Guide for night owls

Befitting its status as a great metropolis, Beijing has a fascinating and varied nightlife.

Sanlitun might be out of fashion; Houhai has a number of new and fancy bars and restaurants along its lake; Nanluoguxiang, near the Central Academy of Drama, has many new bars and restaurants rich in cultural flavor; Star Live by the Lama Temple (Yonghegong) might be one of the hottest pubs in the city; and around the Workers' Stadium is an emerging night-time contender, too.

China View, east of the Workers' Stadium, houses such fancy and trendy venues as the American chain restaurant Hooters, the music theme restaurant Ocean Butterflies, the club Klubb Rouge and others.

For male customers, Hooters needs no introduction. The casual beach-theme establishment features an "oldies" jukebox, sport on big screens and a menu that includes seafood, sandwiches, salads and spicy chicken wings.

Ocean Butterflies is run by leading Asian entertainment company Ocean Butterfly International, which manages a long list of pop stars, including the Singaporeans Ado and JJ Lam Junjie. The restaurant therefore presents trendy music with a live band every night and you might even get to meet one of the company's pop stars.

Covering the top floor of China View, Klubb Rouge aims to be Beijing's top drinking establishment, in which revellers can also see down into the Workers' Stadium.

The main bar is long and thin, and takes up a large space - thus drink queues are down and the chance to chat with a stranger at the bar is up.

Address: Gongti Donglu, east of Workers' Stadium 工体东路工人体育馆东面

(China Daily 08/24/2008 page16)