By Simon Lim, Judy Zhou and Rob Patterson (that's beijng)
Updated: 2006-08-24 08:58

Best Student Hangout - Lush

Open mic night, quiz night, movie night and "never closed" are just a few reasons why readers love Lush. "A nice break from Sanlitun, which is overcrowded with cheesy music and older expats," says one reader, while another student pines for their "better than back home in the States" hamburgers.
Runners-up - Kai Club, Propaganda

Editor's Pick - Zub
The scarlet glow of the subterranean Zub captures the essence of basement college parties. Hipper than Lush, less juvenile than
Propaganda and with better drinks and music.

Best Happy Hour - Bar Blu

Bar Blu (last year's Happy Hour champ) wins again. Why? "Because they make the typical happy hour thing a lot more fun with the Happy Hour Game," says one satisfied regular.
Runners-up - Browns, Centro

Editor's Pick - Aria
Let's face it, most happy hours in Beijing offer you two glasses of something flat and bland for the price of one. Aria's a bit more special. Make mine a refreshing glass of Penfolds chardonnay. Or six.

Best Wine Selection - Centro

"Their variety of wines for purchase by the glass is excellent," says one reader, while another gushes about the range, "from bitter Australian to fruity South American wines, white and red, sparkling and dry."
Runners-up - Aria, CourtYard, The Cellar

Editor's Pick - Aria
While our fair city's wine selection has grown exponentially this past year, not one purveyor has been able to surpass the top shelf selection at Aria. Caveat: their pour is a wee bit short, so buy the bottle and pour a long one for yourself.

Bar & Club of the Year - Browns

Not only did Browns win Best New Bar, but they take the cake as your choice for Bar of the Year. "[It’s] the biggest success story of the year," raves one reader. "Tell me another bar that has been so dynamic, proactive and so eager to make a noise in Beijing!"
Runners-up - Centro, Suzie Wong's

Editor's Pick - Stone Boat
Cozy, cool and completely unique, Ritan Park's "little bar by the lake" is, hands down, our favorite spot for a drink on a breezy summer's eve.

Honorable Mentions:

Area
As Editor's Pick for best newcomer, it's only right that Area gets an honorable mention for Bar of the Year and it's hoped that its original and innovative lead will be followed by Beijing's bars of the future.

Red Ball
The drinks, though cheap and basic, are great. The staff is friendly, the atmosphere is fantastic and with its open-air location and adjoining five-a-side football pitches, Red Ball is refreshingly different. In a city full of identikit bars and uninspiring options, this place definitely deserves a visit.

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