Must-see nightlife in China

  • Parlor

    Beijing

    Bartenders mix classic and signature cocktails amid ersatz old-Shanghai decor at this bar below a residential complex. Before 10pm, it doubles as a…

  • Brownie Project

    Shanghai

    Good spot for a pit stop after perusing art in the M50 complex. The sleek minimalist space is a coffee shop, art gallery and mini-bookshop rolled into one…

  • Hemingway Lounge & Terrace

    Suzhou

    A long-standing expat hangout with a pleasant outdoor terrace open in summer. This place is especially busy at weekends when live music and DJs entertain…

  • Cinnebar

    Macau

    Cinnebar has a fantastic combination of swish and casual: classy surroundings indoors and a relaxed atmosphere in its outdoor seating area around the…

  • Club Mix

    Beijing

    Mainstream hip-hop and R&B are the soundtrack at this nightclub inside the north gate of the Workers' Stadium. Be prepared to order spirits by the bottle…

  • Suns

    Guangzhou

    The best of the nightlife venues clustered around the Zhūjiāng Pátí (珠江琶醍) strip, Suns lets you imbibe cocktails on couches by the river or boogie to…

  • Rasa Enak

    Hainan

    Rasa Enak is a laid-back place in which to sample a local brew, served in beautiful gold-plated cups. You won't find cafe latte here: locals take their…

  • Release Coffee

    Shanghai

    A one-man operation run by owner-barista Severus, this tiny space has a few benches from which to enjoy a selection of seasonal single-origin coffees…

  • Yánmò Shíguāng

    Dunhuang

    All comfy sofas and a pleasant mezzanine aloft, this is a relaxing and good-looking choice for a chilled beer. Craft beers are on the menu, or you can…

  • Najia Cafe

    Beijing

    Brightly painted, high-ceilinged cafe with good coffee, homemade cheesecake and simple Italian mains (pasta, pizza, salads and the like). Rooms are shared…

  • Porto Bar

    Macau

    A formal, Portuguese-themed bar in the Grand Coloane Resort offering wines, spirits and cigars from Portugal. When it's not too hot, we recommend sitting…

  • Helen’s

    Tianjin

    Often heaving with an enthusiastic student crowd downing cheap beers, this China-wide institution is close to Wujiayao metro station; turn right out of…

  • Cafe Confucius

    Beijing

    This sleepy pit-stop a few doors along from the Confucius Temple is a fine perch to ponder the Great Sage's teachings over a tea, coffee, juice or beer…

  • Makye Ama Town

    Sichuan

    With a wide selection of teas (from ¥25) plus real coffee and friendly English-speaking staff, this is the most welcoming of the many teahouses that…

  • C's

    Shanghai

    The king of all Shanghai dives, this graffiti-strewn basement warren is a favourite for students and lovers of gritty drinking dens. Go for the banging…

  • Biggie Union

    Shanghai

    Cosy, slightly grungy beer shop with vintage European furniture, where you can peruse the hundreds of beer bottles for sale, then sit down to sample your…

  • Dave's Oasis

    Chengdu

    This quirky little place feels like something between a dive bar and a backpacker joint, but it has a friendly crowd and probably serves the only chicken…

  • Mr. Beer

    Chengdu

    There's no menu – just walk in and choose from over 100 different international bottles and a handful of draught beers – but expect to pay international…

  • Slowly Cafe

    Fujian

    In a regal old European villa is one of the old breed of cafes on the island, specialising in flavoured coffee varieties like honey and orange. Service is…

  • EGO

    Kunming

    Along with a handful of their own drinkable home brews here, there's a long list (and cooler full) of domestic and import craft offerings to complement a…

  • Wu Club

    Beijing

    Bargain drinks, pre-mixed EDM bangers and a hands-in-the-air college crowd bring the good times nightly to this subterranean club beneath the U-Centre…

  • Kyarang Cafe

    Gansu

    This traditionally styled Tibetan bar draws a local crowd and is a good choice for its comfy and welcoming interior and decent beer choice. Hookah pipes…

  • Tivo Bar

    Hong Kong

    Slightly more sophisticated than its immediate neighbours on a lively stretch of Wyndham St, Tivo has an open frontage and offers aperitivo-style snacks.

  • Communal Table

    Macau

    This cute contemporary coffeehouse specialises in blends, and touts its homemade sandwiches, breakfasts, and pastries, most of which are reasonably good.

  • Helen's (Dieshan Lu)

    Jiangxi

    This second branch of the popular bar Helen's also buzzes with a young crowd until the early hours.

  • Hey John Coffee

    Qingdao

    Up on the boardwalk, and with shaded terrace seating, this is the only cafe overlooking No 1 Bathing Beach that does proper coffee.

  • Drunk Bear

    Hainan

    With half a dozen local craft brews on tap, this Guomao watering hole is a favourite among expats and beer-loving locals alike.

  • Jiefang Xilu

    Changsha

    This street is Changsha’s club central with KTV (karaoke) joints and clubs. There are no covers but drinks can be expensive.

  • Nowhere

    Yunnan

    Coffee and light snacks in the pleasant courtyard out back here offer a lovely break from sightseeing in Weishan.

  • Le Procope Lounge

    Tianjin

    Distressed urban flair, single-malt whiskys and craft cocktails are the thing at this cool, candlelit lounge.

  • WOW Bar

    Chengdu

    Anchoring the Jiuyan Bar Street just across the road, this rowdy joint is quite popular with local students.

  • Uva Wine Bar

    Shanghai

    Rustic Italian wine bar with a lovely ambience. It serves imported wine, cheese and meat boards, and pizzas.

  • Fresh Bean

    Beijing

    Pour-overs are the speciality of this coffee 'truck' parked inside VA Live House, a local live-music venue.

  • Sunshine House

    Zhejiang

    Overlooking Upper Pond, Sunshine House serves big pots of tea and espresso drinks (¥25 to ¥40).

  • Hualongchi Xiang

    Changsha

    A busy enclave of bars down an ancient alley off the shopping strip Huangxing Zhonglu.

  • Dragon-I Bar and Restaurant, Lan Kwai Fong.

    Dragon-I

    Hong Kong

    This flashy late-night venue has an indoor bar and a terrace over Wyndham St. Go after midnight and watch Ukrainian models and Cantopop stars sipping Krug…

  • Gedi Bros Grill House

    Dunhuang

    This airy covered all wood and bamboo beer garden right at the front of the Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel carpark serves up cheap, cold bottles of Tsingtao (…

  • Camel Sports Bar

    Suzhou

    This casual basement pub in the Suzhou Industrial Park area shows international sports events, does western-style food and stocks a range of international…

  • Panda Brew

    Beijing

    Try as it might, Beijing's own Panda Brew has never managed to get its flagship bar purring smoothly. The industrial-chic interiors look the part, but…

  • King Garden Bar

    Xi'an

    Picturesquely located just outside the gate of Yuxiang Men, this slick bar is a cool spot to hang out with Xi'an's high rollers. With illuminated bar top,…

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