SPLASHING OUT
Cloud Nine Bar
Get your glad rags on and your hand in your pocket with Beijing's jet set crowd. Daily 8am-2am. Shangri-La Hotel Beijing, 29 Zizhuyuan Lu, Haidian District. 6841-2211 ext 2723. 九霄云外, 海淀区紫竹院路29号, 香格里拉饭店内
Centro
Award-winning Centro has a certain 'je ne cest quoi?that draws the society's movers and shakers. Added to this is the line-up of dynamic performers, from barmen to live musicians, wicked cocktail offerings, fine wines, champagne and two happy hours. 65618833 Ext 42. 65618833 ext 42. 朝阳区光华路嘉里中心一层
Face Bar
School-turned-bar and restaurant. A pool table stands by the entrance and outside, clumps of bamboo, a man-made stream and carved wood stools create a surprisingly atmospheric place in which to kick back. 26 Dongcaoyuan, Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District. 6551-6788.
朝阳区工体南路
Icehouse
This former Qing Dynasty building has amazing walled corridors twists and turns to reveal a stage, which plays host to f blues and jazz. 53 Xi Peilou, Dong'anmen Jie, Dongcheng District. 6522-1389. 东城区东安门街53号西配楼
Suzie Wongs
A 1930s opium den, it offers dimly lit curtained alcoves along with spacious main seating areas, ornately furnished with antique Chinese furniture and hanging lanterns.
1A South Nongzhanguan Lu, Chaoyang Park West Gate. 6593-6049. 苏茜黄，朝阳区农展馆路甲一号朝阳公园西门
SIT AND CHAT
Bed Tapas & Bar
Sprawls of cushions and bed-type booths make this a cool hangout. Mon-Tue 4pm-late; Wed-Sun 12pm-late, 17 Zhangwang Hutong, Xicheng District. 8400-1554. 床吧, 西城区旧鼓楼大街张旺胡同17号
Drum and Bell
Homey atmosphere built in an old courtyard, with roof terrace seating area. You can look across the hutong roofs of old Beijing. Daily Noon-2am. 41 Zhonglouwan Hutong, Dongcheng District. 8403-3600. 鼓钟咖啡馆, 东城区钟楼湾胡同41号
The Hidden Tree
Famous for foreign, mainly Belgian, beers and its pizzas. Generally a quiet place, the hubbub of conversation is sometimes accompanied by live music. 43 Sanlitun Beijie (behind Poachers and Fish Nation), 6415-1954. 隐蔽的树, 三里屯北街43号
No Name Bar
The original kid on the block heralding the start of the Houhai circus. Easy atmosphere and nice toilets. Daily Noon-2am. 3 Qianhai Dongyan, (next to Kaorouji Restaurant), Xicheng District. 6401-8541. 无名酒吧, 西城区前海东沿3号烤肉季隔壁
Pass By Bar
Intimate atmosphere and a comprehensive Italian menu. Known for its (often inaccessible and unorganised) book collection until Bookworm came along and stole the show. Daily 9am-2am. 108 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District. 8403-8004. 过客, 东城区南锣鼓巷108号
Souk Bar and Restaurant
Spacious bar, cluttered with dark wooden tables, cupboards, plant pots, hookah pipes, colourful cushions and red lanterns. Daily. Chaoyang Park West Gate (behind Annie's). 6506-7309. 朝阳公园西门
Stone Boat Bar
Overlooks the manicured park gardens and the lake. Inside, the roof, crossbeams and windowsills are elegantly painted in traditional Chinese style. Daily 10am-late. Lakeside, southeast corner of Ritan Park, Chaoyang District. 6501 9986.
石舫，日坛公园东南角
Goldfish Home Bar
Lakeside-drinking spot looks like an elegant gentleman's club plucked straight from 1920s Shanghai.
