Beijing never falls short of outstanding bars, whether they are luxurious and dazzling or understated and unique. In this issue, we have compiled a list of 7 drinking spots with distinct styles, perfect for unwinding on a summer night with a slight buzz.
Key West
A leisurely “small island” in the city for a mental and physical getaway
In mid-June, a familiar storefront appeared on a street in the World City bar area—Key West has returned.
In 2018, the first Key West was born in a quiet residential area in Yong’anli. Last year, due to the impact of the pandemic, the residential area was closed, and the store eventually closed down, moving to Shanghai to start a new journey.
Fortunately, after the Shanghai store stabilized, they returned to the embrace of Beijing. The store’s name, Key West, is derived from the southernmost island city of Key West in Florida, USA, known as the “Sunset Capital” and a popular vacation destination.
Pushing open the heavy, rust-colored iron door, a wall of green bricks greets you, with paintings and antique decorations on both sides instantly transporting you into an old Beijing hutong.
That’s right, this is Key West’s “Beijing imprint,” and this space has a heartwarming name, “Neighborhood.” Behind the circular hole in the wall, an area called “Old Fashion” features only a five-person bar counter, where customers can enjoy a quiet and private experience with exclusive special cocktails.
Pushing open the black door on the right and passing through multiple mirrors, you’ll reach the “Fusion” area, which combines trendy and retro elements, also known as the main bar.
Opening the menu, each drink is accompanied by a playful name and illustration. Starting with a special blend by a Japanese bartender, the drink is presented along with a locked, exquisite small treasure box.
Upon opening the box, mint syrup from a small bottle is dripped into the drink, and a small paper boat is added as a decoration, creating a bright yellow-green gradient in the liquid. The vodka-based drink establishes a strong foundation, while the lemon and almond elements combine to create a refreshing and mellow flavor.
The city’s special cocktail, Beijing Drift, is a comforting drink for the working class. This small sweet water, composed mainly of whiskey, light cream, and chocolate flavors, has a smooth and sweet taste, like a pair of gentle hands soothing the fatigue and anxiety brought on by work.
For non-drinkers, the non-alcoholic Thai Lover Boy is worth trying. In the words of the main bartender, this is a drink with “quite an impact.” The colorful milk flavor collides with the taro soda, producing a sweet and sour bubbly taste that is not discordant but rather has a tropical feel, as if enjoying a sensory vacation.
📍 Northeast corner of Building E, Zhongjun World City, No. 6 Jinhui Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
⏰ Monday to Sunday 19:00 – 02:00 the next day
📞 010-53672567
Capital Lounge
The vicissitudes of the capital converge in the lounge
Featuring a classic European style, Capital Lounge is located on the first floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, occupying a quiet corner amidst the bustling surroundings.
At Capital Lounge, it feels like stepping back into the golden era, experiencing the elegance of Art Deco with its red, green, and gold color scheme, reminiscent of the luxurious and fashionable atmosphere of Europe from the 19th to early 20th century.
Red velvet curtains, green European-style classical sofas, golden lighting, and even magnificent crystal chandeliers and screens—all the furniture has been collected by the lounge’s founder from various places.
The sofas and coffee tables are arranged in a scattered manner, providing privacy and comfort. The outdoor space is surrounded by lush greenery, just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD, yet offering the tranquility of a private garden.
In addition to high-quality whiskey, Capital Lounge also specializes in signature cocktails. The head bartender, Donald, hails from the world’s top 50 bar, Lobster Bar at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, and has won numerous industry awards.
Under his exquisite craftsmanship, the “Invisible Cities” signature cocktail series at Capital Lounge has been endowed with a unique literary and romantic atmosphere.
Inspired by Italian writer Italo Calvino’s book “Invisible Cities,” Capital Lounge presents a sensory and vivid interpretation of the 55 cities imagined by the author in a dazzling and diverse manner.
Particularly worth recommending is the cocktail named Slange Var, which means “cheers to life” in Scottish Gaelic and is also the cultural core of Capital Lounge.
