Japanese Bars and Izakaya

Daruma, an izakaya-style restaurant on the first floor of Nali Patio, sees the Bottega and El Barrio team stretch their F&B knowledge to yakitori and sake, in an interior completely lined with beautifully aged wood. The contrasting red diner-style vinyl stools and chairs give an intimate but relaxed vibe suitable for anything from post-work drinks, a party, or a date, while the highball-heavy drinks menu and selection of skewers tempt diners to stay much later than they intended.

Craft brewery and restaurant in the hutongs of Qianmen with a cozy dark wood and brick interior, a range of bottled and draft beers, and a menu that largely spans American bar and Japanese izakaya staples.

Japanese yakiniku restaurant specializing in a huge array of meats and other Japanese dishes such as beef ramen.

This Central Park Plaza (near Chaoyang Park) venue houses a Japanese whiskey bar downstairs and a high-end sushi restaurant upstairs. The former slings everything from RMB 950 per glass/RMB 8,980 per bottle Miyakigyo 12-year-old sweet and sherry Japanese whiskey to more affordable RMB 120 per glass Suntory Kakubin yellow label, the RMB 140 per glass single malt Nikka Yoichi, and the RMB 140 Miyagiko.

Upstairs, the restaurant serves set sushi meals starting at RMB 1,000 per patron. In short: expect to dig deep in your wallet and shell out plenty for the wares here.

Veteran bartender Koji Kuroki keeps the decade-plus momentum going of his since defunct, trailblazing Gongti Japanese lounge at this intimate Xinyuanxili location.

An old favorite of Japanese expats, thanks to its embassy adjacent location, Bar Roost Serves up plenty of Japanese whisky along with classic cocktails with a twist (Tequila Negroni, anyone?).

This Sanlitun Soho Japanese whiskey bar is helmed by a shy yet affable, highly seasoned Tokyo barman with extensive industry ties which help him stock his shelves with rare to Beijing bottles. The bar also features a stark, minimalist decor so that there's no distraction from the barkeep and his bottles.

This restaurant and bar founded by chef Max Levy features sushi, sake and cocktails in Sanlitun's 1949 -The Hidden City.