A Guide to Finding Beijing's Best 'Hidden' Bars
By Noelle Mateer
The past year has seen a rash of ‘hidden’ bars open in Beijing. Here’s our guide to finding them. (That’s Beijing does not accept responsibility if you get lost.)
Scarlet A
WHAT IT IS: Cult-favorite Gulou cocktail bar.
HOW TO FIND IT: Open the heavy door, then slide open the bookcase. Or yell until someone on the other side hears and slides it open for you.
60 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区鼓楼东大街60号 (139 1084 6615)
Mimi e Coco
WHAT IT IS: Hip little spot serving pre-mixed cocktails and homemade cordials alongside its all-vinyl DJ booth.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Go to Ramo (64 Fangjia Hutong), then enter the tiny alleyway on its
east side. Find the large door with a handle, and enter. (If you get
lost, you can always ask Ramo for help.)
64 Fangjia Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区方家胡同64号 (8401 6288)
Bar 4 Nine
WHAT IT IS: Relaxed lounge with top-notch cocktails featuring traditional Beijing ingredients.
HOW TO FIND IT: Enter a chicken restaurant (yes, really), then find the staircase in the back. Walk up, pull back the curtain and voila.
2/F, 308 Andingmen Nei Dajie, Dongcheng 东城区安定门内大街308号内家鸡坊餐厅2层 (150 1000 8553)
Capital Spirits
WHAT IT IS:
Beijing’s one-and-only baijiu bar. (It’s not new, but newly hidden –
local authorities paved over the front door in a recent spate of hutong
renovations.)
HOW TO FIND IT: Enter Daju Hutong
from Dongzhimen Nan Xiaojie, then call Capital Spirits at 6409 3319. A
member of staff will come out and let you in.
3 Daju Hutong, Dongcheng 东城区大菊胡同3号 (6409 3319)
Mokihi 1%ERS
WHAT IT IS: Menu-less motorcycle-themed bar serving bespoke cocktails.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Have your cab drop you off on Xiaoyun Lu just north of Maison FLO.
Wander up the alley of car repair shops, then enter a blue building with
yellow trim. Inside you’ll see a wooden door – that’s you. (But be safe
and have their phone number in hand.)
8 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang朝阳区霄云路8号 (152 1040 0589)
Botany
WHAT IT IS: Mind-blowing cocktails by master mixologist Frankie Zou in what was once an apartment.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Call 6463 6091 to make an appointment. Call it again later when you
can’t figure out how to get to No. 1209 of Yongli International Service
Apartments.
1209-2 Yongli International Service Apartment, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区永利国际2单元1209 (6463 6091)
Mokihi No. 3
WHAT IT IS: Vintage Americana-styled speakeasy with inventive drinks and the friendliest bartenders this side of the Yangtze.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Go to the top floor of 3.3 Mall. Walk behind Mega Vintage into the
floor’s Southwest corner. Look out for a tiny hallway–it’ll lead you
back to Mokihi.
6/F, 3.3 Building, 33 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区三里屯路33号3.3楼6层
Da Vinci
WHAT IT IS: An ostentatiously Renaissance-themed apartment bar with a view over Gongti and cocktails by the team behind Parlor.
HOW TO FIND IT: It’s in the same building as Botany (see instructions above). Go to apartment No. 1612.
1612-2 Yongli International Service Apartment, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang 朝阳区永利国际2单元1612 (6461 7962)
And here are some handy maps to help you find your way...
For more Beijing bar and restaurant news, click "Read more" below.