Beijing Boyce

The Top Five Watering Holes Series is back and with someone who epitomizes the work hard, play hard ethic. Her 9 to 5 gig — actually, given the profession, I’m sure many days go long past 5 — is at a communications firm that focuses on tech and IT clients. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, discovering good food and good drinks, and exploring new areas of Beijing. Ladies and gentlemen, the top five Beijing watering holes of Amy Saltzman…

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“I would count myself as a person who is possibly more concerned with the social nature of drinking, rather than the content of the drinks themselves, so I was surprised when asked to do my own “top five” list. I’m not hip on the classy joints (although I do love me a well-made dirty martini). I’m drawn more to the atmosphere and social elements that add a fuller color and context to what I drink and where I drink it. All in all, I’d like to think this list offers a good variety, and, at the very least, it definitely contains some of my favorite places to chill with friends and/or occasionally get sauced enough to write reviews on The Beijinger. Enjoy!

1. Drum and Bell. I have spent a fair amount of time at this bar, and it’s always a pleasure. The vibe inside is cheerful and relaxed, and I especially love the raised seating area that’s set amongst pillows, where you have to take your shoes off to sit. The rooftop deck has a decent amount of space and great views as well, making it perfect for sitting and chatting with friends. Also, if you’re looking to make the most of your Sunday Funday, the 50 kuai all-you-can drink afternoon special is well worth it.

2. The Door. As I’ve warned, classy is not my adjective of choice. However, even The Door marks itself as a guilty pleasure on my list. The squashed, dark dance floor area is pretty sketchy, I won’t argue that. However, beyond it is an array of individual couches and tables, which are great when drinking with a group of friends, or when playing a game of “quarters” with 1元 coins is on the agenda for the night. Really cheap beers and mixed drinks (10 kuai to 20 kuai for most), a convenient location, and a good amount of space to have for yourself and your pals make it hard to say no to. Also, considering the amount of rogue coins I’ve lost under those couches, it is likely there’s a small treasure trove hiding under there for some lucky guy or girl to find.

3. El Nido. This would definitely be the place I would imagine overhearing, “I liked (band / artist / fashion trend) before they went mainstream.” It would also be a strong contender if the website “Stuff White People Like” did a post on Beijing. However, I am caught in the trendy cogs of this small but popular joint, and I don’t so much mind it. El Nido offers a huge variety of unique beers for surprisingly affordable prices, and I love the infused brandy and vodka offerings, if only because they smell fantastic. Plus, it’s appealing to me that I can see all the beers through the glass door fridges before selecting one (or two) for myself. The only downside is the seating, which is almost entirely outside and leaves many to question what will happen when winter rolls around (brrr).

4. Hercules. When I feel like dressing up for the night, doing the transformative glasses-to-contact lenses switch, and walking 25 percent slower to avoid tripping in my heels, Hercules is where I head for first round drinks. The layout is open and relaxed, but with an air of sleek sophistication. The drinks are a bit pricey, but very well-made (especially the dirty martinis and peach Long Island iced teas), and it still sports my favorite happy hour deals for making the most of the weekend: buy one get one free in the early evening and then again from around midnight till the wee early morning hours. I also love the variety in seating options. Couch? Bench? Bed? As you wish.

5. The Stumble Inn. I really enjoy the Stumble Inn and its classic bar vibe. There is ample space to sit inside (as I wait and secretly hope the dart board becomes available), but if my patience gives way, the deck also offers spacious seating with really nice views. There’s also the glorious double threat pairing of both a lengthy beer list and pretty tasty food. I always know I can count on getting my favorite Blue Star nice and cold here, and paired with a juicy cheeseburger it’s hard to leave unsatisfied in both alcoholic and gustatory pleasures. Happy hour deals are good as well, and mixed drinks are effective, to say the least. Very effective.

Honorable mentions:

About a week ago, I put up a post titled “Beijing 88” and listed five things I like about this city. I then put a link to the post on Twitter and asked people there what they like about the city. Below are more than 30 answers. (And, yes, I do realize the irony of gathering such information from a site that is blocked in this country.)

Unfortunately, I’m missing some early responses, as Twitter search only goes back so far, and no doubt missing others due the cutting, pasting and coding job I did at 3 AM last night. My apologies to those folks. In any case, feel free to add more items in the comments section or on Twitter (tag #beijing88) or Weibo (tag #beijing88#).

By the way, someone asked me what would be the opposite of “Beijing 88″, that is, for things people don’t like the city. I’m going with “Beijing 44” / #beijing44.

