Bar owners obviously think there is more to the area around the Lama Temple than vegetarian restaurants and incense sellers. In the past few months The Vineyard, Caf de Paris and now RIVE ART and Coffee have opened just a stone's throw from Beijing's most famous Buddhist temple.

This latest colourful little addition, to the south of Ditan Park, looks rather out of place, tucked alongside the overbearing grey and black entertainment venue that houses the Tango nightclub.

Inside, however, the bar is small and warren like. Large paintings, collages and pastels adorn the white-washed walls and sections of some of the rooms are curtained off with purple drapes, creating a more intimate atmosphere.

When we turned up on Thursday evening, French jazz was playing from the stereo and small groups were huddled around tables, knocking back 10 yuan bottles of Tsingtao and admiring art work that wouldn't look out of place in the warehouses and galleries of Dashanzi.

The drinks list won't win this place any awards for variety Corona and Tsingtao are the only beers but few would argue when the menu includes cocktails for 16-yuan and under.

Whether or not this Chinese run establishment manages to attract the foreign clientele it aims for (billboards outside are all in English and copies of The Economist can be found stacked up by the tables) is unclear. However RIVE, with its uncomplicated combination of cheap drinks and eye-catching artwork, is another welcome addition to the modest Yonghegong bar scene.

RIVE ART and Coffee
Location: Andingmenwai Dajie, Dongheyan
Tel: 010-64298751