Top 5 Beijing
Daniel Allen
Two decades ago nightlife in Beijng barely went beyond teahouses playing cookie cutter pop music.
Today the Chinese capital has one of the most vibrant and eclectic live music and nightlife scenes in the whole of Asia.
Here are some of the best venues to check out the Chinese capital's burgeoning beat generation.
Centro
Quite possibly the swankiest venue for cocktails in the whole of Beijing, the ever-stylish Centro has become something of an institution in the capital. This may be a hotel bar, but on most nights you're guaranteed to find an A-list crowd here containing film stars, Communist Party bigwigs and a sporting celebrity or two, not mention a healthy cross-section of the city's beautiful people.
Showcasing some of the most high profile jazz acts on the Chinese and international circuit, Centro is also the place to hear great live music. On non-jazz nights divas and big name DJs keep the crowd happy and hopping, especially at the weekend. With an extensive selection of fine wines, champagne and cigars on offer, the retro-chic interior takes patrons back to the hedonistic days of 1930s Shanghai.
Happy hour between 5 and 8 pm always gets the party started - the mojitos come highly recommended.
Web: www.shangri-la.com
Modernista
One of the newer additions to Beijing's healthy stock of live music venues, the art deco-inspired Modernista has already earned a reputation as the place to see some of the capital's hippest acts. Take your pick from this tapas bar's impressive collection of beer, absinthe and whiskey while you listen to jazz and blues or jive the night away to the latest electro-beats.
Web: www.facebook.com/modernistabj
Bomb Shelter Bar
One of the Chinese capital's quirkiest nightlife venues, the subterranean Bomb Shelter Bar is tucked away inside the Red Capital Residence an authentic courtyard in Beijing's Dongsi neighbourhood. This subterranean three-room watering hole comes complete with Cultural Revolution kitsch, old communications equipment and screenings of propagandist opera. Try a Lin Biao Crash (cocktail), served up by women in Red Army uniform.
Web: www.redcapitalclub.com.cn
Mesh
Located inside The Opposite House, Beijing's coolest boutique hotel designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, minimalist Mesh is the ideal venue for a low-key drink or full scale party. Dimly lit, with long translucent curtains and leather sofas, the emphasis here is on lounge chic, with great cocktails, chilled out beats and a discerning clientele.
Haze
A strong contender for Beijing's best nightclub, the recently-opened Haze pulls in a hedonistic horde every weekend. The club has two floors, with a small cafe on the ground level, and a large, subterranean dance floor below. Haze is one of Beijing's hotspots for cutting edge house and techno, with frequent guest appearances from high-profile European DJs, plus crowd-pleasing sets from resident Swedish mixmaster Donald Summer.
Web: hazebeijing.com
