la mansarde in a cozy, sophisticated attic on haoyun street you'll find the latest effort of beijing restaurateur vincent eve. the atmosphere is quiet, elegant and very french. even the name alludes to the famous architect who designed many of paris' buildings, and his characteristic use of attic space. devotees of the vincent cafe in dashanzi will not be disappointed, as la mansarde provides the same breton crepes and galettes (rmb 22¡§c48) in a more accessible location. however, rather than simply being another branch of vincent cafe, la mansarde is a restaurant unto itself. the menu offers a broad variety of authentic specialties from across france, and for anyone who thinks french food can't be hearty, they should try the cassoulet (rmb 99) or the boeuf bourguignon (rmb 80). both are rich, meaty and come in generous portions. consider making reservations ¡§c the place is already the hottest on the block. address: 29 haoyun jie, zaoying lu, chaoyang district two friends meaning 'two friends,'' 2 kolegas possesses a friendly atmosphere true to its name, cheap drinks, live music and a giant front lawn good for sunning and lazing around. live jams, regular rock gigs, and an energetic atmosphere make this joint perfect for a punk rock birthday party £¤99 nashville! where it is the bar&restaurant,or the cool locality filled with interesting crowds,or the warm and cozy space amused by one of the most celebrated bands in town, or the exotic corner lighted with world class cigars including cohiba from cuba,or the only place you can find "manchest cream" in china,nashville is home to some of the finest things every bar goer loves to enjoy!if you visit beijing, be sure to spend an evening in nashville just down the south sanlitun street in beijing's bar district.once you are here,you'll never forget the wonderful time you have in a joyful place called nash! come to nashville!
home you'll want to break out the flashlight when you go to the new home bar on liangmahe nanlu. ordering from the drinks menu was a challenge as the interior was so dark we could barely see the choices. decorated with heavy dark wood and red couches with a goldfish pond and miniature bridge to boot, home doesn't resemble your average beijing apartment. the bar aims for a conversation-friendly atmosphere, with soft music and a few nooks and crannies in which to chat, namely a loft space upstairs. unfortunately the hard wooden seating doesn't invite curling up. drinks are the usual standards, with beers yy25-35 and a wide selection of liquors. a straight-up margarita, while better than many in town, lacked the punch of tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice. in a town that's becoming more cocktail savvy (albeit very slowly) it's no longer a selling point to serve a drink that actually contains some of the required alcohol! while it sports a cool decor and friendly service, home needs to do more homework on the business of cocktail concoctions. 33 liangmahe nanlu, next to paddy fields', chaoyang district in an area infested with as much chinese kitsch and blaring karaoke music, ginko cafe and bar is a breath of fresh air amidst hou hai's myriad of characterless establishments.? nestled on hou hai's west bank, ginko has cozy and private seating groups for those long wintry beijing nights, or airy out door seating on its second and third floors, as well as in front for summer lounging. the other business of ginko's owners - architectural/interior design- is apparent through the caf?bar's well proportioned sense of space and chic interiors.? the menu offers a full range of drinks, with emphasis on red wines from 6 of the world's wine producing nations.? prices range from 188 - 2680 per bottle. the house red almaden chablis had full body and decent length. the cocktail however, was ruined by the common mistake of using flat coke.? ginko makes up for its limited food menu with creativity.? the owner improvised delicious salads and noodles herself (the chef had left early). together with cheerful, non-intrusive service, bossa nova in the background and shimmering lights on the opposite banks of hou hai, ginko makes for a perfect hideaway from the chaos of the day and the outside world in general.??? 