Shoot Some Pool While Enjoying a Beer at These Beijing Bars

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In many a pub in the UK you’ll find a billiards –  aka pool –  table, and shooting some pool while enjoying a beer or two is a great way to spend a casual evening. If you’re also a pool fan, or if you fancy giving it a go, here are a few bars in the capital for you to check out.   

Ball House

When approaching this bar just northeast of the Drum Tower, it’s easy to think that it’s closed, but push open the door and you’ll find yourself in an old, spacious converted hutong house. We even called them today just to double check they're still open, as the Beijing rumor mill had said otherwise. We can confidently say they're open, but only in the evenings. Run by an elderly Chinese couple (who seem to always be eating some kind of meal) and with a bit of a ramshackle feel, it isn’t the usual type of bar you’ll find in the capital, but that’s part of its quirky charm. 

However, if you’re a Fast and Furious fan then the real appeal is that you can play pool on the same table that actor Vin Diesel once played on. There's even a photograph by the pool table to prove it! Along with the pool table, Ball House has a beer fridge and classic cocktails available to order. The bar doesn't serve food but you’re welcome to order waimai there if you wish. 

Ball House

40 Zhonglouwan Hutong (directly east of the Bell Tower), Xicheng District
西城区旧鼓楼大街钟楼湾胡同40号

The Pool Bar

A bit of a no-brainer given the name, The Pool Bar is another hutong bar that has, you guessed it, a pool table. Open until 5am, this is the ideal place for those looking for a bit of late night pool to wind down after a night out on the town.  If you’re looking for some other games to entertain you they also have a great foosball table. 

The Pool Bar

106 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
东城区鼓楼东大街106号

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Q Mex Bar & Grill

Apart from their Q Mex Taqueria location, all four branches of Q Mex have a pool table, so technically that’s a whole four other pool tables added to the list! With daily food deals and a great summer menu, Q Mex is a great place to grab a bite to eat while also shooting a game.

A quick heads up that Wednesdays at their CBD location and Thursdays at their Solana location are quiz nights, and things can get a little busy, meaning the pool table may not always be available to play. So it may be best to avoid those days and locations if you want to be guaranteed the table. 

Q Mex Bar & Grill

All branches except Q Mex Taqueira

The Local

Sanlitun sports bar The Local has a pool table up on their second floor, and it's the perfect spot if you want to catch a game at the same time as playing pool. They also have a recently updated menu with ten different kinds of mac and cheese, which are definitely worth trying out if you’re there. Sometimes the upstairs isn’t always open or can be booked out for private events, so if you’re dead set on playing pool it's a good idea to call ahead first. 

The Local

Courtyard 4 (opposite west entrance of 1949 - The Hidden City), Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体北路4号院（1949西门对面）

Eudora Station

Up near Siyuanqiao, Eudora Station is the furthest out of central Beijing of all the bars on our list, which means that it also tends to be less busy. Plus, thanks to the fact that this venue has ample seating in the front and back of the restaurant, the area surrounding the pool table is usually pretty quiet. This might be a good shout for those with minimal special awareness when playing pool. 

Eudora Station

6 Fangyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区芳园西路6号

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Images: Dianping, Unsplash Stephen Collins

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