Must-see nightlife in China

  • Bound

    Kowloon

    You could squish a dozen Hong Kong bars together and they still wouldn't have as much personality as this boho hang-out with its art-adorned walls,…

  • Flair

    Shanghai

    Wow your date with Shanghai’s most intoxicating nocturnal visuals from the outdoor terrace on the 58th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, where Flair nudges you…

  • Boxing Cat Brewery

    French Concession

    A popular three-floor microbrewery, with a rotating line-up of top-notch beers that range from the Standing 8 Pilsner and Black EyePA to the Right Hook…

  • MO Bar

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    Legendary bar Hope and Sesame from Guangzhou, voted one of Asia's best bars in 2019, crafted the molecular-style cocktail list at MO Bar, an uber-glam…

  • He Ming Teahouse

    Chengdu

    Always lively, this century-old spot is the most famous teahouse in Chengdu and the ideal place to fritter away an afternoon with a bottomless cup of tea …

  • Skye Bar

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    The views are to die for at this open-air rooftop gem jutting out from the corner of the Park Lane Hotel. Treat yourself to a glass of Perrier-Jouët…

  • Me Let

    Yunnan

    Of the many fantastic cafes in Baisha, and there are surprisingly many, Me Let stands apart for its selection of and passion for coffee, as well as for…

  • Raven

    Shangri-la

    Raven is the best bar in town and one of the best in northwest Yunnan, with a huge range of beers and spirits and a small selection of pub food. There's a…

  • Glam

    The Bund & People's Square

    The decor here is decidedly bohemian and its cool retro feel makes it one of the Bund's most atmospheric spots for a drink. Cocktail prices are accessible…

  • M For Maker

    Kunming

    Yunnanese and Ethiopian beans are roasted on-site and served as delightfully balanced brews at this tiny, unprepossessing coffee shop beyond Brooklyn…

  • Vue

    Hongkou & North Shanghai

    Take in the extrasensory nocturnal views of the Bund and Pudong from Vue bar at the Hyatt on the Bund, while you raise your glass of bubbly. The cover…

  • Wangye Temple

    Sichuan

    Housed within the ochre walls of a 100-year-old guild hall of boatmen and merchants, this lively teahouse (officially known as 临江茶楼, Línjiāng Chálóu) is…

  • Gym Bar

    Datong

    One of the few quiet, laid-back bars in Datong, you won't find guests singing or playing drinking games here, just an adorable black dog, her friendly…

  • Memory Box Cafe

    Dunhuang

    This comfy and eclectically designed cafe with ample greenery, high ceiling, voluminous glass windows, a vast aquarium with huge, colourful fish and lots…

  • Trip Smith

    Guiyang

    Tucked down one of the many alleys off Qianling Dong Lu, Trip Smith is a small, happening bar that brews its own beer and serves better-than-average…

  • Josai Pub

    Qinghai

    With guitars lying around on the sofas, a pool table and superb views of Yushu, the river and hills from the veranda, this excellent choice also has a…

  • Goa Nights

    Macau

    With lotus-shaped light stencils on the walls, intimate Goa is a cocktail bar that plays on the Portuguese-India theme. The menu, resembling an ancient…

  • JZ Club

    Hangzhou

    The folk that brought you JZ Club in Shanghai have the live jazz scene sewn up in Hangzhou with this neat three-floor venue in a historic building near…

  • Kowloon Taproom

    Kowloon

    Plugging a crafty gap in the market between TST's hotel bars and same-same sports dives, Kowloon Taproom pours a dozen, local-only craft beers from Lion…

  • Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge

    Macau

    Macau's best whisky bar is a traditional affair featuring oak panels, Jacobean rugs and a real fireplace. The 400-plus whisky labels include single malts…

  • Horizonte Lounge

    Kowloon

    You'll feel like Rapunzel atop her tower at this lofty perch in the Kowloon skyline. From all four (low) walls, panoramic vistas reveal the great mass of…

