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. 6561-8833 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
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
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, 134-3979-6359. 朝阳区将台路, 珀丽酒店西
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)
Live music
Guitar Bar
At this fiddler's tavern the first thing you notice when you enter is that there actually are guitars all around. Range of standard drinks. Death metal musicians need not apply. 40 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District. 东城区南锣鼓巷
East Shore Live Jazz Cafe
Low lighting, dark wood furnishings and an exceptional panoramic view of the Houhai lake make this place seem like a movie set. And a glass paneled wall-inset showcases a collection of antique instruments, including a saxophone, trumpet, flute and retro microphones. Jazz performance take to the stage at 10pm on show nights, with the thrill brought by such jazzmen as saxophonist, pianist, bassist and drummer. 2/F, 2 Qianhai Nanyanlu, Xicheng District. 8403-2131. 西城区地安门外大街前海南沿2号楼2层
Exotic flavor
Sangria Club
Spanning two floors beneath Elisa's Italian Restaurant, this new nightspot shimmers with the style of southern Spain. Here, dark-wood furniture and plenty of plants create more-or-less Moorish environs. Boozers can belly up to the bar and perch on square-shaped wooden stools, grab seats on the pillow-lined wooden benches or stretch out on the establishment's traditional kang beds. 5867-0248. 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区枣营路29号
Salud
The festive food and drink menu, relaxed ambiance, and international patrons of Salud set it apart from all the rest. Touches of Mediterranean coastline add to the Southern European atmosphere of the caf? A range of live music acts have been booked for performance at Salud on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. 9am-2am. 66 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District. 6402-5086.老伍酒吧,东城区南锣鼓巷66号
