Top Bars in Beijing – Most Viewed (2025)

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.

Confidential Bar & Lounge is a hidden gem in Beijing’s nightlife scene, embracing the mystique of old-world speakeasy design combined with modern cocktail artistry. It operates behind a discreet entrance—rumor has it you enter through what seems like a barber shop, press a hidden button or move a mirror, and reveal a bar tucked away in Shuangjing. Inside, the décor leans strongly vintage: dark woods, velvet touches, low ambient lighting, leather seating, and brass accents. The bar feels intimate and immersive, ideal for conversations over carefully crafted drinks. According to a travel blogger's June 2023 recap, “Confidential brings a 1920s speakeasy vibe to Beijing with a bar hidden behind a barber shop!” Live music and private event hosting are also part of its offering (Confidential Bar & Lounge’s Facebook page mentions “Live Music & Private Events”). Because of its hidden nature and low signage, many visitors emphasize arriving with directions, and expect a certain “treasure hunt” feel to locating the place.

Hidden House is one of Beijing’s more elusive cocktail dens, tucked away behind a low-key storefront that disguises its true nature. The façade appears to be a glassware shop or teahouse; insiders say you press a button or slide aside a bookcase to access the bar beyond. Inside, the décor blends intimate charm with vintage touches: exposed brick, moody lighting, wood, brass accents, and snug alcoves for quiet conversations. It’s not flashy — the design leans toward understated elegance, letting the drinks and atmosphere speak. The cocktail program is solid but not ostentatious. Many drinks are reinterpretations of classics with a twist — for example, their Bourbon Mai Tai (bourbon instead of rum), London Mule (fresh ginger + local citrus), and Secret of Nolita (pink vodka, Beijing yogurt, white rum, brown sugar) are frequently named in reviews. Despite its hidden status, it’s well regarded by locals and expat nightlife aficionados. On Reddit: “Hidden House is great. It's in Sanlitun, doesn’t have signs outside … you have to go inside the tea shop and find the secret button to open a wall that leads to the bar.” Another user adds: “Hidden House (you have to enter through a fake front shop called: La petite cave)” Because of its clandestine nature, many guests emphasize arriving early, knowing the alleyways, and embracing the treasure hunt. Overall, Hidden House delivers a cocktail experience layered with intrigue — the kind of bar you remember not only for a drink but for the sensation of discovery.