The best outdoor bars in Beijing

Photo: Miles Rong Bar

The city's prime spots to sip a drink in the open air

Make the most of the warmer weather by taking in the views and the fresh air with a drink in hand. Whether you fancy the cosy atmosphere of a hutong courtyard, or want somewhere to soak up the sunshine and take in the breathtaking views of Beijing from above, there's a bar for you. Here's our pick of the best spots for al fresco drinking in Beijing.

Arrow Factory Brewing

Even before you consider the reliably tasty brews, central location and gorgeous rooftop terrace, Arrow Factory Brewing Taproom is worth stopping by for the food alone.

Arrow Factory Brewing. Liangmahe Nan Lu, Chaoyang district 朝阳区亮马河南路 Open 11.30am-11.30pm daily

Buona Bocca

Photo: Cristiano Bianchi

A chic Italian wine bar and aperitivo hangout off the main drag in Sanlitun with a great wine list. You're here for the Prosecco and the negronis. 

Buona Bocca. First Floor, Building 4, Shoukai Bojun Xingfu Sancun Sixiang, Xingdong Lu, Chaoyang district 朝阳区新东路幸福三村四巷首开铂郡南区4号楼 Open 5pm-midnight daily

Blue Frog (CBD)

The venue of the popular hamburger joint at the China World Mall comes with a rooftop terrace and great views of the CCTV tower.

Blue Frog. Sixth Floor, Building 17, China World Mall Beiqu, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district 朝阳区建国门外大街1号院17号国贸商城北区六层NL6005 Open 10am-midnight Sun-Thu;10am-1am Fri-Sat

Container Top Lounge

Photo: Container Lounge/Wechat

With a sprawling patio stretching over 450 square metres, Container Top Lounge's three-floor bar boasts an unparalleled view of the sleek, curvilinear skyscrapers of Wangjing Soho. Reasonably touted as the largest open-air terrace in Wangjing, its rooftop terrace makes for a perfect spot to unwind in a minimalistic and chic setting. 

Container Top Lounge. Hesheng Qilin 11, Futong Xi Lu, Chaoyang district 阜安西路11号 合生·麒麟新天地-BF301 Open 6pm-2am daily

Cinker Pictures

Photo: Cinker Pictures/Wechat

The upper reaches of Taikoo Li North have never been particularly kind to restaurants. For whatever reason, the swanky address has proved a difficult environment for garnering following or foot traffic, but Cinker Pictures, with its arthouse film screenings and modern dining room and bar, has taken a different approach and has defied the trend that precious few seem capable of rebuffing.

Cinker Pictures. Fifth Floor, Taikooli Bei, Chaoyang district 北京市朝阳区三里屯太古里北区N4-40B 3-10pm(restaurant) Open 3pm-1am(bar) 5:30-8pm(film screenings) daily  

Fez Bar

Photo: Fez Bar

This reincarnation of the much-loved classic is gorgeous. The decor – all pink sofas and fez-shaped lamps – is almost as pretty as the clientele. Grab a cocktail (perhaps one that features tobacco as an ingredient?) from the charming staff, and perhaps some lovely baba ganush, and enjoy the views.

Fez Bar. Sixth Floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang district 朝阳区三里屯北街81号那里花园6层 Open 6pm-late daily

Great Leap Brewing Original #6

Photo: Chen Chao

Great Leap Brewing’s sweet-yet-fiery Honey Ma Gold is Beijing summarised in a glass: a mix of old Eastern ingredients and modern Western techniques, enormously attractive to hipsters and, thanks to Great Leap’s location, intimately tied to the city’s winding hutong alleys. 

Great Leap Brewing Original #6. 6 Doujiao Hutong, Di'anmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng district 东城区豆角胡同6号院 Open noon-11pm Mon-Thu, Sun; noon-11.30pm Fri-Sat

MO Bar

Photos: MO Bar 

Situated within the new 73-room Mandarin Oriental(MO) Beijing Wangfujing, the slick lounge with its expansive rooftop terrace boasts some of the best views of the Forbidden City, and serves carefully crafted cocktails inspired by different quarters of the city.

MO Bar. Fifth Floor, 269 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng district 王府井大街269号王府中环东座五层501 Open 5pm-1am daily

Migas Mercado

Migas Mercado is, like everything these days, in China World Mall, offering the requisite awesome views of the surrounding urban vista. It is also something of a vista in itself, being totally freakin’ huge – the sprawling terrace bar itself seems to go on for miles.

