186 Best Bars in China

A local institution, Club 97 offers extremely generous pours and some of the best service in the city. Very loud and open late, this is not the place for an early evening.

There can’t be many cocktail bars in the world that have fans queuing at 5 pm to sample their libations, but such is the allure of Coa, crowned Asia’s Best Bar for three consecutive years (2021–23). The meticulously crafted drinks spotlight the spirits and flavors of Mexico, showcasing the smoky depth of artisanal mezcal. Coa boasts a standout collection of over 200 agave-based spirits, while the bar’s name is a reference to coa de jima, a traditional machete-like tool used for harvesting agave plants.

The fourth sibling in the ever-growing Constellation bar family is just south of Xintiandi, a stone's throw from the metro station. It sticks to a tried-and-true formula of cigars, mid-volume jazz, and high-quality Japanese-style cocktails.

This friendly, laid-back favorite moved many times before settling into the current old garden house. Busy without being loud, Cotton's is a rare place where you can have a conversation with friends—or make some new ones. The patio here is one of Shanghai's loveliest, but the food menu is not, so stick to drinks.

Proprietor Badr Benjelloun is a Moroccan expat who's lived in the city for many years and has myriad interests. This fun bar is the culmination of all his many passions, including rum, Moroccan food, and sporting events. Like many of Beijing's best hutong bars, it can be a bit tricky to find, but is well worth it once you're there.

Named after the legendary British tea clipper in homage to Hong Kong's colonial history, this small pub in SoHo is a cozy, reliable spot with a nautical theme. It's a good place for a pint on weekend afternoons too, when locals gather around the streetside tables with their dogs.

Raising the bar for bars in Beijing, this New York–style lounge is swank, spacious, and has an innovative drink list. This is where many of the city's cool kids like to hang, and the doormen occasionally restrict entry to the more dapperly dressed. It's a bit tricky to find: if you are facing Q Mex, then walk down the lane that runs north–south, parallel to the side of that building.

This bar in the eccentric Luxe Manor hotel is a tribute to surrealism: a side gallery boasts two original etchings by Salvador Dalí. References to that artist and other greats like Magritte abound. A dark and spacious bar area is anchored by a central counter, from which bottles of absinthe glimmer.

A chilled-out, unpretentious place where you can dance, Dada is the sort of underground club a cool older cousin might have once sneaked you into. Talented resident and guest DJs from all over the world perform, and you can expect industrial-chic decor and cheap, strong drinks. It's a great final destination on a night out, and beloved by both long-term expats and local scenesters.

This cool dance club is located in a building that was a theater back in the days of Sun Yat-sen. Lounge lizards and history buffs will enjoy sipping a beer here.

This Irish pub has interiors that were shipped here from the Emerald Isle, and the mood is as authentic as the furnishings. Guinness and Delaney's ale (a specialty microbrew) are on tap, and there's a traditional Irish menu. The crowd includes some Irish regulars, so get ready for spontaneous outbursts of fiddling and other Celtic traditions.

This old-school joint's main attractions are the sports showing on its wide-screen TVs and the fact that it never, ever shuts. It's buzzing every night, especially during happy hour, when you can grab half-price drinks and pizza until 10 pm. This is also the social HQ for the city's amateur rugby club, so you'll often find its players in here, drinking rowdily. Yes, it's somewhat of a dive bar, populated by a questionable cast of characters in the small hours, but it's also an always-reliable watering hole, too.

The city's best and most popular gay club has a bouncy dance floor, energetic DJs, and a small lounge area. It gets extremely packed on weekends and attracts a varied crowd of almost all male expats and locals. Unlike most places in Beijing, there's a cover here.

Around since 2002, Dragon-i made its name as a hotspot for the glitterati, hosting globe-trotting celebs like David Beckham and featuring intimate live shows from the likes of Snoop Dogg and Jamiroquai. It remains the domain of the city's young, rich, and beautiful (if not necessarily classy) crowd, and still attracts international acts and DJs. Have a drink on the deck, or step inside the vivid red playroom, which doubles as a Chinese restaurant earlier in the day. 

This pint-size gem is the after-hours party spot in Central. Hidden down an alley beside a late-night food stand, its obscure location only adds to the speakeasy feel. Drop gets crowded on weekends, and it can be hard to get inside, so arrive early and wait for the party to pop off.

Loud, energetic cover bands get the dance floor jumping on Wednesday to Saturday night. Popular with expats, it can get crowded, but patrons are usually having too much fun to care.

There's no competition: This place has the most fabulous views of Houhai Lake, hands-down, and authentic jazz on stage every night.

Little more than a hole in the wall, this hutong gem is stuffed to the gills with imported beers, fine cheeses and charcuterie, and the owner's homemade infused liquors. In the summer, it's a little roomier, since overflow crowds spill onto picnic tables set up in the front. El Nido is a great first stop of the night. If you aren't feeling the crowds, grab some bottles to go and sip on the streets with the rest of the Beijng old-timers—and thank your lucky stars for the lack of open container laws.

So popular you'll need a reservation, this see-and-be-seen bar in the Pottinger Hotel packs them in with expertly mixed cocktails, comfy seating areas, and the exclusive feel of a British gentlemen's club. Head to the outdoor terrace, where you can enjoy a selection of East-meets-West snacks.

An integral part of Nanshan Road's ever-expanding foreign bar and restaurant scene, Eudora Station fills up on the weekend thanks to live music and cheap drink specials. The pizzas and salads are decent and make up for the sometimes blunt service.

Depending on which of the two owners pours your pint of Guinness or dram of Glenfiddich, expect a proper Irish or Scottish welcome at this beautifully designed pub. Get chatting, and you may well move on to one (or another) of the 70-odd whiskeys, best enjoyed by the fireplace in the upstairs lounge. An extensive menu includes Irish stew and the "ultimate" Dublin fried breakfast. There's live Celtic music most nights.

An unpretentious bar perfect for a night out with friends, First Floor is the sort of place where you stop in for one, and end up drinking through to the early hours. Expect a relaxed but busy crowd, with plenty of friendly folk happy to strike up a conversation while the beer keeps flowing. Happy hour runs from 5–9pm.

Dance anthems fill the floor until the wee hours at this friendly LGBTQ+ club. \"Game nights\" lure visitors and locals alike with alternating themes such as drag bingo or karaoke. 

This club attracts a younger crowd, making it one of Central's rowdier nightlife spots. The music tends to be more varied than the commercial fare at other clubs, encouraging visits from a lively mix of local and international talent. Get here early for a perch on the low-slung black sofas.

Nix that looming hangover with a greasy fry-up before you hit the sack. The Flying Pan is a popular 24-hour diner, equally busy at 3 am and 3 pm on weekends. Eggs any style come with two picks from a huge list of sides including grits, blintzes, baked beans, and fruit salad. The truly greedy can order the Kitchen Sink, which is a taste of everything. There's another branch at 81–85 Lockhart Road in Wan Chai.

It's more of a stylish craft beer store than a bar, but Fool Heaven sells more than 100 types of craft beers from all over the world at great prices, ranging from about Y12 to Y60. It's self-serve, so you can take your purchases outside and enjoy the spacious outdoor seating area. If beer's not your jam, you can also find under-the-radar vodkas, wines, and whiskeys, along with coffee and tea.

This speakeasy tucked behind an umbrella shopfront holds one of the best jazz nights in town. The upscale, maritime-inspired decor is a pleasant backdrop to cocktails inspired by ingredients from around the globe, as well as a list of dependable classics.