These Beijing Watering Holes Offer Atypical Aperitivo Cocktails

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Something something Beijing is getting warmer… or is it? First the temperature jumped up to 25 C for a few days before Mother Nature decided to bring it back down and throw in some sand and high winds for shits and giggles.

Whatever the weather may be, it’s still a nice time to welcome the coming thaw with some lighter drinks and nibbles. To that end, we’ve got a few from three great bars to try – two of them aperitivo bars and one featuring a few aperitivo-inspired drinks that are too good to pass up.

And this isn’t just three places to get an average run of the mill Negroni or Aperol spritz – because sure those are good but with three of the same ingredients at each bar it can get a bit dull. These drinks offer a different aperitivo experience.

Buona Bocca

Although a wine bar first and foremost, Buona Bocca has a nice aperitivo collection

Born seven years ago out of a love for fine Italian wines and food, Buona Bocca is a mainstay of the Sanlitun area, yet far enough away from the madness of Taikooli and Sanlitun SOHO to transport guests to Europe with its slick design, nice outdoor seating, and great food and drink. Beyond their list of 100 different wine labels and grape varieties from Italy, they’ve also got great cocktails as well.

The venue's outdoor seating area is nice in warmer weather

One drink that sums up the Buona Bocca experience, according to bar manager Ketty, is their eponymous signature socktail (RMB 70). It’s their take on the Basil Smash, made with vodka, fresh basil, and, instead of plain old simple syrup, Buona Bocca’s very own secret sweet/sour syrup.

Buona Bocca

1/F, Bldg 4, South Area, Shoukai Bojun, Xingfu Sancun Sixian, Xindong Road
朝阳区新东路幸福三村四巷首开铂郡南区4号楼1层
Phone: [phone]

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Nina

Hidden along Beiluoguxiang, Nina is one of those blink and you’ll miss it places that you’ll be happy to stumble upon if you’re in the neighborhood. The décor is simple, with the standout being their giant red “Nina” sign that bathes the entire bar in neon red. Beneath this neon sign you’ll find head bartender Umberto Cevenini mixing all kinds of aperitivi and cocktails to pair with the venue’s small bites and Italian fare. The drinks to go for: the Negroni(s). That’s right, we lied a little in the opening: the drink to try here is the Negroni, but the fun part is Umberto has a list of ten to choose from, as well as a few shaken varieties.

The coffee-infused Awaken Negroni

Of the cocktail, Umberto says the three ingredients of the Negroni are versatile, but, unlike most bartenders, he feels a Negroni without Campari isn’t a Negroni. Case in point, his Artichoke Negroni (RMB 60) opts to swap Cynar – a dark bitter liqueur that counts artichoke as one of its key ingredients – for the vermouth instead of the Campari, as most Cynar Negroni recipes call for. Another worth trying is the Awaken Negroni (RMB 70, pictured), which sees vermouth infused with coffee via a moka pot before being shaken up with gin and Campari.

Nina

66 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷66号
Phone: [phone]

Voyage by HUI

This spot isn’t necessarily an aperitivo bar, but the fact that it shares space with TRB Hutong, as well as their small drinks selection with a few lighter beverages that are perfect pre-dinner, makes up for this. Voyage by HUI is operated by the same team behind Nina, and manager Kai says the inspiration for the name came from nights spent outside in the Temple complex. “I’d go out and walk around at night with a glass of wine,” recalls Kai “and it was like going on a journey."

The Southern Tiger

And a journeying you will go with the drinks at Voyage by HUI, with Kai’s favorite recommendation being the Southern Tiger (RMB 98, pictured), a sour made with black tea-infused gin and spices, with the tea paying homage to Hui, the teahouse next door. Another drink, one crafted by Kai himself, is the Sage Spritz (RMB 78), a simple soda and prosecco spritz imbued with an earthy touch from the sage.

Voyage by HUI

23 Songzhuyuan, Shatan North Street, Dongcheng District
东城区沙滩北街嵩祝院23号
Phone: [phone]

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Images: Unsplash, Uni You, Vincent R. Vinci

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