186 Best Bars in China

A modest collection of bars lines a small stretch of street in NAPE, within sight of the huge golden Guan Yin statue in Macau's Outer Harbour. Although it takes its name from the legendary bar area in Hong Kong, don't expect the wild times and thumping music you might find in the original LKF. In reality, this is a bunch of quiet watering holes where you can meet with friends or watch sports on a big-screen TV. A large number of expats come to relax and drink in the evenings.

To the west and south of Xintiandi is one of Shanghai's best live-music venues, with foreign as well as up-and-coming local bands taking to the stage to play everything from heavy metal, indie, and punk rock to folk music. Past performers have included Thee Oh Sees, Grimes, and Gang of Four.

This bar is known for top-quality infused cocktails, including a chili-infused vodka Bloody Mary and a Sichuan peppercorn Moscow Mule. Another standout is the owners’ own Bangkok Hilton: Thai tea–infused Scotch, crème de cassis, bitters, syrup made from pandanus (screw pine) leaves, and an orange twist. The pizzas and artwork are an added reason to stop in.

A lively spot in Kennedy Town, Missy Ho's has made a name for itself as much for the swing hanging from the ceiling and dress-up closet as for its Asian-inspired cocktails. Dark but inviting, it's the kind of place where the bartender will urge you to enjoy tequila shots on a Tuesday night. The crowd tends to be mostly young people looking to party, but all will feel welcome. A sign that Hong Kong's nightlife epicenter is moving ever westward, the bar comes into its own on weekends when it is often full to the brim with revelers.

This sophisticated speakeasy is tucked away on the fourth floor of a commercial building. It specializes in whisky, with a collection that spans 700 bottles from Japan to Scotland, though cocktails meticulously made with hand-cut ice are available, too. A Zen garden that shades the bar from the surrounding buildings makes the place feel like an oasis amid the urban chaos.

A destination for the corporate lunch crowd and stylish tipplers, this plush bar and restaurant in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental appeals to a civilized crowd. You'll pay top dollar for the signature drinks (up to HK$200), but the super-modern interior and live DJ beats make it worthwhile. The ground floor location means the best views will be of the other well-heeled patrons, but that's OK: this is a place to be seen as much as to see. Upstairs, at the back of the room, make a reservation at PDT (Please Don’t Tell)—a speakeasy by way of New York City that's accessed through a faux phone booth. Just dial 1 and emerge into a wood-paneled world of craft cocktails and premium hot dogs.

Behind an Italian-fusion restaurant amid several establishments along an unassuming strip mall near Chaoyang Park, Mokihi is a haven from the hustle and bustle of everyday Beijing. Have the Japanese-trained bartenders mix up one of their signature cocktails, and nibble on delightful hors d'oeuvres while engaging in quiet conversation.

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.

This dark and cozy bar has the look and feel of a neighborhood jazz joint—sadly, it lacks a jazz band most of the time, opting for a bored-looking singer who warbles along to a backing track. It does, however, have a friendly atmosphere and the city's most eclectic selection of bottled beers.

Come to this boisterous Australian watering hole, named for the continent's notorious bushranger, for an exuberant Dixieland jazz outfit that often leads the crowd in a rowdy sing-along. The band plays from 9:30 pm to 1 am nightly.

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.

For a low-key evening, head to the warm and welcoming O'Reilly's Pub, which has Guinness and Strongbow Cider on tap, a hodgepodge of Irish paraphernalia on the walls, and tasty Western bar grub. There's often live Celtic, folk, and pop music.

This Hemingway-theme cocktail speakeasy takes its name from one of the author’s stories, The Old Man and the Sea. There’s nothing fishy about the superb drinks on offer, which are best savored while sitting along the central bar-table, cleverly inset with a slab of ice to keep them at optimum temperature as you imbibe.

A staple of Taipa’s expat scene, this lively pub is a long-standing go-to for craft beers on tap, wines by the glass, and affordable mixed spirits paired with comfort food like Aussie-style pies and juicy burgers. Big-screen TVs display live sports while weeknight bar games up the excitement. For example, beat your bartender in a dice roll, and your next round is free. This pub is the perfect place to meet old friends and make new ones.

This dark and dingy techno bunker boasts a top-of-the-line sound system and strong drinks. Expect great tech house music and parties that go all night.