It uses Talisker 10-year-old whiskey and Matsui plum wine, slowly cooked and blended, with the addition of chrysanthemum and sea salt elements.
The floral aroma meets the whiskey, creating a harmonious balance between intensity and freshness, like a slightly salty sea breeze sweeping across the taste buds.
Under Donald’s meticulous preparation, it achieves a convergence of imagination and inspiration, where taste and smell embark on a journey through myriad realms.
📍 West side of the 1st floor, The Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, No. 83A Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
⏰ Monday to Sunday 09:00 – 02:00 the next day
📞 010-59088886
BAO JIAN
Conversations continue in the private room after six in the evening
In the innermost room of Furong Ji, boldly pushing open the door reveals the cozy BAO JIAN bar. This space was originally a private dining room of the restaurant, hence the name.
After the renovation, it has made its debut as a bar. Diners eating in the adjacent room can simply push the door open to continue their gathering. BAO JIAN also boasts one of the few second-floor terraces in the hutong area and independent seating rooms, scoring full marks for its view and privacy.
As a speakeasy bar, BAO JIAN is both casual and open. On BAO JIAN’s menu, there are a few interestingly named drinks. The berry whiskey sour called “Whatever” provides a steady stepping stone for those with indecisiveness. Another example is the non-alcoholic “Wi-Fi Password.”
BAO JIAN hopes that customers who come to the store can comfortably enjoy the current atmosphere. Even if they don’t drink alcohol, they can easily order a Mocktail with a flavor that rivals a Cocktail, just like asking for the Wi-Fi password.
BAO JIAN’s signature drinks boldly innovate while adhering to basic logic. The owner, Lola, has cultivated many tea fungus as the flavor base for the cocktails. By combining the fermentation methods left by the ancestors with the “imported” cocktails, a unique taste experience is created.
The newly launched movie-inspired cocktail series, “The House in Rome,” takes inspiration from the film of the same name. It uses gin infused with brown rice tea as the base, combined with lemon juice, homemade syrup, and a secret liqueur.
The thyme flavor is distinct, and the peach top note is refreshing. The drink is slightly bitter, with a strong yet wonderfully gentle sensation. Each breath carries the elegant undertones of brown rice tea. Sipping it slowly, it feels as cool and touching as the evening breeze.
📍 No. 63, Baoqian Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing
⏰ Tuesday to Sunday 18:00 – 02:00 the next day
📞 18401290854
Yuan Gu Bar
An urban bar filled with poetic charm after nightfall
While there are countless Western-style bars, it’s rare to find a bar that specializes in Chinese-style drinks. After nightfall, Yuan Gu remains elegantly clear, transforming into a bar that infuses poetry into its drinks, telling the stories of the night.
At Yuan Gu Bar, the drinks change with the seasons, just like the desserts. Each season, based on pre-selected poems, different textured vessels are paired. The summer drinks are paired with translucent glassware. The liquid pours in like a clear, trickling stream, and the container is cool and crystal-clear, making it refreshing just to look at.
“Ying Ying” is a pure white encounter based on Peru’s national drink, Pisco. The perfect partners in Chinese liquor, rice wine, and osmanthus, are thoroughly shaken in a shaker, filtering out a smooth and sweet-sour taste. “Nap,” on the other hand, features lychee and cantaloupe flavors as the main notes, with a hint of lemon’s slight sourness amidst the sweetness.
A soft, cloud-like marshmallow adorns the side of the glass, making you want to lie on the fluffy clouds and have a sweet dream when you’re slightly tipsy.
The main bartender, A’Jie, is witty and always has a constant stream of novel ideas. In addition to the existing offerings on the menu, you can also verbally order your preferred flavors or favorite classic cocktails.
I asked him to make a cocktail that he considered most suitable for the “shake” technique, and so the most famous 007 Vesper Martini became my drink. The strong body of the drink is accompanied by a burning sensation and a sweet aftertaste, echoing the line, “The most beautiful part lies in the slightly bitter finish.”
