bar has a small selection of beers filled with popular choices such as Rogue, Chimay, and Brewdog, but the leading light at this hidden gem in Gulou is the cocktails. We recommend the Old Fashioned and the Queen’s Park Swizzle, as well as a tipple from their extensive whiskey selection. Prices are reasonable, so you don't have to worry about burning a hole in your wallet if your date is particularly thirsty.

The Bar at Migas, one of our favorite spots on the east side of town, was voted as Outstanding for dating. With a great view of Sanlitun when the terrace is open in summer, and a cozy-but-lively dancefloor in the winter, Migas fuels its revellers with classic cocktails, such as martinis, mojitos, margaritas, and daiquiris.

Located on Xindong Lu, Hidden House took home the other Outstanding award for Best Place to Take a Date. Hidden House really lives up to its name, but your efforts to find it will be rewarded with a great selection of artisanal cocktails, such as London Mule, Peking City, and Mai Tai, as well as a long list of whiskeys. Grab a seat at the bar with your boo and watch the bow-tied mixologists shake up something special for the occasion.

Personally, I would like to add Atmosphere Bar at the top of China World Summit Wing to this list because of the great views over the city, providing the perfect romantic backdrop for a night out (as long as the smog stays away). Botany is also a great choice for their innovative cocktails. If you fancy craft cocktails in a slightly quieter environment, try Scarlet A, Mona, or Ichikura to dazzle your date.

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
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Photos: TBJ, Sui, Atmosphere Bar