Tianjin
Often heaving with an enthusiastic student crowd downing cheap beers, this China-wide institution is close to Wujiayao metro station; turn right out of…
Must-see nightlife in China
Beijing
This sleepy pit-stop a few doors along from the Confucius Temple is a fine perch to ponder the Great Sage's teachings over a tea, coffee, juice or beer…
Sichuan
With a wide selection of teas (from ¥25) plus real coffee and friendly English-speaking staff, this is the most welcoming of the many teahouses that…
Shanghai
The king of all Shanghai dives, this graffiti-strewn basement warren is a favourite for students and lovers of gritty drinking dens. Go for the banging…
French Concession
They serve a decent coffee in this minimalist space with mishmashed retro furniture and white walls, acting as gallery space. An espresso will set you…
Shanghai
Cosy, slightly grungy beer shop with vintage European furniture, where you can peruse the hundreds of beer bottles for sale, then sit down to sample your…
Chengdu
There's no menu – just walk in and choose from over 100 different international bottles and a handful of draught beers – but expect to pay international…
Chengdu
This quirky little place feels like something between a dive bar and a backpacker joint, but it has a friendly crowd and probably serves the only chicken…
Fujian
In a regal old European villa is one of the old breed of cafes on the island, specialising in flavoured coffee varieties like honey and orange. Service is…
Kunming
Along with a handful of their own drinkable home brews here, there's a long list (and cooler full) of domestic and import craft offerings to complement a…
Beijing
Bargain drinks, pre-mixed EDM bangers and a hands-in-the-air college crowd bring the good times nightly to this subterranean club beneath the U-Centre…
Gansu
This traditionally styled Tibetan bar draws a local crowd and is a good choice for its comfy and welcoming interior and decent beer choice. Hookah pipes…
Jilin
For a K-Pop overload, or just to see what all the K-Kids are doing, take the lift up to the 10th floor, find a booth, and bob your head in this loud bar…
Hong Kong
Slightly more sophisticated than its immediate neighbours on a lively stretch of Wyndham St, Tivo has an open frontage and offers aperitivo-style snacks.
Macau
This cute contemporary coffeehouse specialises in blends, and touts its homemade sandwiches, breakfasts, and pastries, most of which are reasonably good.
Jiangxi
This second branch of the popular bar Helen's also buzzes with a young crowd until the early hours.
Qingdao
Up on the boardwalk, and with shaded terrace seating, this is the only cafe overlooking No 1 Bathing Beach that does proper coffee.
Hainan
With half a dozen local craft brews on tap, this Guomao watering hole is a favourite among expats and beer-loving locals alike.
Changsha
This street is Changsha’s club central with KTV (karaoke) joints and clubs. There are no covers but drinks can be expensive.
French Concession
Express joint selling acai bowls in hollowed-out coconut shells, which are filled to the brim with tropical fruit.
Yunnan
Coffee and light snacks in the pleasant courtyard out back here offer a lovely break from sightseeing in Weishan.
Tianjin
Distressed urban flair, single-malt whiskys and craft cocktails are the thing at this cool, candlelit lounge.
Chengdu
Anchoring the Jiuyan Bar Street just across the road, this rowdy joint is quite popular with local students.
Shanghai
Rustic Italian wine bar with a lovely ambience. It serves imported wine, cheese and meat boards, and pizzas.
Beijing
Pour-overs are the speciality of this coffee 'truck' parked inside VA Live House, a local live-music venue.
French Concession
Futuristic club for the EDM crowd with a big dance floor. Free entry unless a big name DJ is in town.
Zhejiang
Overlooking Upper Pond, Sunshine House serves big pots of tea and espresso drinks (¥25 to ¥40).
Changsha
A busy enclave of bars down an ancient alley off the shopping strip Huangxing Zhonglu.
Hong Kong
This flashy late-night venue has an indoor bar and a terrace over Wyndham St. Go after midnight and watch Ukrainian models and Cantopop stars sipping Krug…
Dunhuang
This airy covered all wood and bamboo beer garden right at the front of the Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel carpark serves up cheap, cold bottles of Tsingtao (…
Suzhou
This casual basement pub in the Suzhou Industrial Park area shows international sports events, does western-style food and stocks a range of international…
Beijing
Try as it might, Beijing's own Panda Brew has never managed to get its flagship bar purring smoothly. The industrial-chic interiors look the part, but…
Xi'an
Picturesquely located just outside the gate of Yuxiang Men, this slick bar is a cool spot to hang out with Xi'an's high rollers. With illuminated bar top,…
Hong Kong
This American bar and bistro has an open frontage on to Exchange Sq's lovely sculpture garden. Its main clientele is bankers and hedgies who work in the…
Xining
At the rear of a courtyard of Qiyi Lu, this smart bar has all manner of imported beers as well as craft beers chilling in a bank of fridges on the far…
Tsang
This little cafe, which misspells 'coffe' on its sign, serves Tibetan tea and refreshments, as well as a (picture) menu of Indian dishes, soups and rice…
Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
Handy for a coffee, beer and a sit down after touring the central sights, this backpacker-style cafe is in a hutong courtyard directly across from the…
Macau
Singing Bean has moved from the ground floor of the Macau Tower to the 4th floor, but remains a pleasant and affordable coffee shop that offers harbour…
Sichuan
A 2nd-floor teahouse overlooking the river with a hard-drinking, chain-smoking clientele. It's the first building on the left just across the bridge to…
Jiuzhaigou National Park
A chill hang-out, Star Cafe has a decent selection of fresh coffee (from ¥25) and cold beer (from ¥15) and wine, plus a range of international dishes (¥20…
