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We continue our adventure of bringing you lists of some of the best bars in Beijing by neighborhood, with this week focusing on Dongsi and the surrounding area.
Sanjiren
Opened at the end of 2023, this bar finds itself somewhat hidden behind walls of brick and repurposed roof tiles, with a door leading the way to a quiet yet striking interior. It's from behind the bar at Sanjiren that some of the best bartenders in Beijing craft some artful tipples.
These include the Sāngēng Yuè 三更月 (RMB 98), a mix of longjing tea-infused gin, lychee liqueur, birch juice, and coconut oil; and signatures like the Wā Chuī Míng 蛙吹鸣 (RMB 98, pictured below) in which clarified tequila joins white rum, coconut and toffee with a float of matcha tea. It’s also one of the only bars in Beijing to serve the Mexican spirit sotol, with a flight of three varieties available for RMB 264.
Sanjiren Whiskey & Cocktail 三季人酒吧
B01, Chaodongli, 36 Dongsi Nandajie, Dongcheng District
东城区东四南大街36号潮东里B01商铺
Hours: 6.30pm-2am
Vertigo
Don’t be fooled by the ambiance of this spot on Dongsi Beidajie. Although its tunnel-like interior and chic decor speak of a sophisticated affair, all the drinks on offer at this café-by-day, bar-by-night venue point more towards an easy-going and colorful atmosphere.
These drinks include the decidedly green Dòudòu Cha 豆豆茶, which tops sake and matcha liqueur with soybean milk pudding and light cream; and the Bù Xīnkǔ 不辛苦, which only slightly lives up to the name, being a mixture of quince gin, bitter melon gin, lemon, pineapple, bitter melon juices, green grapes, rose and elderflower syrup.
Vertigo
458 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District
东城区东四北大街458号
Hours: 7pm-2am
Contact: 185 1932 2948; 187 0164 5672
The Cool Kid Bar
Cool Kid keeps things cool with a paired back cocktail menu split between classics and unnamed signature cocktails. It's simple and straightforward but at the same time pretty exciting, with flavors leaning towards a more Chinese bent thanks to some wild infusions, syrups, and more. These are well worth asking about on a visit to the bar to see what they're all about.
The Cool Kid Bar
482 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District
东城区东四北大街482号
Hours: Wed-Mon, 8pm-1am
Molaito
Molaito is the newest spot on our list, a restaurant bar that only just opened this week, stepping into the former location of TABLO. While the dessert cocktail bar is gone, this new spot, owned and operated by the same proprietors, boasts a nice selection of Chengdu snacks and some Chengdu-themed cocktails as well. Highlights on our radar include the Chengdu Tiki, a Tiki-inspired highball spiced up with chili.
Molaito 莫来头
110 Base Apt Commercial Bldg, 17 Qianliang Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区钱粮胡同17号佰舍公寓110号底商
Hours: Wed-Mon, 5pm-11pm
Contact: 178 1022 4171
Mona Bar
Although this bar is no longer in the Dongsi area, having moved up to Wudaoying Hutong, it still earns a spot on our list due to it having called Dongsi home for a number of years before this. Plus the fact that Mona makes some stellar cocktails.
Two to try are the Frida Kahlo (RMB 85), a mindbending mix of plum-infused mezcal, tequila, Chartreuse, vanilla sea salt, and fruit juices; and the Brooklyn (RMB 90, below) a classic cousin of the Manhattan elevated by dry vermouth, maraschino, and bitter orange liqueur. On a recent visit staff also informed us of an incoming new menu, so stay tuned for that.
Mona Bar
74 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区五道营胡同74号
Hours: Tue-Sun, 7pm-1.30am
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Images: Uni You, Dianping, theBeijingers, courtesy of the venues
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