9 Best Bars in Southwestern China, China

One of the town's oldest establishments, this is Dali's most popular watering hole. In addition to an extensive bar, Bad Monkey brews its own beer, with every batch selling out quickly. Drinks aside, the kitchen stays open until early morning and cooks up decent fish-and-chips and pizzas. There's live music almost every night.

With its impressive selection of beers and spirits, The Brew also happens to serve excellent bar food, including steak, burgers, and pizza. Open until late, it's an excellent place for those seeking a quiet hangout.

This Western-style bar attracts a largely Chinese clientele and offers a decent selection of drinks and snacks at very acceptable prices. It's very popular with locals in the evenings, when the outdoor terrace is packed to the brim. And there's an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet for Y40 every day at 11 am; although the Western food's quality can vary, as the cooks are still finding their way, the Chinese food is impeccable.

Refurbished in mid-2014, this bar offers occasional live music, a well-stocked bar, and a friendly owner. Guinness is available in bottles, but not on tap—yet. It's the only bar in Guilin worth visiting.

Tucked away in an alley off busy Renmin Lu, this is a café by day that gets a bit more lively at night, when the bottles come out. There's a standard selection of drinks, completed with the obligatory Belgian ales. This is an excellent place if you are after a quiet spot.

Open until the wee hours, this bar on a side street from bustling Kundu has Kunming's widest selection of whiskeys. It's a favorite with expats for foosball, cards, and other games.

Run by a trio who claims never to have set foot on Irish soil, O'Reilly's Irish Pub has cold Guinness on tap, as well as a remarkable selection of Belgian ales. The obligatory pub grub is very good. The northern bar, at 13 Beichen Pedestrian Street, is quieter than the southern one, which can get quite rowdy when the local rugby team is in.

Run by an eccentric Irishman, Stone The Crows offers some interesting cocktails and a selection of imported beer. Pub grub is also available, if the staff is in the mood.

One of Old Town's most pleasant bars, the civilized Sun Island draws a crowd that's young, alternative, and mostly Chinese. Grab a seat at the wooden bar and strike up a conversation with the friendly staffers.

For a local specialty, ask for the plum wine—it's actually plum liquor—on the rocks.