Raise a Glass to Beijing's Best New Bar Openings, May-Jul 2019
Summer has very much arrived, which means it's high time for you to head out and raise a glass (or two) to the best bar openings that Beijing has seen over the past few months.
Tchin Tchin
Let’s face it: Beijing is a beer town. Not that we're complaining of course, but sometimes the cascade of craft beer can leave us hankering for something, well, a little more refined. Those looking for a little beer break will find comfort in the altogether more relaxed alternative found in the CBD’s Tchin Tchin. This laid-back Central Park wine bar boasts close to 100 bottles and bucks the stereotypes of vineyard snobbery with RMB 60-80 by-the-glass options, a buy-one-get-one-free happy hour, and friendly, informative service.
Read the full review here.
Catail Qian Yard
Qianmen cocktail lounge Catail has three floors, each decked out with elegant decor and a distinctive style. The ground floor cocktail bar has a colonial Shanghai vibe with a bar run by mixologist Kevin Lai, the second-floor whiskey bar has a quieter, more private vibe. Then to top it all off, the sizeable third-floor rooftop opens the whole place up and provides views over the nearby hutongs, and further afield, the gleaming CBD skyline.
Read the full review here.
Stream
Stream is one of the most colorful cocktail bars to have opened in Beijing this year, if not ever. The bright neon lights, curved ceiling, cherry red coat of paint, and the faint lighting, along with a throwback R&B soundtrack pouring out the speakers, come together to create a unique atmosphere. All cocktails under the "One Night In Beijing" section of the menu (priced at RMB 98) are Beijing neighborhood themed, a highlight of which is the nostalgia-tinged Fangjia Hutong cocktail, a nod to the now-quiet party spot of yore.
Read the full review here.
Pi Bar
With plants framing the door, trendy 20-somethings glued to the stoop, and a "sign" made out of orange fluorescent tape, it's likely that you'll walk past Pi Bar after mistaking it for the tail end of a party you weren't cool enough to be invited to. To do so would be a mistake. That's because once inside, Pi Bar's decor and staff are warm and breezy, making a package that's wonderfully reminiscent of hutong cocktail bars that used to be a dime a dozen just two short years ago, except this time it's in Sanlitun.
Read the full review here.
Le Moments
Tiki Bungalow, a favorite among those looking for tropical, mind-alteringly strong cocktails, may have sunk to obscure depths after its founders set sail for calmer seas. But a promising new alternative, Le Moments, has surfaced courtesy of Chen "Charlie" Yanwei. Le Moments is a more subdued version of Tiki Bungalow, with darker decor and a shorter cocktail menu. Of those, we recommend dousing your tastebuds with the Tropical Rainforest (RMB 75). Its mix of Aperol, gin, and fresh pineapple, orange, and lemon juices is fruity and just sweet enough without being cloying.
Read the full review here.
Mo Bar
The bartenders at the Mandarin Oriental's Mo Bar are keen to subvert your expectations, making use of unexpected ingredients like Erguotou. While's it's certainly too rich for many a Beijinger, the bar's luxurious ambiance and the boundary-pushing combinations of Janes and Hooch alum Guo "T" Bin's accomplished cocktails make Mo bar a good place to treat your special someone on a very special occasion.
Read the full review here.
Honorable mention: Paddy O'Shea's
Dongzhimen Irish pub Paddy O'Shea's launched its newly expanded space to plenty of hype at the end of June. The grand opening revealed the addition of more than 200sqm to the already substantial bar, with the new section being dubbed "Paddy's East." The new area includes a new bar, a sofa area, six more TVs, and another huge screen, taking the total screen count up to a dizzying 22.
READ: Drank your fill? Sober up on Sanlitun Bar Street with Cabo Coffee
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Photos: Uni You, courtesy of Mo Bar