Migas Mercado. Seventh Floor, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district 朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城7层 Open 11am-3am daily

Miles Rong Bar

Photo: Mile Rong Bar

A massive rooftop in a less traffic-stricken corner of Sanlitun slinging cocktails from the notorious bar maestro Mr Ming. Have an old fashioned or a strawberry cooler and watch the sunset over Sanlitun's revellers and the embassy district's diplomats, who are perhaps one and the same.

Miles Rong Bar. Second Floor, Sanlitun Dongsanjie, Chaoyang district 朝阳区三里屯东三街4-5号2层 Open 6pm-2am Mon-Thur; 6pm-3am Fri-Sat; 6pm-1am Sun   

O'Bar

Fancy spot at Lido’s NUO Hotel with a massive terrace sporting private bungalows and plenty of pretty people.

O'Bar. Fifth Floor, NUO Hotel Beijing 2A Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang district 北京市朝阳区将台路甲2号 Open 6pm-1am daily

Slow Boat(Dengshikou)

Photo: Slow Boat

Slow Boat's latest outpost by Dengshikou metro station sports an al fresco space that you'll want to camp at this summer. It's made even more tempting being the only branch to offer a rotating range of experimental sour beers and cider on draught, an expanded menu of cocktails and grill items as well as daily happy hours from 4-7pm.

Slow Boat(Dengshikou). 157 Dongsi Nan Dajie, Dongcheng district 东城区东四南大街157号圣元荟 Open 11am-late daily

Unico

Unico sits atop the Topwin Centre, and although it’s only on the fifth floor, the south-facing CBD views are still pretty lit, especially at night. Floor to ceiling windows make the most of the urban vista, but what’s especially smashing about this joint is that the views within the bar are stylish to a T. 

Unico. Fifth Floor, Topwin Centre, 1 Sanlitun Nan Lu 南三里屯路1号通盈中心5层 Open 2pm-3am daily

Paulaner Bräuhaus

At this Bavarian-themed eatery, diners can enjoy authentic German food and plenty of home-brewed beer in a casual outdoor terrace.

Paulaner Bräuhaus. Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district 朝阳区亮马桥路50号 Open 11-1am daily

Terrazza Martini

Formerly the home of Migas, Nali Patio's sprawling rooftop space is now occupied by Terrazza Martini, Bacardi's first flagship lounge in China. Still as popular a location as ever, Sanlitun revellers flock to this spot on Friday and Saturday nights for live music, strong drinks and general debauchery.

Terrazza Martini. Seventh floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang district 朝阳区那里花园三里屯路81号7层 Open 8pm-5am daily

V-Plus Lounge

Photo: V-Plus Lounge/Wechat

Opened by Mandopop diva Na Ying, V-Plus Lounge serves up a decent cocktail list in an unmistakably high-class, luxurious ambiance. Overlooking the Workers’ Stadium amid Gongti's rowdy nightclubs, the two-floor bar offers an intimate and chill alternative – though with a higher price tag.

V-Plus Lounge. 14th Floor, China View, 2 Gongti Dong Lu, Chaoyang district 工体东路2号中国红街3号楼14层 Open 8pm-late daily

Xiu Bar

Photo: Xiu Bar/Wechat

One of the best-looking bar in Beijing, with an excellent ladies' night. The large and style venue, divided into five bars all with their own style and music, boasts a fantastic terrace with great views across the city.

Xiu Bar. Sixth Floor, Beijing Yintai Center, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district 朝阳区建国门外大街2号北京银泰中心6层 Open 5pm-1am Sun-Thu; 5pm-2am Fri-Sat

Yun Summer Lounge

The orientalist lounge bar offers a summer oasis of chill vibes, creative cocktails and cool bites in the middle of bustling Wangfujing.

Yun Summer Lounge. 15th Floor, the Peninsula Beijing, 8 Jinyu Hutong Wangfujing, Dongcheng district 东城区金鱼胡同8号王府井王府半岛酒店15层 Open 5.30pm-1am daily

46 Fangjia Hutong

Photos: 46 Fangjia Hutong/Wechat

Tucked inside the 46 Fangjia hutong, this film-themed rooftop bar offers a variety of drinks, food as well as screenings of a decent selection of indie films on its terrace. Known as the ‘mini 798 Art District’, 46 Fangjia is a hutong courtyard transformed from a former factory building. It houses an impressive array of artsy restaurants and cafes along its narrow alley, making it a perfect spot for laid-back weekend hangouts.

46 Fangjia Hutong. Building B (Skykee's rooftop), 46 Fangjia Hutong, Dongcheng district 北京市东城区方家胡同46号B座（星汇天姬楼顶）    

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