24 editor picks across China.
24 bars worth the trip across China, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All China guides.
Tiao pours Beijing-themed cocktails in a two-storey hutong bar inside Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, and is ranked No. 50 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026.
TipThe dark bar is downstairs and the terrace upstairs suits people watching; the hotel lists live DJ sets, so arrive earlier for a quieter seat.
Bar Long Fong, behind the Park Plaza Hotel near Wangfujing in Beijing, builds cocktails from Chinese ingredients and is No. 96 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026.
TipThe 50 Best entry says ingredients are often Chinese and sourced from farmers, so ask the bartenders what is in season before choosing.
Bar Leone Shanghai pours Italian aperitivo classics from a two-floor Sinan Mansions space, the Shanghai outpost of a Hong Kong original bar.
TipThe ground floor Bar di Passo suits a quick aperitivo; head upstairs to the living-room floor for the aged Vecchi & Rari drinks.
Coa Shanghai spreads four agave-spirit floors across a Fuxing Middle Road lane house, the mainland outpost of Hong Kong's Coa reopened in 2024.
TipExpect a queue at the door; each floor runs its own menu, and you need not climb through the first three to reach the Mezcaleria.
MO Bar at Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing in Beijing is a cocktail lounge with an outdoor terrace that looks toward the Forbidden City, open from 16:00.
TipTake a terrace seat around sunset for the Forbidden City view; the hotel lists DJ-led late nights, and the bar runs to 01:00 Wednesday to Saturday.
Yun Summer Lounge, on the 15th floor of The Peninsula Beijing, is a rooftop terrace pouring Five Elements cocktails on Chinese liquors, with signature snacks.
TipArrive before sunset for the terrace view; the Five Elements cocktails come in white, green, black, red and yellow, each built on a Chinese spirit.
Pony Up pours easy-drinking cocktail twists on Jinxian Road in Shanghai, a small, buzzy neighbourhood bar ranked No. 19 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026.
TipCome for the corn dogs and patty melts as much as the cocktails; the bar food earns its own order.
Modernista on Baochao Hutong in Beijing is a retro European bar with a black-and-white ballroom floor and a stage, with live music usually from 21:30.
TipCome early to get a seat at the bar, because live music usually starts at 21:30.
a BAR of crayon, in Sanlitun Taikoo Li North in Beijing, opened in April 2025 by ex-Union manager Harry Hua, and builds its drinks on Chinese ingredients.
TipThe Food for Thought guide of July 2026 lists it open 18:30 to 01:30; the debut menu is built around Hebei, so ask the bartender about it.
The Union Trading Company has poured seasonal cocktails in Shanghai since 2014, first on Fenyang Road, now on Hengshan Road; a past Asia's 50 Best Bars pick.
TipAsk about the Snapshot of the Time menu; each drink is tied to a specific bartender's own story.
Alma Luna, on North Xiangyang Road in Shanghai, pours bartender Yao Lu's own take on classic Cuban cocktails behind a bright yellow front door.
TipOrder the Cubano sandwich alongside a cocktail; the kitchen leans into comfort food more than sharing plates.
Tiki Bungalow & Cocktail Bar on Fangjia Hutong in Beijing serves Mai Tais, Zombies and a Volcano Bowl, and the Beijinger calls it the city's first Tiki bar.
TipThe entrance is down a small corridor behind the building to the left of Peiping Machine, so look for that brewpub first.
MEI at Rosewood Beijing is a cocktail bar reached by a private outdoor elevator, with a cigar lounge, fireplaces, CCTV Tower views and live entertainment.
TipOn Monday, Tuesday and Sunday only the whiskey lounge and cigar bar open; Wednesday to Saturday all venues are open, with lively Friday theme nights.
Sanjiren is a Dongsi cocktail bar in Beijing behind brick walls and reused roof tiles, opened at the end of 2023, with drinks inspired by Chinese culture.
TipA 2024 review listed a flight of three sotols at ¥264 and two signature cocktails at ¥98; the door sits behind brick walls, so look for it.
The Factory on Gulou Dongdajie in Beijing keeps a hidden rooftop with a pub-garden feel, rotating draught beers and cask ale events, open until 02:00.
TipDoors open at 16:00 on weekdays and 14:00 at weekends, so weekends suit a daylight rooftop beer; check the cask ale events before you go.
Bar Rock is a Tibetan-run cocktail bar in Shanghai from the OHA Group, its menu built around highland barley and Tibetan Buddhist practice stages.
TipShoes come off at the door; the carpeted floor seating suits a slower, no-rush session.
Bar S-Otto hides in the basement of Atelier No. 3 on Fumin Road, an omakase-style Shanghai speakeasy pouring eight classics and eight signatures.
TipLook for the hidden door inside Atelier No. 3 and take the stairs down; a private room is kept for whisky.
Full House by Bar Choice pours West Lake Longjing tea cocktails near the Bund in Shanghai, a Hangzhou teahouse look built inside BFC's north block.
TipAbout 60 percent of the drinks use Longjing tea; in fine weather the leafy terrace seats 10 to 15.
Swirl on Middle Fuxing Road in Shanghai swirls wine together with spirits into winetails, sharing a wall with sister cocktail bar Speak Low.
TipStart with the lighter-bodied cocktails on the menu before working up to the full-bodied pours later on.
UBAR is a rooftop bar on the second floor at 2 Gongti Xilu in Beijing, serving classic and signature cocktails and Chinese and Western dishes until 02:00.
TipCafe Muse shares the same rooftop, serves coffee from 09:00 to 23:30 and hosts small exhibitions; the bar side opens at 11:00, under red awnings.
Gallows Humor on South Shaanxi Road in Shanghai is an all-black, minimalist cocktail bar from the same founders behind neighboring bar Paal.
TipCome with an open mind about ingredients; the menu leans into odd pairings like century egg and clam juice.
Centro is the lounge bar of Kerry Hotel Beijing in the CBD, with a live band at night, an outdoor terrace garden and nearly 160 wines, champagnes and spirits.
TipThe band plays at night, so the lounge suits a late-evening drink; the hotel page lists it open daily from 14:00 to midnight.
Golden Weasel shares a Beixinqiao corner of Dongsi Beidajie in Beijing with a coffee shop, turning from coffee to bar at night, with seats open to the street.
TipThe room is bright and open, and guests drink inside or out on the street; it runs Tuesday to Sunday evenings, with Monday off.
Laizhou Bar pours cocktails made with its parent distillery's own spirits on Fumin Road in Shanghai, next to a Sichuan-leaning fusion kitchen.
TipThe dog-friendly front terrace is the better seat on a warm evening than the sprawling main hall.
30 minutes
Day and night tours covering Beijing's iconic sights. Selected tours include snacks, meals, or cocktails.
Private tour · 4 hours
Explore Beijing’s night flavors on a private tour: visit 3 unique eateries (Michelin Zhajiangmian, Dongsi’s Peking Duck&Houhai beer/snacks/dim sum) near historic areas...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Walk through Qianmen at night, then board a sightseeing bus along Chang'an Avenue with 2 alcoholic or soft drinks and snacks. Private, relaxed, and designed to show bo...