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East Gate Cinema
East Gate Cinema shows the latest big movie releases, both domestic and foreign, and is the only cinema in town that offers double seats (from around Y140 ).
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East Shore Jazz Café
Cui Jian's saxophonist, whose quartet play here, opened this chilled venue by Qianhai Lake. It's a place to hear the best local jazz bands, with live performances from Thursdays to Sundays, in a more authentic atmosphere than other venues. Expect lengthy jam sessions in the wee hours of the morning. There's no cover charge and the drinks are reasonably priced.
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Eje Bar
The self-styled (and probably accurate) 'hardest-to-find bar in Běijīng' is well worth the effort, but pack a compass. Tucked away behind the rear wall of the Confucius Temple, this cultured courtyard bar is sedately arranged with sofas and set to the chirruping of grasshoppers. Away from even the remotest action, it's well worth a detour.
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Face Bar
Stylish and expensive, Face is the Běijīng branch of a successful Shànghǎi bar. Spacious, tastefully decorated and comfortable, it attracts moneyed locals and the expat business crew.
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Forbidden City Concert Hall
Located on the eastern side of Zhongshan Park, this is the most central venue for performances of classical and traditional Chinese music. Tickets can be purchased at the concert hall box office inside the Friendship Store.
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Frank's Place
Reputedly the oldest bar in Běijīng, Frank's has shifted locations many times in the course of its life. Its latest incarnation is in the Lido area in northeast Chaoyang, an area popular with older expats and visiting business types staying in the nearby four-star hotels. Frank's caters to their needs by providing live sport on many TVs, pints of Guinness and German beer (around Y50 ), English-speaking staff and average pub food.
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Goose & Duck Pub
Despite the British name, this is a sports bar that gets busy when big games are on. There are also pool tables and darts and a pub food-style menu. Located opposite the west gate of Chaoyang Park, it offers two drinks for the price of one between and .
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Guangfuguan Greenhouse
This laid-back place on the bar-cluttered Yandai Xijie gets top marks for novelty. Formerly the Guangfuguan Taoist Temple (according to the characters carved on the lintel above the arched doorway), the shrine has been requisitioned for the city's exploding bar scene and simply decked out with art posters. The temple's roof guardians are still intact and the presence of religious statues reminds visitors that they drink on sacred turf.
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Houhai Zoo
An offshoot of a growing Běijīng bar empire that specialises in serving up super-cheap drinks in friendly, if rowdy, surroundings, this is the nicest of the chain thanks to its prime location on the east side of Qianhai Lake. It's loud and gets crowded as the night wears on, but you can't beat the prices.
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Jiangjinjiu
Situated between the Drum and Bell Towers, this friendly café/bar puts on lots of folk and ethnic minority, particularly Uighur , bands. No cover charge.
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John Bull Pub
Sinking pints of bitter, noshing steak-and-kidney pie, staggering to the ockie for a round of darts while moaning about the weather or the NHS (National Health Service)- the portly British expat set gravitate here for its snug weeknight atmosphere (often as quiet as a library), comfy furniture and bar staff trotting out excellent English.
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Lan
Despite its incongruous location in an anonymous shopping mall opposite the Silk Market, this Philippe Starck-designed bar and restaurant is far from ordinary. Its eccentric, eye-catching look, extending through a number of rooms: Paintings dangle from the ceilings, giant mirrors are everywhere and the private dining rooms are done in the style of Mongolian Yurts. None of it comes cheap though. There's live jazz and DJs and a big wine list.
The toilets are the most extravagant in Běijīng.
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Lao She Teahouse
This popular teahouse has nightly shows of Beijing opera, cross-talk and acrobatics. Walk in past a statue of former US president George Bush on your right and head upstairs. Evening performances of Beijing opera, folk art, music, acrobatics and magic are the most popular. Phone ahead or check online for the schedule.
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Latinos
Salsa has taken off in a big way in Běijīng in the last couple of years and this is one of the busiest clubs in the city. There's a big dance floor to show off your moves, the house band is from South America and guest DJs spin the latest Latin sounds.
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Liyuan Theatre
This touristy theatre, across the lobby of the Qianmen Jianguo Hotel and past the mannequins outside, has regular performances for Beijing opera greenhorns, performed over servings of Peking duck and other local delicacies. The setting isn't traditional and it resembles a cinema auditorium (the stage façade is the only authentic touch), but there are also matinee shows of gōngfu (kung fu) performed by Shaolin monks .
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Lush
Whether they're quaffing coffee or slamming down the beers, Chinese and foreign students camp out here around the clock. There's movies on Monday and live bands on Friday. Open-mike night on Sunday is standing room only.
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Maggies
A Běijīng legend and (in)famous enough for the odd, visiting Hollywood type to pop in, Maggies is not the place for everyone. A somewhat older crowd gathers here, as do many Mongolian ladies. But it is open late and has pool tables, while the spacious bar is a fine spot for people-watching. They serve excellent hotdogs as well.
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Mao Livehouse
Considered the best live venue in Beijing, local jazz, death-metal and even Brit-pop style bands regularly take to Mao's stage. No matter who's playing, Mao is almost exclusively packed with the same music-mad Beijingers and rubbing elbows with them is often just as interesting as watching what's on stage.
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Mix
Hip-hop and R&B draw the crowd who come here. On into the wee hours, they prove themselves to be some of the most enthusiastic dancers in the city. Opposite Vics.
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Nameless Highland
All sorts of groups, from folk to death metal via Brit-pop clones and punk acts, take to the stage here. It's a rare night when they don't have a band on. It's one of Běijīng's larger, better-organised venues. You'll need to take a taxi to get here.
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No Name Bar
Perched beside Qianhai Lake, this was the first bar to open in the area and was so successful that it spawned countless imitators. Thankfully, the No Name has resisted going down the neon sign route beloved by its competitors. Nor are there any aggressive bar touts standing outside vying for your custom. Instead, it's a laidback joint with pleasant staff where you can sit in a rattan chair and watch the world go by through the large windows.
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Palace View Bar
For liquid refreshment with a top-notch panorama, the Palace View is in a league of its own. Outdoor tables graced by a string of palm trees make this a wonderful place to escape the city and size up the view overlooking Dongchang'an Jie, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
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Passby Bar
This travel-oriented bar with its 'hang-out-in-the-living-room-and-chat-with-your-buddies' vibe attracts locals, expats and those just passing through. Don't confuse this with the new, slightly more upscale Passby Restaurant down the street.
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Poachers Inn
Probably the most popular bar in Beijing, cavernous Poachers literally heaves on weekends with exuberant throngs and thumping bass. If you want a conversation, take turns with a loud-hailer and if you want a beer, grease yourself down to get to the besieged bar. The dancefloor is a writhing knot of liuxuesheng (foreign students) and partygoers.
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Poly Plaza International Theatre
Located in the Poly Plaza right by Dongsishitiao subway station, this venue hosts a wide range of performances including ballet, classical music, opera and traditional Chinese folk music.
