7 Great Low-Key Bars in Beijing for a Date

Nature vs. Nurture? 

That age old question applies to the dating world, not just the psychological make-up of criminals (although some would say being subjected to a bad date is a crime in and of itself...) No matter how much you may gel with your love interest, and no matter how psyched you both are, your environment certainly plays a factor into the success or failure of your date.

In Episode 19 we discussed personality types and how “extroverts” and “introverts” are framed in the dating world. One of the main talking points was around the misconceptions of introverts and how “…it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are shy, they just recharge a certain way.” Rachel Weiss, DNC host.

Your environment can massively affect your mood. When you’re on a date, you ideally want to find a setting that allows you to be you! 

I lean more towards the extroverted end of the scale. Most of the time I love being around people because it can bring out a really fun side of me. But when I do it too much, I have nothing left in the tank. This is not good. Why? Well in dating terms, you may land a date when you’re socially depleted, mentally and emotional exhausted, and not showing your best self.  So what can you do?

Whether your battery is running low or you just think you shine brightest when you’re not overcrowded by people, here are my favorite low-key bars in Beijing for dating.

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1. El Nido

El Nido is a small bar in the hutongs with great food and selection of drinks. It has a good crowd mixed between expat and local people, and can feel quite intimate when there aren't many people there. 

Address: 1 Langjia Hutong Dongcheng District 东城区 郎家胡同1号

2. Nina

Nina is a small cocktail bar near Angdingmen. It's quiet and not a usual crowded date night place. 

Address: 66 Beiluogu Xiang Dongcheng District 东城区 北锣鼓巷66号

3. Tavern Brewery

Located near UIBE, the Tavern Brewery is a small brewery bar with a mostly local Chinese crowd. It's a great place to take a date and just talk all night - it's a little dingy, but makes for a quite relaxed and chill venue. 

*This bar is a bit of a secret so we decided not to add a photo!

Address: Underground The Tavern 倔脾气精酿啤酒地下酒馆

4. Jing-A Taproom

Jing-A Taproom is hidden away in the hutongs, so not many people think to go there. It has that cool, modern pub feel, but is still quite quiet and mainly Chinese clientele.

Address: 京A Taproom Longfusi, 38 Qianliang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing 北京市东城区钱粮胡同38号 

5. Tiki Bar

Tiki Bar sets a fun and flirty date night mood while also not being too over the top or noisy!

Address: 46 Fangjia Hutong, Jiaodaokou 交道口 (Enter through the south door on Jiaodaokou Beisantiao behind a newly constructed wall; enter in the gap between the wall and the building, next to Peiping Taphouse)

6. Mai Bar

A cute intimate bar in the hutongs nearby Modernista! Head here for great cocktails and a low-key vibe.

Address: 40 Beiluogu Xiang Dongcheng District 东城区 北锣鼓巷40号

7. Soi Bao Chao

Another great hutong bar! Soi Bao Chao usually gets a different type of expat crowd that’s more keen to experience the alternative side of bar life in China. Wednesday night is open mic nights here - venues that have music or live shows are a great opener for a conversation.

Address: 10 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng District 宝钞胡同10号

More Lowkey Date Bars

What’s your favorite lowkey bars in Beijing? DNC would love to hear about bars that are not on this list! Write in and let us know where you like to go when you want to make a connection and recharge at the same time. 

Listen to Episode 19: Personality Types and Love on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. 

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