Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with a cosy outside area, 4Corners serves up a medley of zingy Vietnamese
(and some Thai) dishes. There's a tremendous selection of spring rolls for
those who just want to graze while imbibing one of their excellent martinis
(¥40), and live music some nights too. It's hidden down a
hutong
just off Gulou
Xidajie.
Drinking
There are three top spots for a night out in Beijing (and others you can ex-
plore).
Sanlitun
(
Click here
)
, loud, brash and relatively expensive, is where
expats and Chinese party-goers come when they want to drink all night long.
Dongcheng North
(
Click here
)
is a more laid back area than Sanlitun with
its historic
hutong
housing smaller bars - some in converted courtyards - that
are better for a drink and a chat, rather than a dance.
At
Houhai Lakes
(
Click here
)
there's a noisy but undoubtedly fun strip of
bars, located attractively on the banks of Houhai and Qianhai Lakes in
Xicheng North. It's more popular with Chinese drinkers than foreigners, and
dead in winter.
At the time of research
Fangjia Hutong
(
Click here
)
, a largely residential
lane, south of the Confucius Temple, was fast developing into another drinking
hotspot with quirky, laidback bars similar to those found in the Dongcheng
North area.
Drum Tower & Dongcheng North
GREAT LEAP BREWING
(
Dayue Pijiu;
www.greatleapbrewing.com
;
6 Doujiao Hutong; 6 beer per pint
¥25-50; 7pm-midnight Tue-Fri, 3pm-midnight Sat, 2pm-9pm Sun;
Shichahai
) A hidden gem to beat all hidden gems, this micro-brewery, run by
American beer enthusiast Carl Setzer, is housed in a hard-to-find, 100-year-
old Qing-dynasty courtyard and serves up a wonderful selection of unique ales
made largely from locally-sourced ingredients.
Bar
