General: Beijing > Reviews (19)

There are more than 400 bars around Beijing. Most of them are located in the northern and eastern areas of the city.

The most famous areas are the top 3 listed below.

1. San li Tun & Worker's Stadium

Since the first bar opened in the southern street of San li Tun in 1989 this area has developed into 9 sq.km. It was most popular and still is especially with foreigners.

Around San Li Tun there are more than 70 foreign Embassies and a famous silk market(now the market moved inside and is called Ya Xiu Market). Here you can find many bars with different themes. Some are very big. Some just have a couple of tables. The bars in the southern street are more simple, quiet and popular with people who are interested in art and music. The bars in the northern street are more noisy and popular with foreigners especially single men.

Twice my husband and I visited a bar cum restaurant in this area called One Thousand and One Nights. It provides Middle Eastern food and has belly dancing after 8pm. My husband worked in the Middle East for many years. He rated the food highly.

2. Hou Hai (also known as Shi Cha Hai)

Shi Cha Hai is a lake located behind Bei Hai. That is why it is also called Hou Hai by locals. Hai in Chinese means a sea. In the past emperors usually referred to their lake as a sea. Traditionally from the Yuan dynasty this area has been a summer retreat for Beijing residents. Even now locals still like to spend time there and it is also appealing to tourists especially foreigners.

Here tourists can see traditional local houses called Si He Yuan and walk along Hu Tongs. By the way, Hu Tong means an alleyway. Along the lake there are many bars reconstructed from Si He Yuan. So here you can walk through the alleyways, sit in the traditional local houses and have your favourite drink whilst your favourite music playing.

3. Chao Yang Gong Yuan & Xing Ba Lu

I'm most familiar with the bars in this area. Don't get me wrong when you read this. I'm not a frequent bar visitor. It is just that I have lived in this area for more than 10 years. It is located in the CBD(central business district) and also near to the newer Embassy area.

There used to be a bar called the Goose & Duck by the western gate of Chao Yang Gong Yuan(it's a big park). The owner came from Scotland. Many foreigners especially British, who love sport drank there. It provided traditional British meals. It was in this bar I first tried fish & chips and had a British breakfast. I have many good memories from my visits there before it moved to the eastern gate of Chao Yang Gong Yuan in 2007.

Xing Ba Lu has a big lake too. There are many bars including one called Pilipili, the only African themed bar in Beijing. It provides African food, and you can hear African music played by African bands. I went there once and I found it very impressive.

PS. might see on other websites.

Summary: you can have a good night in some bars when you visit Beijing.