Beijing’s Best Beer Gardens and Courtyards
Beijing has plenty of terraces and rooftops to enjoy a day or afternoon in the sun, as you might've guessed from our recent rooftop series – it's got a part one, two, three, and four! – so now, it's time for a look at beer gardens and courtyards.
Strictly speaking, in my "expert opinion" as a Brit, Beijing doesn’t really have what I would classify as a beer garden as there aren’t any proper pubs here. However, they do have some places that come pretty close. There are also many bars with courtyards around the capital, which I would argue is a sort of Chinese version of a beer garden. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what the capital has to offer!
COMMUNE RESERVE
Located directly north of Dawanglu, COMMUNE RESERVE has a stunning outdoor space that I’d say comes as close to a beer garden as you’re going to get here. Stretching across a large area, it’s decorated with plenty of greenery and has ample seating, with its cream-colored sofas looking like a particularly inviting place to spend the afternoon.
They have a staggering 20 beers on tap giving plenty of choice, with everything from IPAs to sours, from fruity numbers to stouts. A personal recommendation of mine is the Craft Head Life is Peachy (RMB 52/300ml). They do a great daily free flow deal (Sun-Thu, 9pm-midnight, RMB 188; Fri-Sat, 9pm-midnight, RMB 238) if you want to sample a few different ones. Along with beers they have plenty of cocktails and mocktails, plus an extensive food menu.
COMMUNE RESERVE
101, 1F, Beijing Guanghua International, 6 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区西大望路6号光华国际大厦1层101
Hours: 11-3am
Phone: 136 9323 2573
Beersmith
Perhaps more of an urban version of a beer garden with its location right in the heart of Guomao, Beersmith’s terrace is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or evening sipping on their fresh brews. Decorated with hanging baskets bursting with flowers, a wall of greenery, and fairy lights come evening, the location definitely has some garden vibes. They’re always adding new seasonal beers to their arsenal, and one of the newest to try is the Lychee Lime Seltzer (RMB 62/400ml), a super refreshing option in the heat. In addition to new beers, their menu has also had a summer upgrade with new platters, salads, and more.
Beersmith
1/F, Hotel Jen Beijing, 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District
朝阳区建国门外大街1号新国贸饭店1层
Hours: 11-2am
Phone: 010 8647 1098
Paulaner
Right by the Liangma River, Paulaner boasts a large outdoor space framed by hedges and complete with artificial grass, which makes for a pretty decent, sort of, beer garden. As you’d expect they have numerous Paulaner beers on tap along with some more unusual creations such as their beer cocktails, which include a Beer Mojito (RMB 79) or Paulaner Old Fashioned (RMB 89). Their Bavarian-themed menu leans heavily towards big, meaty dishes, but they do also have a few vegetarian options.
Paulaner
1/F, Yansha Youyi Shangcheng, 52 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区亮马桥路52号燕莎友谊商城F1
Hours: 11.30am-1am
Phone: 010 6465 3388, 010 6410 4212
Circle Urban
Sort of a cross between a beer garden and a terrace, Circle Urban has a reasonably large space out front that stretches across two areas. The left-hand side is particularly lovely, with a trellis stuffed with plants and flowers creating a green wall that gives a more natural feel. They have an array of craft beers on tap from Shanghai-based brewery Mingri Brewing, and a great way to sample a few is with their daily happy hour from 5 to 7pm, where you can get three craft beers for RMB 99. They also have coffee and classic cocktails, plus a range of Western food such as brunch, burgers, tacos, and pasta, so there is plenty to choose from.
Circle Urban
A7 1959 Shijianli, 5 Jingshun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区京顺路5号1959时间里A7
Hours: 10-1am
Phone: 158 0145 8389
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Great Leap #6
A favorite hutong spot for many, Great Leap’s flagship branch has a lovely courtyard beer garden. The courtyard itself is over 100 years old and you can appreciate the hutong architecture while sipping on a pint. You can expect to see some of their usual signature brews on tap like Honey Ma Gold (RMB 45), Banana Wheat (RMB 55), or Little General IPA (RMB 50), along with seasonal additions like the new Urban Forest IPL (RMB 40). They don't serve food at this location, but you’re free to waimai whatever you’d like. For those with furry friends, the courtyard is also completely dog friendly!
Great Leap #6
6 Doujiao Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区大跃啤酒6号鼓楼店
Hours: noon-midnight
Phone: 184 0060 8074
El Nido @ The Other Place
Just off Beiluo Guxiang, El Nido @ The Other Place has a cozy courtyard plus a small rooftop area. The wooden furnishings and vines growing on the pergola give it a relaxed, rustic feel ideal for a casual drink or two. They have a wide, ever-changing selection of beers, and often invite guest breweries from outside of Beijing to take over some of their taps. If beer isn’t your thing then no problem because Fang Bar, which serves up some banging cocktails, is also housed in the same courtyard.
El Nido @ The Other Place
1 Langjia Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区郎家胡同1号
Hours: 2pm-3am
Phone: 184 0061 2355
Zarah
Zarah’s courtyard is a personal favorite of mine, with a large tree as a focal point which casts some much-needed shade in Beijing’s hotter months, it also features bamboo and a partial glass ceiling, which creates a bit of a greenhouse vibe. Those looking to enjoy some early evening drinks can make use of their daily happy hour: 4pm-8pm draft beer and wine for RMB 35 a glass; 6pm-8pm all cocktails RMB 40. Their food selection is also excellent, with everything from salads to sandwiches to cheese and meat platters to pasta, it’s an especially great choice for vegans and vegetarians, with plenty of options on the menu.
Zarah
46 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
东城区鼓楼东大街46号
Hours: Mon-Thu, 10am-12.30am, Fri-Sun, 10am-1.30am
Phone: 010 8403 9807
Chill Bar
Located only a stone’s throw west from Andingmen, Chill Bar’s unassuming courtyard really does put the chill in its name. Like Zarah, a large tree dominates the space, which looks particularly charming at night when it's lit up with fairy lights. A mish-mash of bright chairs and other bits and bobs of furniture give it a homey feel that’s really welcoming. Here they have a variety of beer, cocktails, and other drinks plus a Western menu that features some pretty decent stone-baked pizzas.
It’s also now home to literary group Spittoon, which, although don’t do their events in the courtyard, do have events every Thursday that are well worth checking out. You can follow their official account (click below) to stay up to date.
Chill Bar
101, 1F, Beijing Guanghua International, 6 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区西大望路6号光华国际大厦1层101
Hours: 11-3am
Phone: 136 9323 2573
Bonus -
Hoegarden Pop-Up Beer Garden
Hoegarden have recently collaborated with The Place to create a massive pop-up beer garden in the CBD. Check it out in the video below!
The Place
The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区光华路9号世贸天阶店
READ MORE
Images: Uni You, Katie Coy, courtesy of the venues
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