  • Beer Temple

    Macau

    As the name suggests, the craft beer selection here is huge. If you can't decide, tell the staff your preference – fruit-forward, dry and bitter, or…

  • Macau Soul

    Macau

    An elegant haven in wood and stained glass. On most nights, Thelonious Monk jazz music fills the air as customers chat with the owners and dither over…

  • Ostangboyi Ancient Tea House

    Kashgar

    The last traditional Uyghur teahouse in Kashgar, this is a wonderfully atmospheric place to come for a drink. While it's certainly the preserve of Uyghur…

  • LR Lounge Bar

    Jilin

    Live acoustic music on weekends draws a crowd to Changchun's best small cocktail bar where bow-tied bartenders shake and pour for an eclectic mix of the…

  • Bǎi Wú Yī Yòng Shūdiàn

    Guizhou

    This bookshop hides a wonderful teahouse and coffee shop out back, housed in a beautiful old wooden building that opens out onto a tranquil garden. The…

  • Yardley Brothers Beer Shack

    Lamma

    These brewer brothers sell tasty craft beer on tap from a black booth on the way to the island's main beach. The refreshing Lamma Island IPA is perfect…

  • Single Origin

    Macau

    This airy corner cafe opened by coffee professional Keith Fong makes a mean shot of espresso (coffees from MOP$30). You can choose your poison (single…

  • Raymond Chandler's Forty Four cocktail, served in a glass fish

    Stockton

    Hong Kong

    Hard-to-find Stockton evokes the ambience of a private club in Victorian London with Chesterfield sofas and wood panelling cleverly arranged to form dark,…

  • The red door entrance of gin palace Ping Pong on Second Street

    Ping Pong Gintoneria

    Hong Kong

    Behind a closed red door, stairs lead down into a cavernous former ping-pong hall, now one of Hong Kong's coolest bars. The drink here is gin – the neon…

  • Great Leap Brewing #45

    Beijing

    Raise a flagon of Beijing's original and best craft beer at this industrial-chic outpost of Great Leap, a couple of clicks north of the Sanlitun action. A…

  • The Bunker

    French Concession

    This speakeasy is located inside the Green & Safe restaurant on the 2nd floor, behind a wooden palette–style door. This sophisticated spot is a top choice…

  • 65 Peel

    Hong Kong

    Everything you need to know about Hong Kong's craft-beer scene is on page one of 65 Peel's beer menu, dedicated to local taps from breweries like Young…

  • Dzongyab Lukhang Park Teahouse East

    Lhasa

    One of two good Tibetan-style teahouse restaurants in pleasant Dzongyab Lukhang Park, perfect for a break after a visit to the Potala or for snapping…

  • Slow Boat Brewery

    Beijing

    Drop anchor at Slow Boat, one of Beijing's original American-run craft brewers, for three floors of busy, beery fun. At least a dozen beers are on tap at…

  • Mokkos Lamu

    Shanghai

    Hidden away on a residential side street, Mokkos is a long-running local fave that specialises in nothing but shōchū (a Japanese spirit). Intimate and…

  • Helen's (Bayi Park)

    Jiangxi

    Helen's large tables and booths fill with groups of young and well-heeled Chinese playing drinking games, smoking hookah pipes, dancing to hip-hop and…

  • La Social

    Beijing

    Day of the Dead meets Chairman Mao at this carnivalesque hotspot where revellers dance to Latin beats. Cocktails (from ¥60) are heavy-handed with the…

  • Little Creatures

    Hong Kong

    This Australian import has the most visitor-friendly microbrewery set-up in Hong Kong. It occupies a vast space (for Hong Kong) just back from the…

  • Kaya

    Yangshuo

    Bars that do not play C-pop or hire pole dancers have a hard time surviving in Yangshuo, which makes this 'Jamaica pub' an anomaly. Run by dreadlocked…

More destinations you need to see