6404-2059 maggie's, the beijing institution, has opened the doors to its new location at the south gate of ritanpark.?the dimensions of the bar have changed slightly and the exposed brick walls, give the new venue somewhat of a firehouse feeling.?a fairly narrow entrance flanked by the bar leads onto the dance floor and game room.?either patience or a few yuan can get you a game of pool with some of the best (and most attractive) players in beijing.?the dance floor is a good size, and a decent menu keeps the party moving along till sunrise.?cocktails are upwards of yy30, while qingdao can be had for 20rmb.?while some of the lovable seediness of the previous location has been lost, it's just a matter of time before the current location is worn in, becoming just as affable as the last.?the days of stumbling from sanlitun to gongti for a little late-night entertainment may be over, but for a 15 kuai cab ride, the new, more upscale maggie's continues the tradition of nocturnal fun carried out into the wee hours. ritan park south gate, chaoyang district born in the 70¡¯s born in the 70's, the newest bar to grace the west gate of chaoyangpark, may remind you just why you went out for drinks in the first place. true to what a bar should be, 70's is ultra comfortable and lacks the haphazard decoration, hard chairs and sofas that have taken over many beijing bars. decorated with traditional chinese tables and chairs, this bar is worth a trip just for the decoration alone. red lights illuminate your path to the plush couches and pretty wood carvings. chinese furniture fans will find themselves in 7th heaven upstairs among the ming dynasty bed sitting in the corner, just waiting for a party of people to crowd on in. wednesday night is ladies night with special drink prices for the fairer sex, and on the weekends, find yourself a front row seat for the parade of sexy, half dressed men that dance across the small stage upstairs. embarrassing? perhaps, but for more daring ladies it's the classic girls night out on the town experience. drink prices at born in the 70s are about at normal range, with qingdaos for yy20 and cocktails from yy30-60. like a trip to disney world, you are paying for the atmosphere. rabid partiers may find it worth every kuai to find a nice place to hang with friends¡ªand take a rare peek at china's own chippendale dancers. a1 west gate of chaoyangpark, chaoyang district. club entrance walk along xingba lu and you'll see a big black wall jump out¡ªthis is the strikingly decorated entrance, inside adorned with red and black for a dramatic feel. the bar's urban, romantic ambience is heightened by the view of the lake outside, which can be seen from big glass windows. candles are lit in red mantle and red lanterns hang outside shining in the water. given the influx of bars in the area, it's a pleasant surprise to see beers start at yy10, while cocktails begin at yy15. service is friendly, and if you need a rival on the pool table, one of them may prove a mean competitor. music is mostly popular electronic and dj tunes. to enjoy the outside breeze, head up to the second floor where you can sip a drink, catch the tail end of summer and enjoy the beginning of autumn, beijing's best season. tel: 6465-2284 jue se if you decide to give jue se a try, don¡¯t bring the masses with you, as the biggest table can hold only four and there¡¯s only one menu to share. beers are well priced from £¤10£15 and shooters are £¤30. a guitar rests against a fold up chair in the corner urging visitors to play. seasoned, jaded bar-goers may feel that the ivy bar doesn¡¯t have much to offer, but it does provide a quiet, pleasant nook to hang around in with someone special¡ªand there¡¯s always something to be said for that.
beijing is big on combinations, be it the haircut-and-massage or the universally popular ¡±pan-asian¡± cuisine combo, 9 to 5 (zhao jiu wan wu) is a worthy addition to this trend. at first you might think you¡¯ve wandered into a chivas regal nightmare. the ubiquitous ¡°this is the chivas life¡± slogan is plastered around the bar, and a protection screen plays chivas commercials. these provide a temporary distraction to the less than captivating band. yet the serene rooftop deck is a perfect perch to enjoy the lake and few cocktails. on your way downstairs you¡¯re drawn by the distinct and rhythmic thumping of the lower level club. with a decent dance floor and good music, it¡¯s a perfect mix of lasers and minimalism. drinks at the various levels of bar, start around £¤30. bottles work upwards from yy420 for spirits. there¡¯s a decent selection of reasonably priced international wines. 9 to 5 offers a more than appreciated mix for those of us tired of making the late night trek from bar street to gong ti. address: no. 3 qianhai beiyan, xicheng district |