5 Excellent New Wine Bars in Beijing

Sometimes it feels like Beijing is all about craft beer. There are so many craft brew joints and brewpubs popping up that we have to do a lot of beer drinking to keep up. Not that we're complaining. We have nothing against you, craft beer. We thoroughly enjoy you, in fact. But we like a little variation in our drinking diet.

Lucky for us (and those of you who share our affinity for wine) quite a few wine bars have popped up around Beijing recently. Wine bars are becoming such a growing trend that there have been five notable openings this year alone. So if you're in the mood to take a break from beer and sip on a glass of wine, we recommend you sample one (or all) of these excellent Beijing wine bars.

1. InVino

InVino is located in Xingfuyicun Qixiang (the alley opposite Worker’s Stadium, past Bodhi Spa – massage and wine, anyone?). Their wine selection is basically a round-the-world tour that will really get you InVino (‘in the wine’): reds span Argentina to Australia, Bulgaria to France, whereas white label countries include Italy, Germany, New Zealand and Spain. You’ll have no problem spending hours sampling all the different varieties (which is exactly what we did). They also serve items such as steak tartare, hand-cut fries, oysters, cold cuts and cheese platters.

Daily, 5pm-late. Xingfuyicun Qixiang, Chaoyang 朝阳区幸福一村七巷 (132 2018 0519)

2. Buona Bocca

This is the hippest thing to hit Xindong Lu since, well, anything. Huge windows ensure loads of natural light, and design is arty in a quirky, colorful way. As the name might imply, the wine selection focuses on Italian. In the expansive pantheon of grape varieties, it’s helpful to have a specialty. Lest wine is not your thing – Aperol and Campari spritz are on hand as well. The grub here is designed with wine in mind – platters feature cold cuts (they’re Italian, duh), and the complementary bread and olive oil is a nice touch.

Wed-Mon, 5pm-midnight. 1/F, Building 4, Shoukai Bojun Xingfu Sancun Sixiang, Xingdong Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区新东路幸福三村四巷首开铂郡南区4号楼 (5642 2236)

3. Vin Vino

Vin Vino is located in Maizidian on a street full of tiny Japanese restaurants. This aesthetically pleasing, wood-paneled little shop wouldn’t be out of place in New York City. It has a solid, curated selection meant to please and not overwhelm. The French-Japanese tapas are so delightful that the wine almost takes a backseat. Try the octopus carpaccio (RMB58). Glasses from RMB48, bottles from RMB200; small plates range from RMB30-RMB100.

Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm (cafe), 6pm-1am (bar). Ichiban Street, 15 Zaoying Beili, Nongzhanguan Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区农展馆北路枣营北里15号 (186 1196 8069)

4. Vesuvio

Bottega rocks. But now it rocks even harder. Vesuvio is located upstairs at Bottega. Think of Vesuvio as Bottega’s hip little loft – a great place to go before a meal at Bottega, or after a meal at Bottega or, you know, in between meals at Bottega. Maybe this isn’t a wine bar, per se – Vesuvio also specializes in customizable Negronis. But the hefty wine options, presented alongside an adorable map of Italian wine regions, offer something for almost every budget and palette.

Daily, 6pm-late. 18 Sanlitun Beilu (down the alley opposite PageOne), Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯北路18号 (6416 1752)

5. Fú Tapas & Wine Bar

There’s been a bunch of new wine bars opened this year, but Fú is the only one with a completely organic selection. As well as new- and old-world wines, this chic and unexpectedly intimate three-story hutong joint also serves tapas, salads and cold cuts.

Tue-Sun, 5pm-midnight; Fri-Sat, noon-midnight. 25 Ju'er Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区菊儿胡同25号 (188 0113 6781)

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