You may find it hard to believe, but it’s been less than 20 years since Beijing’s first non-hotel bar served its first beer. Now, the city’s nightlife is the most vibrant in China. Like most businesses in Beijing, bars of a feather like to flock together, so the listings below are mostly arranged district-by-district, plus some theme bars and special-interest establishments at the end.
1) Sanlitun Area
三里屯地区
Sanlitun was the original bar district in Beijing, divided into a north and south street. There is still a concentration of bars, cafes and restaurants in the area, but many of them have recently made way for upscale shopping malls.
South Bar Street
三里屯南酒吧街
Generally referred to simply as Nanjie in Chinese, this is an area behind the Comfort Inn where you can find some popular bars and cafes.
The Rickshaw
人力车
Expat hangout, famed for its happy hour, pool table, pizzas and burritos. Happy hour 4–8 p.m. daily.
Tel: +86 10 6500 4300
Address: Sanlitun Nanlu, 30 metres south of the junction with Gongti Beilu.
三里屯南路，工体北路往南30米
The Bookworm
书虫
Much more than just a bar, the Bookworm has books and magazines for sale, Wi-Fi, serves food and drinks, is a lending library, and is child friendly.
Tel: +86 10 6586 9507
Address: Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Lu (just past the Rickshaw)
南三里屯路四号楼（经过人力车）
Nanjie
南街
Named for the old bar street, this is a fairly noisy student-type hangout, but with some of the cheapest drinks in Beijing.
Tel: +86 10 6413 0963
Address: Turn right from The Bookworm, past the Banana Leaf restaurant.
工体北路机电学院内（书虫往右，经过蕉叶餐厅）
Salsa Caribe
沙沙卡利宾拉丁俱乐部
House band playing Latin music and salsa, this is the best place to go in Beijing for Latin American rhythms.
Tel: +86 10 6507 7821
Address: Across from Nanjie.
工体北路4号
Tun
屯吧
Newly opened spacious bar to the south of this complex, located in a renovated factory.
Reasonably priced drinks and cocktails, and huge screen for watching sports.
Tel: +86 10 6585 5866
Address: About 50 metres south of Salsa Caribe.
工体北路4号，三里屯南街
Q Bar
Great cocktails in a trendy bar located on the top of the Eastern Hotel. Sit inside for dim lights and music, or sit outside on the terrace for a view over the city.
Tel: +86 10 6595 9239
Address: Top floor of Eastern Hotel, corner of Sanlitun Nanlu and Gongti Nanlu (continue south from The Rickshaw)
三里屯南路和工体南路交接口朝阳医院东门逸羽酒店6层
Saddle Cantina
墨西哥西餐厅
Newly opened in the back of the Nali Patio Shopping Mall, Saddle Cantina serves Tex-Mex food in a building that looks like a hacienda with a large outside deck.
Tel: +86 10 5208 6005
Address: 81 Sanlitun Lu, Nali Patio
三里屯北路81号，那里花园内西侧二层小楼
Bar Blu
蓝吧
Popular bar in the Tongli Studio complex. Large rooftop terrace and a generous happy hour from 5–9 p.m.
Tel: +86 10 6417 4124
Address: Fourth Floor, Tongli Studios, Sanlitun Beilu
三里屯酒吧北街同里4层
Kokomo
加勒比餐吧
Perhaps Beijing’s only Caribbean themed cocktail bar, Kokomo has a large terrace serving Caribbean snacks. Often has live music or DJs.
Tel: +86 10 6413 1019
Address: Fourth Floor, Tongli Studios, Sanlitun Beilu
三里屯北酒吧街同里4层
The Tree
树吧
With its wide selection of Belgian beers and possibly the best wood-fired pizza in Beijing, The Tree has been popular in Beijing for years.
Tel: +86 10 6415 1954
Address: 43 Sanlitun Beijie, in a small lane behind Poachers Inn and Hostel, opposite Tongli Studios.
三里屯北街后街（Poachers Inn 院里）
