Beijing Boyce

On my way across town from a business meeting last week, I popped into The Pavillion at about 10 PM. I was mildly surprised to find it bustling - and on a Thursday night no less. One of the proprietors is Russell Probert, active in Beijing’s expat golf scene and a former co-owner of the original legendary bar Frank’s Place. Thus, one might expect the place to be home to the city’s long-term expats (and I have nothing against such people, so put those nine irons back in the bags, boys, and no one - particularly me - gets hurt). True to form, it does attract some “old China hands” as well as a good number of younger and newer residents of Beijing, a diversity I’ve noticed on previous visits. This place has also seen several additions since it opened 18 months ago — from the large patio out back to the recent glassed-in area to the east, which gives the bar more depth.

The Pavillion’s pros include decent service (though a handful of readers reported gruff treatment during the World Cup last summer), reasonably priced wine, huge and comfy chairs, and an excellent patio. Cons include fairly pricey beer and sometimes conflicting crowds - for example, a group vocally cheering their favorite rugby team versus a couple (trying to) quietly enjoy a bottle of wine. All in all, though, The Pavillion has step by step been finding a niche and ranks among the more pleasant surprises on the drinking scene over the past year.

Note 1: Russell says that The Pavillion will hold the annual Orange Ball on April 28 and thus the bar will be closed to regular business.

Note 2: TRIO, home of the reincarnated Frank’s, announced - with blinding red highlight and multiple exclamation marks, no less - that a shuttle bus will stop Fridays at Workers’ Stadium North Gate (9 PM), opposite Yashow Market (9:15 PM), and at Chaoyang Park West Gate (9:30 PM) to pick up punters and save them the taxi fare to the Lido area establishment. Hmmm, does this mean we’ll see a Pavillion bus touring the streets near TRIO and picking up bar-goers looking to come downtown?