The best clubs and livehouses to party through the pollution at
Dada
Whether your new to Beijing or an old hand, it's easy to get lost in the maze that is the city's nightlife scene. Fear not though, our handy club and nightlife guide is here to help you find (and later in the night, stumble) your way through the city's best watering holes and make the most of the beginning of spring.
It's probably going to be a bit gross out there this weekend, so you might as well sod the healthy-living lifestyle and go cane it at one of these beauties.
Live music
One of the highlights of living in Beijing is the thriving alternative music scene. There are hundreds of local bands, and plenty of bars showcasing them. Here are a couple of our favourite joints for live music.
School Live Bar
Why you’re here
To soak in some of the best rock bands in the city while taking advantage of the well-maintained bar – perfect for getting efficiently sloshed at one of the characteristically sloppy punk gigs.
What’s on the bill
School has the most reliable booking schedule of both young up-and-coming bands and veterans. With great shows almost every night of the week, it’s one of the most musician-orientated venues in Beijing.
Fruityspace
Why you’re here
You’re discovering the underbelly of Beijing’s experimental, alternative and indie music scenes. Many venues catering to experimental music have closed over the last few years, making Fruityspace the new home for this displaced set.
What’s on the bill
A wide variety of noise musicians, underground hip-hop artists and offbeat electronica producers.
Mainstream clubs
If you like your clubs big and your beats bigger, Beijing's Gongti (Workers' Stadium) area has got you covered. These are some of our favourite places to get involved.
Elements
Why you’re here
While the heyday of other Gongti clubs has come and gone, Elements has played a key role in bringing international DJs and acts to Beijing for years. Although dancefloors are notoriously small in such clubs, Elements’ is always jammed with pretty people dancing the night away.
What you’re dancing to
Elements consistently hosts DJ Mag top 100 DJs and the biggest EDM stars, while its residents come from across Asia and Europe.
Modo Ultra Club
Why you’re here
While Modo is fairly new, it has already made a name for itself as one of the brightest and most banging clubs in the city. With top DJs, entertaining dance acts and one of the best designed stages in town, Modo guarantees a great night out.
What you’re dancing to
International DJs bring the best of EDM to Modo, which also has live performances by singers and producers.
Alternative clubs
There are mega clubs, and then there are the places you go to sweat it out in more intimate environments to some off-piste beats. These awesome spots are the latter.
Dada
Why you’re here
Dada is the most dynamic and world-beating of all the clubs in the city. While most maintain the same style night after night, Dada showcases a variety of the biggest and newest emerging genres in underground electronic music, pushing the local scene forward while also attracting the hottest international names.
What you’re dancing to
Dada hosts genre founders, the most unique live acts of our time and the best local DJs from in and around Beijing.
Lantern
Why you’re here
Aside from the consistently appealing underground techno and house, Lantern is the only place in Sanlitun to party until well after the sun comes up. Even when it’s not hosting an event, you can count on Lantern to keep you dancing the night away.
What you’re dancing to
Lantern’s residents may not switch up styles very much, but you’re guaranteed the very best of tech and progressive house no matter what time of the night you stop by.
The Bar at Migas
Why you’re here
A bona fide nightlife institution, this Spanish party bar offers something for everyone. Beijing’s nightlife scene wouldn’t be the same without its unparalleled rooftop, innovative cocktail menu (with some of the heftiest pours in town) and strong music programming.
What’s the vibe
There’s always something happening, from salsa Mondays and Ping- Pong Wednesdays to a great line-up of local and international DJs through the weekends, courtesy of music director Nic Shepherd (aka DJ Boflex). It’s the sort of place you can come for a quiet drink or party till sunrise. Your call.
Club nights
Whoever came up with the adage that New York is the city that never sleeps clearly hadn't made it to Beijing. Nightlife in Beijing comes at you pretty fast, and there's no end of creative types coming up with new clubbing concepts to keep you partying until the early hours. Try these two on for size, and check out our weekly round-up of the best parties to plan your weekend.
Do Hits
Why them
They’re digging up some of China’s freshest and most promising young producers and DJs. In 2016 Do Hits morphed from being only a club night to also functioning as a label, and they’ve covered a lot of ground since then. They’ve put on multiple national tours including the Motherland event series that put New York-based rapper Bohan Phoenix and Beijing’s Howie Lee on stages across China.
What you’re dancing to
Do Hits break the Beijing club-night mould because they’re not just repeating other people’s music, but actually creating their own sound full of lush and beautifully rendered samples of traditional Chinese instruments brushing up against club-ready future bass beats.
NB Noise
Why them
NB noise does more than just put together a great line-up of DJs, they also provide unique decorations, party toys and entertainment for their patrons. Not only do they host great club nights, they have also organised a number of festivals and epic day parties in and around the city.
What you’re dancing to
You’ll find their regular line-up of local favourites spinning a diverse mix of the most danceable electronic music of the day.
LGBT nights
The LGBT scene in Beijing is relatively young, but it's growing fast, and lucky for us there are some great bars and nights dedicated to providing celebratory spaces for dancing and loving. Here are two to get you started.
Friday and Saturday nights at Destination
Why you’re here
It’s Saturday night. It’s 3am. There’s only one party in town still worth going to, so you head to Destination. A place to love life, and find yourself dancing away to anything from dubstep to disco classics.
What you’re having
Who cares!? It’s fruity, it’s icy, and it was free with your ticket.
Who you’re looking at
They’re young, pretty and far too fashionable. Thankfully, the go go boys and drag queens are there to be seen.
Les Booze at Chill Bar
Why you’re here
You’re a gal who loves gals, or gals and boys, or just a good time at Chill Bar.
What you’re drinking
A crisp mojito, or maybe a premium European beer. Shots if things get messy later on.
Where you’re sitting
Snuggled on a sofa in the main hangout space, or close to the stage.
What you’re dancing to
Anything. The beats are as eclectic as the clientele.
Hit 'Read more' for venue addresses.