Daily. 5 Lotus Lane (or Lotus Market, hehua shichang), Houhai, Dongcheng District. 6615-8966. 金鱼私房吧, 东城区后海荷花市场5号
The Pavillion
Has a 90 wine cellar, 40 scotches, range of cigars, Guinness and leather sofas. Good place for networking. 10am to late, seven days a week. Opposite the west gate of the Workers' Stadium, Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District. www.pavillionbeijing.com. 6507-2617. 工体西路(工人体育场对面)
Bus bar
Two buses gutted out and welded together for your evening of entertainment pleasure. Dirt cheap drinks and scruffy atmosphere appeal to the crowds. Edge of the parking lot across from the north gate of the Workers' Stadium, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区工体北门对面的大停车场
Ball House
A red door in a secluded alleyway is home to this pool haven. Pool costs 50 yuan an hour, drinks are on the pricey side. 2pm-late, East of the Drum Tower, Zhonglouwan Hutong (next to Hosanna Cafe, behind Gu Lou Xidajie. 6407-4051. 钟楼湾胡同, 东城区鼓楼西大街
Candyfloss Cafe
Nice quiet place for a drink. The interior of the courtyard bar features five-fingered red armchairs, fireplaces. Daily. 35 Dongmianhua Hutong (off Nanluogu Xiang), Dongcheng District. 6405-5775.
东城区南锣鼓巷东棉花胡同
SPORTS BARS
Bla Bla Bar
Situated inside the BLCU campus, offers cheap booze, and international crowd. Good sports coverage. Daily 2pm-2am. Beijing Language and Culture University, Haidian District. 6239-7033. 海淀区语言学院内.
Goose and Duck Pub
A mainly expat crowd in this pub cum sportsbar venue. Nice beer and great food served in spacious seating area. Daily 24 hours. 1 Bihuju Nanlu, Chaoyang Park west gate, Chaoyang District. 6538-1691.
The Den
Popular with foreigner sports fans into football, rugby and cricket. Dancefloor upstairs. Daily 24 hours. 4 Gongti Donglu, (next to City Hotel main entrance), Chaoyang District. 6592-6290. 敦煌, 朝阳区工体东路4号, 城市宾馆主门旁边
Frank's Place
Sports bar with clean, light, comfortable wood-paneled interior and no frills patio area with mostly a male, middle-aged customer base. Daily, 10 am to 2 am, Jiangtai Lu, west of Rosedale Hotel, Lido area, Chaoyang District. 6437-8839, 1343-979-6359
朝阳区将台路, 珀丽酒店西
The Pomegranate
Situated in an old hutong, sport is the focus with some charcoal black and white surrealist artworks hang on brick walls capped with a timber ceiling. Daily 11am-midnight. 19 Kaifa Lu, Xibaixinzhuang, Houshayu, Shunyi District. 8046-2558. 石榴园餐厅酒吧, 顺义后沙裕西
Red Football Club & Bar
It's a simple idea: take one free-standing bar, add a couple of Astroturf five-a-side pitches, put some shower facilities on the side, and sprinkle generously with tables. Pitches available daily 7am-11pm. Gongti Beilu (in car park between Bus Bar and Yugong Yi Shan). 6413-2848. info@redball.com.cn. 工体北路，在愚公移山和Bus酒吧停车场里
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
Browns
Extremely popular bar/club with foreigners, who make up 80 per cent of the crowd. Fun, vibe with 80s, 90s upbeats hits the mainstream musical diet. 2am till late. 4 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. 6591-2717. 工体北路4号。
Poachers Inn
With the same tunes every week, Poachers takes full advantage of the transient population but does it well. Daily 8pm-late. 43 Bei Sanlitun Lu Chaoyang District. 6417-2632 ext 8506. 友谊青年酒店, 朝阳区北三里屯路43号
Banana
Three floors of glass walled seating surround a packed dancefloor, tended by some of the world's top DJs. It is big, bold and brash, with a mammoth sound system you could shake a filling at. Weekdays 8:30pm-4:30am; weekends 8:30pm-5am. Scitech Hotel, 22 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District.6528-3636. 巴那那, 朝阳区建国门外大街22号赛特饭店一层
Tango
This massive club, divided into three areas, is replete with another - Mango - on top and a KTV in the basement. The venue provides something to suit all tastes. Daily 24 hours. South gate of Ditan Park, (next to Jindingxuan Restaurant), Dongcheng District.6428-2288. 糖果, 东城区地坛公园南门(金鼎轩旁边)
Alfa
Stylish decor and seated gallery. Hosts a mixed crowd, a fountain and private tables. 80s night on Fridays. Daily 11am-2am. 5 Xingfu Yicun, (in the alley opposite the Workers?Stadium north gate), Chaoyang District. 6413-0086. 朝阳区幸福一村5号(工体北门对面的胡同里)
Cargo
A packed dance floor and ultramodern decor put Cargo light years ahead of the other mega-clubs lining the Gongti Xilu strip. Daily 8pm-late.6 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District. 6551-6898. 朝阳区工体西路6号
(China Daily 05/30/2007 page10)