📍 N6-4F, Taikoo Li North, No. 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
⏰ Monday to Sunday 19:30 – 02:00 the next day
📞 13683613192
Scandal
A Tropical Monsoon Zone on the East Third Ring Road
The first step to getting to know Scandal is to find the door. The black velvet curtain with the neon sign can’t be lifted; the green lattice door on the right is the correct entrance.
Upon entering the bar, the interplay of light and dark green decor, rattan chairs, and the silhouettes of palm trees projected on the wall all exude a lively tropical feel.
Scandal’s decor takes inspiration from the colonized tropical regions, blending the 19th-century European colonial lifestyle with tropical charm. The details incorporate elements of both styles, allowing the classically exquisite European elements to collide with the vibrant and refreshing tropical ambiance, creating a unique atmosphere that is relaxed, playful, and highly textured.
When you’re undecided about what to drink, start by having some Tom Yum peanuts. The dominant aroma of lemongrass occupies your mouth. Since that’s the case, let’s go for a glass of the summer’s new drink, Coled Coconut, and fully embrace the tropical vibe.
The aroma of roasted coconut flesh is even more intense, slow-cooked at low temperatures with aged rum to bring out a caramel flavor. Sea salt and bitters bring out the overall smoothness and sweetness, like a warm breeze blowing from the beaches of Southeast Asia.
📍 Next to the bridge field in the Mechanical and Electrical Academy, No. 4 North of Workers’ Stadium, South Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
⏰ Monday to Sunday 19:00 – 02:00 the next day
📞 010-65085150
INCEPTION
A Retro Classic Jazz Bar Traveling Through Time
Inception is a Broadway-style bar from the Prohibition era in the United States, inspired by the American TV series “Boardwalk Empire” and founded by the owner, Miles.
As soon as you enter, it’s as if you’ve traveled back to Renaissance-era Europe—black and white checkered floor tiles, magnificent chandeliers, heavy velvet curtains, and even the hand-painted frescoes on the dome partially reproduce the treasured paintings of the Palace of Versailles. The meaning of the frescoes is to celebrate the harvest, aiming to let every guest reap an unforgettable and endearing night here.
INCEPTION has a hardcover menu as thick as a dictionary. In addition to the cost-effective whiskey tasting set, there are also signature cocktails. The Stag is a well-received option.
The drink is sealed in a smoke bottle with an exquisite deer antler cap, poured as you drink. The strong bourbon whiskey flavor, with a bitter aftertaste and a slight hint of berries, is surprising.
The bar area is separated from the performance area, and the Broadway-style stage is also a major highlight. Every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night, there are performances by different jazz bands.
On nights without performances, the bar screens classic movies for patrons. Whether you gather with a few good friends after work or drink alone, it makes the night more worth looking forward to.
📍 No. 1, No. 12 Xinzhong Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
⏰ Monday to Sunday 19:00 – 02:00 the next day
📞 010-64600940
Whisper Bar
In a secluded corner, amid whispers
In the Jianchang Hutong during summer, find the Whisper Bar in “Xiaoman.”
If it’s a customer’s first visit, they are likely to get lost. After entering the Hanlin Academy, the townhouses on the south side are named after the 24 solar terms. Count to Xiaoman, and you’ll find Whisper Bar. The two-story building is not large, secluded and tranquil, very suitable for an after-dinner drink.
Osmanthus, as a signature drink always available on the menu, is cold, sweet, and sour, with a well-controlled fragrance that is subtle and lingering. It is indeed, as described on the menu, a hint of osmanthus fragrance in memory. Crisp, on the other hand, is based on gin, with prominent grapefruit and lemon flavors, high acidity, and extreme refreshment.
Whisper’s menu changes frequently, basically once a month, developing many innovative signature drinks based on the season. If you encounter a drink you like, you don’t have to worry about not being able to drink it next time. Just tell the bartender the name, and it becomes your special supply.
📍 Room 105, Xiaoman, Yonghe Villa, No. 22 Jianchang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing
⏰ Tuesday to Sunday 19:00 – 01:00
📞 15711091197