The games of darts, pints of Guinness and Kilkenny, and football matches on a massive screen make you long for Ireland. It's a popular gathering spot for Guangzhou's expat community.

As its name suggests, this Wan Chai mainstay occupies a 19th-century heritage building that was once the famous Woo Cheong Pawn Shop. The stylish interior features light woods and an uplifting color palette, while a long balcony overlooks the iconic Hong Kong tramway. Upstairs is the Kitchen restaurant, serving light and refined British cuisine.

The average age of the musicians in the Old Jazz Band is 80, but you wouldn't know it when listening to them jam. The food and drinks are inspired by what the bar served in the 1920s and '30s, when Shanghai was in its golden age, and the Peace Hotel was the place to see and be seen. Dark woods, heavy red curtains, and warming cocktails make this bar an especially good choice for winter.

Make like the expats and head to Pub Street, on Guanren Lu behind the Marco Polo Hotel, where there are lively pubs and clubs to keep your thirst quenched. The favorite in town is the Londoner (5--8 Guanren Lu), voted the best bar for several years running, but there's something for all tastes. Most of the bars along this leafy strip have nice outdoor tables—particularly lovely in the spring and autumn when the humidity has died down.

Lit up by mood lighting and decorated with plush sofas, Regent Hotel's Qura Bar oozes glam and mystery. It also offers a wide selection of wines and interesting cocktails infused with flavors like wasabi, tomato, feta cheese, and leather. For bar bites, they do more than just fries—try their beef tartare, stuffed chicken wings with chorizo rice, or tuna tacos.

This grungy pool hall turned late-night boozer is good for a game of pool, darts, or beer pong, played to a hip hop soundtrack. 

A nice alternative to the dives of Wan Chai, sophisticated Rio has a plush bar with low-key live music and a dance club complete with a light-up floor. On weekends the party runs until very late.

On the 51st floor of the Ritz-Carlton, this sophisticated lounge offers an upscale drinking experience, boasting lofty views of Cotai’s skyline over a long, Italian marble bar. Gin enthusiasts will appreciate the bar’s impressive selection, which includes several high-end options and rarities. For a more indulgent evening, the Ritz Hour (6 to 9 pm) offers a selection of cocktails, beers, wines, gin and tonics, and spirits for less than MOP$300. Swing by earlier for an indulgent afternoon tea from 2 pm to 5:30 pm.

It’s all booze and blues at this lively brick-walled bar in Broadway’s food street. The Roadhouse is one of few pubs in Cotai, if not all of Macau, serving draft beer and spirits by the glass at affordable prices. Every night from Tuesday to Sunday, rock and blues bands play on stage while sports stream on TVs in the background. If you’re hungry, order a pub burger, a pizza, or appetizers like chicken wings and fried calamari rings.

For locally brewed beers and German flavors, head here. The beer hall makes its own dark and wheat brews, serves tasty sausages, and has a bustle-fun atmosphere during big sports events.

This contemporary gastropub is run by Young Master, Hong Kong's top craft beer group. What's nice is that you don't just get beers from the brand here—nearly every local brewer is represented in this comfortable space, which has 23 taps kept at specific temperatures. Flavors are fresh and Asian-inspired, from pineapple-infused ales to beers brewed with yuzu peel and sansho peppers. There's a menu of local light bites too, so you don't have to drink on an empty stomach. 

In true speakeasy style, this swinging spot is easy to miss, situated as it is behind an unmarked door on a quiet street. Step inside to travel back in time, with big-band music playing in the background, velvet damask wallpaper, a pressed-tin ceiling, and classic as well as contemporary cocktails.

It's a family affair at Shanghai Brewery, where you're equally likely to find a group of footballers and a posse of parents with toddlers in tow. There are seven house-made brews here, including a Black-Eyed Bear Stout and the sweet, summery peach beer. The food menu is all over the place, with both Western dishes and a handful of Asian options, but it's all solid.

Inspired by New Zealand's friendly restaurant and bar culture, Social & Co is one of the most cosmopolitan bars in Guangzhou. Indoors, there's an eclectic feel—as evidenced by kitschy garden gnomes, plump leather furniture, and polished-concrete walls—while outdoors, a spacious seating area fills up quickly for Sunday brunch (11:30 am–3 pm). On the menu, you'll find a carefully selected list of bottled beers and wine, as well as a handful of modern Aussie and New Zealand sharing plates.