You'll want to break out the flashlight when you go to Home bar on Liangmahe Nanlu. Ordering from the drinks menu was a challenge as the interior was so dark we could barely see the choices. Decorated with heavy dark wood and red couches with a goldfish pond and miniature bridge to boot, Home doesn't resemble your average Beijing apartment. The bar aims for a conversation-friendly atmosphere, with soft music and a few nooks and crannies in which to chat, namely a loft space upstairs. Unfortunately the hard wooden seating doesn't invite curling up.

Drinks are the usual standards, with beers RMB 25-35 and a wide selection of liquors. A straight-up margarita, while better than many in town, lacked the punch of tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. In a town that's becoming more cocktail savvy (albeit very slowly) it's no longer a selling point to serve a drink that actually contains some of the required alcohol! While it sports a cool decor and friendly service, Home needs to do more homework on the business of cocktail concoctions.

Home
Location: No.33 Liangmahe Nanlu, next to Paddy Fields', Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64668889