Beijing bar death watch: Who’s next?
For six months, readers have been asking me to do a Beijing bar and club death watch. I am hesitant to do so, simply, well, because it doesn’t seem very nice. Honestly, who didn’t see the Klubb Rouge closing coming, not to mention those of some other bars and clubs. And there are plenty more in big doodoo.
So, I have come up with a compromise. I don’t want to make a list – not when I am spending my days eagerly awaiting the opening of Cro Bar (I guess that place’s definition of “soon” is measured in half-years rather than weeks) – but those who want to do so can make their picks in the comments section. So, death watch yourselves to, uh, death.
UPDATE: I’ve already had a suggestion to give a prize for the best death watch guess. Let me mull that one over – I do have an expired case of Budweiser at home…
It's always fun until someone loses an eye.
22 Comments so far
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sad to say, but I’d put Enoteca on the list…
Hard Rock Cafe. I’ve been a patron for 14 years and I like the management there, but their pre-Olympic renovation, unremarkable food, and mind-searing prices doom them.
Anything in The Place, basements bars and escalators don’t mix.
Sex in Da City, simply because I have never ever met anyone who has been there and if they have they were to embarressed to tell me .
Super Bar Street……Even the Americans moving next door can’t save this disaster of an attempt at a Bar Street….Except you Bitte Pita…….I love hummus, therefore you must live.
I’d say every venue at The Village except Element Flesh and Starbucks are at risk.
Agree on solana, anything in here is doomed, especially the strip along the lake around Sex and da city.
Any bobo bar in nanluoguxiang is at risk of being replaced by a fashion/tourist/bobo shop (except 12sqm which is too smal for a shop anyway).
And finally (we wish..), all of the ladybars on the east side of sanlitun bei.
Element Fresh – horrific service, tasteless food, upstairs location.
Browns is totally in for it. I give that place a week tops.
Disagree on Solana, ever been to the Tsingtao Beer pub there? They have a long life ahead of them.
Element Flesh? Come on. Any place with a consistent line is not going down.
Solona would survive, and even thrive, if only they could get me to go there.
Maybe if they get an Annie Anne’s, or a Dunkin Donuts? (yeah right). And what happened to the burger place they were supposed to have?
Eh Browns is gone over 18 months!!!
Hate to be a stickler but Element Fresh is not a bar …
How about Hooters? Will they survive?
Face it, everything except Centro and Maggie’s will die.
I really don’t agree on The Village, exception made for “The Frog”.
Solana has still to be developed.
Superbar Street and possibly Lady’s Street are at risk
If anybody wants a spooky adventure, explore the rotting shells of the failed bars that make up the would-be Yuan Dynasty City Wall Bar Street 元大都酒吧街. It’s just south of Huixin Xijie Nankou subway station on Line 10, along the north side of the canal.
Mr. Brau: I have to disagree. I find something endearing about the unabashed ruggedness of the Xingbalu Super Bar Street. Tim’s draws a steady crowd for darts league, as well as frequent hash gatherings. Bitte Pita is fabulous, healthy, and cheap. Pili Pili and other bars along the street have a strong following of African expats. The (not-so) New Get Lucky is often filled Chinese metal-heads for their weekly live gigs. Finally, Lakeland is one of the most important bars in the (rather limited) Beijing “lala” scene.
As for my prediction on the next failed bar attempt, I’d say the smattering of bars and clubs making up the Solana Bar Street will be the next to fall.
Arthoof: All valid points, on Super Bar Street, especially with Tim’s Roadhouse. Great Space, excellent host, and a loyal crowd. Still not a fan, of the street as a whole though. Nothing was worse then grabbing a cab at 3am in the winter, while drunk.
My List:
Sex in da city……will close by the end of this week
Song…………….two weeks, ending with the biggest rave party ever
Stadium……….you have 6 to 8 weeks to live, start checking things off the bucket list
is the Pavilion still open?
@ m-dawg,
Yep.
Cheers, Boyce
Pavilion may still be open, but I am not sure for what purpose. I guess the owner has been around a long time and does not know when to quit.
@ Wilbur,
Great deck in summer? Decent wines? Good whiskey selection?
Cheers, Boyce
@ Boyce
That’s not what you were saying about Klubb Rouge when you were drinking their free champagne in the summer. Oh, hang on, yes it was…
@ Alex,
Oh to return that day of petting deer while sipping Champers and enjoying bacon, potato, strawberry and banana salad. Well, all except for the bus ride back.
Cheers, Boyce