Here are some things people like about Beijing…

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fishjourner
I like it in Beijing how every person has their own “Beijing Dream”. A city of opportunity!

mrbeijingles
I like riding my bike around and discovering parts of the city I’ve never seen before

lantaumama
I like how restaurants are often overstaffed and there is often someone willing to play w your kids while you eat!

lantaumama
I like how affordable it is to try something new. Be it a hobby, studies or business

gcuason
i can NOT SHAVE MY PITS and it’s still normal.

beijingboyce
I like that I can be downtown and see a Maserati passing a horse-drawn wagon loaded with melons.

lantaumama
I like how the local population has such diverse backgrounds with so many ‘success stories’

lantaumama
I like how anything can be delivered, usually by bike

mapletreesyrup
I like it in Beijing how I can choose to write Chinese emails and my foreign colleagues must accept the fact and LEARN MANDARIN!

beijingboyce
I like that I can open my apartment windows and hear the football games / concerts at Workers Stadium nearby.

er_smith
I love the fact that I can eat authentic Chinese regional cuisine nightly without traveling to those provinces.

lantaumama
I like how there is still a fresh- local – seasonal – homemade food culture

lantaumama
I like that kids have free entry to most places, so it is easy and affordable to explore as a family

earth2jo
I like that evenings can end at a chuan’r stand at 4am with good friends, even on a school night.

ambrosejen
I like my Great Wall view. On the mornings that we have it, I know it is going to be a great day.

beijingboyce
i like that at any given moment, no matter where i am in the city, i could stumble on a TV or movie shoot…

peterschloss
I like that I’ve become a member of the hottest bluegrass band in China w/out having tried too hard to do so

@sinomite
I love how Beijing has so much damn good food everywhere

beijingboyce
I like seeing more than 100 kinds of sparkling wine in Jenny Lou’s at Chaoyang Park.

beijingboyce
B/c every wine maker wants a China presence, I can join dinners with top visiting wine makers for very little money.

landay
I like that I can get around on a subway or with taxis & not need to own a car

lantaumama
I like Mandarin!! So many places to learn and opportunities to practice

jeremyjustice
I like how bank tellers will hold a conversation with me about how “tall” my nose is. And that it’s a good thing.

beijingboyce
I like that first day of fireworks during Chinese New Year.

beijingboyce
I shouldn’t but I like that I can get McDonald’s delivered to my house any time of the day or night.

lantaumama
Diversity of expats. Diplomats, journalists, teachers, tech start ups, chefs, entrepreneurs, all at 1 dinner party

sanverde
I like cycle rickshaws

lantaumama
I love the proximity of countryside and organic farms

beijingboyce
I like sitting on stools, eating rmb4 donkey burgers, drinking rmb3 beers and people-watching with my friends.

dlmarr
I like the fact that not one day is ever the same in Beijing, the energy of the people is remarkable and the diversity of people

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Note: I’m on Twitter here and on Weibo here.

The Stumble Inn, the sequel, will celebrate its first birthday this weekend with a three-night bash that blends booze and bands. (Fans of The Stumble Inn, the original, will remember it from Lucky Street, where it was opened by Glenn Phelan and Shane O’Neill in early 2009, featured a list of 100 beers, and lasted just over a half year before the usual tenant-landlord issues led to its demise). Friday will feature the antics of tribute band The Beijing Beatles. (The rmb50 entry fee goes to the charity Bricks: The Great Wall Appeal). Saturday will feature the musical muscle of blues band Black Cat Bone. (I am unable to mention this act without noting that I no longer feel responsible for its near-electrocution.) And Sunday will feature, according to the  bar’s poster, “some guy named Chris”.  (That would be C’hris who plays regularly at Nashville, among other places, and does a very nice cover of Mark Knopfler’s theme for the movie Local Hero. In another lifetime, I used to help organize an annual summer event and for two years asked Chris to open for Black Cat Bone. Good times, except for that near-electrocution.) Look for booze specials, too.

Also on the verge of celebrating a birthday, its fourth, which on Nanluoguxiang makes it a senior citizen: 12SQM. (This bar now measures 45 square meters after that expansion more than a year ago.) Co-owner and Australian Joseph Kornides, who is such a nationalist that he commissioned that Coopers beer sign out front, says the party is September 3, with drink deals from noon until 1 AM and Australian beers such as Coopers, Cascade and VB at rmb20 per bottle. (I miss the days, before Ned’s closed, when that place, 12SQM and Mao Mao Chong made up the Vegemite Triangle.)

Beijing gourmands can get an early taste of what to expect at Temple Restaurant, which should open later this year as part of the new complex headed by former Maison Boulud GM Ignace Lecleir. The chefs will take over nearby Vietnamese restaurant Susu next Monday for a dinner. Drinks are at 6:30 PM, the meal is from 7 PM, and the cost is rmb550 per person, including wine. To reserve a spot, email meet (at) temple-restaurant.com.

And a date has been set for one of my two favorite annual wine tastings: Torres’ Taste of Nations. I’ve been to portfolio tastings by plenty of wine distributors, from ASC to Aussino, Palatte Vino to The Wine Republic, but the difference with Torres is that the company has made it an institution.  (My other favorite is the Hilton Beijing Food and Wine Experience, slated for November 12 this year. See here for my contest for tickets, dinners and an overnight stay at the hotel.) This is the fifth year, with this edition under the company’s Everwines brand, and will include more than 150 wines from more than a dozen countries.  Even better, Torres cracks open some pretty good wine. (I’m partial to the Australian table, where in the past I have sampled the likes of Henschke, Bass Philip and Vasse Felix. Torres also handles two of China’s best boutique wine brands: Grace and Silver Heights.) Taste of the Nations is slated for September 24 at restaurant Xu Xian Lou just west of Workers Stadium. The entry fee is rmb228 or rmb208 ahead of time — contact Maggie at Maggie at 5165-5519, extension 284 / maggie.wang (at) everwines.com.