Janes & Hooch

Janes & Hooch is one of Beijing’s cocktail institutions, located in the Gongti Bei / Sanlitun area of Chaoyang District. It blends the spirit of a vintage dive bar with modern craft sensibilities, aiming for substance over flash. The interior leans into exposed brick, wood panels, polished cement floors, and aged brass ceilings. Candlelight, moody shadows, and ambient lighting evoke a cozy, intimate feel. The bar is said to focus on doing the classics right—keeping recipes to a maximum of four ingredients, letting the base spirits shine, and avoiding overcomplication. Cocktails are a highlight: you’ll see interpretations of New Fashioned, Earl Grey Collins, Boulevardier, Dark & Fruity, Hanky Panky, Campari Cobbler, and more. The menu rotates monthly, incorporating local, seasonal ingredients and subtle twists on familiar formats. On weekends, the energy can ramp up with a DJ playing acid jazz, swing, or funk, giving a late-night lift to the atmosphere. Food is light and complementary—small plates and “modern Asian twists” are offered rather than a full heavy menu. Patrons appreciate the bar for its consistency, attitude, and the way it feels like a grown-up place for drinking rather than spectacle. With a relatively modest exterior, entering Janes & Hooch feels like stepping into a hidden retreat from the bustle outside. It is lauded as Beijing’s closest version of a New York speakeasy.