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Food + Drink

A Not-for-Tourists Guide to Beijing's Coolest Speakeasies

Owing their name to the prohibition-era bars of North America, speakeasy-inspired concepts have become all the rage in Beijing.

Tucked away behind non-descript doors on top of apartment buildings or located in unknown street corners, these hidden gems not only concoct delicious cocktails, but also create the perfect atmosphere for romantic rendezvous and much-needed unwinding after a day of markets and monuments.

Tony’s Workshop

Hidden away in an eleventh floor apartment in Beijing’s bustling nightlife district Sanlitun, this stylish apartment-bar will not disappoint the cocktail-aficionadas among us! Aside from his speciality floral cocktails, Tony also makes tailor-made mixes perfectly adjusted to your taste-buds. From this quiet spot you can enjoy the view of the InterContinental’s bright lights, and wonder at the interior’s incredible attention to detail. In the same building you’ll find Botany Bar for more great mixology and Da Vinci for a wonderfully eccentric renaissance – theme.

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Hidden House

It’s classy, it’s simple and it’s perfect for any occasion. With an impressive selection of alcohols, leather bar stools and minimalist brick walls, Hidden House has plenty of cosy corners in which you can hide away and enjoy their top-notch mixology. This bar is concealed behind a non-descript door in an abandoned-looking side street and, admittedly, hard to find! But hey, that’s where half the fun lies. Make sure to try their Smoky Whiskey Sour or their Mojitos – any of them!

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Rong Bar

The elegant Rong Bar is located in a calmer part of Chaoyang district and boasts not only of a plush interior but also has a large outside terrace from which you can admire the Beijing night sky during summer nights – and all this surrounded by vast amounts of greenery and refreshing vapour floating in the air to cool you down! With a selection of yummy cocktails to enjoy on both larger tables and intimate corners, this place is great for larger groups too. Rong also has one of the best Pisco Sours in Beijing.

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Black Moth

Maybe it’s the whacky drawings on the walls, or the audio documentary about moths as you walk into the bar, perhaps the impressive collection of original containers to serve cocktails – nothing about this place is standard. And fine, it may not really qualify as hidden, but this bar should make any list! With delicious liquid infusions and plush sofas, there is nothing to not love – this bar feels more like central London than central Beijing. Make sure to try their truffle whiskey – but it’s not for the faint hearted!

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Barsips

Located on the 12th floor of a typical grey building in Beijing’s University and Technology District of Haidian, this apartment-bar concept offers a rare spot of glamor in a sea of beer-smelling rooms with mediocre cocktails. If this bar is too full, other speakeasies are not far away – such as Bar.Tender on floor 8 or Marsol on floor 15.

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