Urban Family

A Guide to Finding Beijing's Best 'Hidden' Bars

By Noelle Mateer, 2017-04-25 02:45:00

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)
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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)
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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)

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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)
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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)
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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
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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)
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