6 Best Bars In Beijing That Create The Perfect City Bar Scene

1. Red Dog

Red Dog is a must-see cocktail and wine bar with a feeling of ‘Paris in 1900’. Travel back in time through a delightful French interior decoration while enjoying your amazing cocktail, which, by the way, might be one of the new ones introduced every week! A great atmosphere and extra caring staff are what make this place so special. Red Dog happens to cater also to the LGBTQ community. You can make a reservation or just walk in and can also order snacks to accompany your drink.

Red Dog

Address: B1-538, Bldg 5, Sanlitun Soho, Chaoyang District

Website: Red Dog

Opening hours: 6pm - 2am (daily)

2. Scandal Bar

A plethora of innovative cocktails and an extremely wide range of whiskeys, gin, tequila, champagne, and cognac are available to guests at this exotic bar in Beijing’s Chaoyang District. The premises include two floors, each uniquely decorated, featuring white and black marble and a French-style interior design. For more privacy, opt for the second floor where the comfy sofas and the low lighting create a cozier atmosphere. A projector screen and a DJ area are also found here.

Scandal Bar

Address: Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District

Website: Scandal Bar

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 7pm - 2am (closed on Mon)

3. The Tiki Bungalow

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This is a beautiful cocktail bar which is well worth the effort to find it after having lost your way repeatedly. Here, you will find yummy cocktails; just imagine drinking one with macadamia nut flavor! Both locals and foreigners hang out at this rather funky spot with its great vibes and setting, where beers and other notable spirits are also served. It is admittedly one of the best spots to dream of your next tropical holiday while enjoying some good music and the much-adored Zombie cocktail.

The Tiki Bungalow

Address:46 Fangjia Hutong, Dongcheng District

Website: The Tiki Bungalow

Opening hours: 6pm - 2am (daily)

4. Great Leap Brewing Original

This is another fabulous bar that offers about 20 beers on tap, all fresh and locally brewed, has reasonable prices, and where English is spoken quite widely. Once you are there, you will feel the tranquillity of the place, despite being in the heart of this huge city! They don’t serve food, however, so you may easily have it delivered from nearby restaurants. At Great Leap they care a lot about high quality, thus they use the best ingredients sourced either domestically or internationally. If you want to find yourself in one of the biggest craft breweries in Asia, then don’t miss this bar!

Great Leap Brewing Original

Address: #6 Doujiao Hutong, Di'Anmenwai Avenue, Dongcheng District

Website: Great Leap Brewing

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 12pm - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 12pm - 12am

5. Capital Spirits and Distillery

Capital Spirits is unique not only because it serves baijiu, China’s most famous alcoholic export, but also because it is actually the world’s first bar dedicated to baijiu. It has emerged with Distillery, where they also serve baijiu-based drinks, as well as excellent self-made vodka and gin. Try to get there early, as the place tends to get packed quickly.

Capital Spirits and Distillery

Address: Block E No.7，First Floor，Longfu Building，No.95 Longfusi Street，Dongcheng District，Beijing

Website: Capital Spirits

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 8pm - 1am (closed on Mon)

6. Mai Bar

For a nice evening out with your friends or even for a date, choose this cozy little bar with a small terrace for the hot summers. The bartenders seem to artistically prepare awesome cocktails, like the Queen’s Park Swizzle, but the wide selection of whiskeys is another good reason to pay a visit. You might also want to try the sweet mijiu (rice wine) which they serve hot in a pot. This is a pretty chill spot located in a nice neighborhood of Beijing, Mai Bar often gets busy but not overcrowded.

Mai Bar

Address: #40 Beiluoguxiang Hutong, Dongcheng District

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 6pm - 1am; Fri - Sat: 6pm - 2am

Getting lost in the hutongs

Beijing’s bar scene is definitely characterized by the great quality of the drinks, the warm and cozy environment, and the friendly staff. But remember that the best bars are scattered around some beautiful neighborhoods, the so-called hutong alleyways, which stand alone for a great reason to explore the area until you find the bar of your choice.