Houhai Bar Street in Beijing
Beijing Hutong tours attract many domestic and overseas visitors every year, and there are many old Hutongs available in Beijing, where you may feel the living atmosphere of the local Beijingers and also get to know the history of Beijing. Here, we would like to offer the following information on the Hutong tours for your reference. you may choose one or two to explore in your spare time. We only describe the Houhai and Shichahai Hutongs carefully, and you may follow our suggestions to visit others by yourselves.
The Houhai Bar Street , located in the Xicheng District of Beijing, is a mixture of ancient Beijing and modern Western culture. It is full of trendy bars and unique pubs. When night falls and the moon shines on Houhai Lake , the street comes alive lit up by a multitude of lamps amidst the hustle and bustle of the patrons and hawkers.
Night life is rather colorful on this street. Most of the caf s and pubs are privately owned and have their own features and services. People of all ages can hold parties, chat, sing and dance here, sampling the varied drinks menus.
Foreigners like to come here, too as they can enjoy a mixture of traditional Chinese and modern Western ambiances. Residents and travelers may take a stroll after supper along the shores of the lake and enjoy Beijing's night scene.
Recommend Bars in Houhai
Bars No Name (010-6402-1663) has no address either, although it s easy to find Houhai s original Cathedral of Cool: just look for the vine-covered wooden hut south of charmingly arched Yinding Bridge. Bai Feng conceived the place as a kind of backyard clubhouse, and three years on, its wicker chairs, funky decor, a wide range of teas and drinks, from juices to margaritas, still draw in Beijing s A-list.
Left Bank (11 Qianhai Beiyan; 010-6612-9300) There evolved two styles of Houhai bar: the ramshackle student sprawl of No Name and Buddha, or the cool chilling centers, complete with couches. The Left Bank (for its location, on the west, or left side of the lake, and its model, Paris Left Bank) goes for the latter, with the look and comfort of a large den. A nice place to plot, or merely cuddle.
Sex and da City (15 Tianhefang; 86-10/6612-5046) draws crowds on Lotus Lane with its stylish design, particularly upstairs, where a trio of curtained areas offer suite-like seating with stunning lake views. The downstairs bar is lined with lilies, which inexplicably works, unlike the two-story tall mural of Marilyn Monroe.
Lotus (29 Yandai Xiejie; 86-10/6407-7807) Not to be confused with Lotus Lane, this bar with separate restaurant in the winding alley leading to the Drum Tower (Gu Lou) remains one of the area s original zen centers, with tranquil design by Wang Hui. The two-story tower bar has a good collection of crafts on display downstairs, pillow and couch seating upstairs with a nice atrium. Smells of incense and one of the best drinks menus on the lake (try a shot of cr me de mint in a cup of hot coconut milk).