Top five watering holes: Bjorn Stabell
In part nine of this series, Bjorn Stabell, founder of “agile software development company” Exoweb, shares his top five places to eat and drink in Beijing. Actually, he’s gone that extra mile and given us six, and noted a couple of spots for the laptop crowd to enjoy. (Links are to the City Weekend Web site that Exoweb built.)
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Best find: Giyan
Nothing beats the intimate atmosphere of this Mongolian bar, especially on Friday evenings when you can listen to live throat singing and matouqin (if the musician isn’t on some world tour), and sip on “horse milk alcohol” with friends. (This is such a find, I probably shouldn’t tell anyone.)
Nothing beats the intimate atmosphere of this Mongolian bar, especially on Friday evenings when you can listen to live throat singing and matouqin (if the musician isn’t on some world tour), and sip on “horse milk alcohol” with friends. (This is such a find, I probably shouldn’t tell anyone.)
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Best view: Wain Wain, Soho
Enjoy a 35th-floor birds-eye view of the CBD, Third Ring Road, and Changanjie. Even on cloudy days you don’t miss out: a projector shows a helicopter fly-by of Tokyo at night, complete with descriptions of the buildings and crossroads. Great deals on food and drinks as well. Probably my favorite place to do laptop work.
Enjoy a 35th-floor birds-eye view of the CBD, Third Ring Road, and Changanjie. Even on cloudy days you don’t miss out: a projector shows a helicopter fly-by of Tokyo at night, complete with descriptions of the buildings and crossroads. Great deals on food and drinks as well. Probably my favorite place to do laptop work.
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Best view (summer): Yin bar, Emperor Hotel
Sip a drink while gazing at the Forbidden City and listening to a live guzhen performance. Only good for summer nights due to the outdoorsy nature of this rooftop bar.
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Best atmosphere: Nanlou Guxiang
I love the atomsphere of this street, especially around dusk. Favorites include the rooftop at Passby Bar and Mirch Masala.
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Most impressive: Maison Boulud, Legation Quarter
The most exclusive restaurant and bar I’ve seen in Beijing, with a very cool colonial atmosphere and excellent French food, but a bit dangerously expensive if you’re the one footing the bill.
The most exclusive restaurant and bar I’ve seen in Beijing, with a very cool colonial atmosphere and excellent French food, but a bit dangerously expensive if you’re the one footing the bill.
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Best overall: Luga’s, Sanlitun
A cozy atmosphere and great value-for-money food and drinks. Drink selection isn’t the best, but I love the DIY guacamole and burritos. If you want better beer go to the new Luga’s Villa around the corner where they have Guiness and Stella on tap, but unfortunatly no burritos. Both places are pretty decent for laptop users as well.
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Previous top fives by:
Phoebe Wong
Diane Fermin
Elisabeth Tchoudjinoff & Katrina Arndt
Paul Adkins
Chandler Jurinka
Kevin Shen
Steven Schwankert
Phoebe Wong
Diane Fermin
Elisabeth Tchoudjinoff & Katrina Arndt
Paul Adkins
Chandler Jurinka
Kevin Shen
Steven Schwankert
2 Comments so far
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Darn you and your ubiquitous blog
i think you already know i am a regular at Le Petit Gourmand…a place which is constantly underrated …certainly among my circle….good cheap coffee pleasant surroundings…capable staff….
now thanks yo you there will be even more laptop toting workaholics that i will have to clamber over to get at the bookshelves…..
Sorry, Des!
Yep, the place IS underrated - cozy, lots of books, decent food, cheap coffee. It’s sometimes too noisy, but overall is a good stop. I’m not sure if my post will make much of a difference - this place is already starting to draw more and more people!
Cheers, Boyce