Metro Special

2010 top 10 hangout spots

By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-23 07:52

Whether it's sharing a pint with a long lost pal or simply sitting and watching the people of Beijing bustle by, the capital is overflowing with relaxing, or invigorating, places to spend the day "hanging out".

A man sells fruits covered in sugar (Tang hulu) in Nanluoguxiang. Photos Provided to China Daily

Nanluoguxiang:Rocking the retro

For the young arty types looking to fill their wardrobe and their shelves with a blast from Beijing's past, Nanluoguxiang is a hot pot of hip stores with retro styles and inebriated smiles.

Though there is a mix of more than 100 stylish shops offering iconic imagery, like the shirts found at the street's first shop, Plastered 8, and abstract artistry like the streetwear found at NLGX, the 700-year-old street also has a hint of the historic.

If shopping works up a thirst, there's a long list of coffee shops and bars available, from one of the street's original expat bars, Pass By bar, to the cozy, grab-a-couch-and-watch-a-movie style cafe, 16 MM.

The towering peaks of Jianwai SOHO.

Wudaokou: Embrace your youthful side

Students and professionals experiencing a tinge of nostalgia from their university days can head to Wudaokou for a taste of Beijing's higher learning.

Housing most of Beijing's major universities, this area contains as much merrymaking as it does studying. With a range of international bars and restaurants like Lush, D-22 and Pyro Pizza, Wudaokou is perfect for cracking open the books or cracking a beer.

Ideal for sunny days, strolling across the historic campuses of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) or Tsinghua University makes for a perfect place to hang out and watch students as they bustle by.

Jianwai SOHO: Metropolitan monster mash

White-collar workers looking to dig into the hustle of Beijing's busiest business district can travel to the heart of the capital and check out Jianwai SOHO.

With hundreds of shops geared toward one-hour lunch shopping sprees, commercial offices, scenic landscaped plazas and trendy restaurants, Jianwai SOHO is almost a city within itself.

Some of the area's highlights include Twilight Whiskey Bar, which serves up a decent dish of pizza as well, and Vegan Hut, one of Beijing's hippest vegetarian restaurants. For a lush business lunch, there is also Cafe Europa.

On a boat at Houhai Lake.

Houhai: Lakeside lounging

The ultimate waterside hangouts, the shores of Houhai Lake are stuffed with bars, boutiques and activities to keep visitors occupied year-round.

For winter, sipping on a hot drink next to the fireplace in No Name Bar, to watch people ice skate, is a perfect way of hanging inside and fighting the cold.

During the summer, renting a boat and cruising the lake before getting a good meal at one of the many restaurants in the area is a fantastic way to pass the day.

Fangjia Hutong: Art meets culture

Surreptitiously slotted between Yonghegong Street and Andingmen, Fangjia Hutong is one of Beijing's yet-to-be-discovered cultural pockets.

At its mouth, the street gives the appearance of just another residential alley, but venturing down reveals a small pocket of homely restaurants like Hot Cat Club and Caihuoche Salon, plus bars catering to the local expat crowd such as El Nido and El Nido 2.

Add into the mix the Ruby Theater, a chic dance theater built from an old China National Machine Tools Corp production plant, and it's easy to understand why this has been dubbed the "creative neighborhood".

The Village: Shopping and night life

Even people who have never been to Beijing have heard of Beijing's nighttime hangout, Sanlitun.

In 2008, the former bar street got a massive facelift and now sports one of Beijing's best places to grab a seat and while away the hours.

Best known for opening Beijing's first official Apple computer store, The Village has numerous, but expensive, outlets including China's largest Adidas outlet.

The area also has some of the city's best dining, with the British pub Stumble Inn, the well-known Shanghai eatery Element Fresh, or the American-style sports bar, Union Bar and Grill.

But the main reason for its international recognition is a secluded bar street stuck behind the 3.3 Shopping Mall and The Village. An innocent shopping center by day, at night it thumps with bass beats blasting from bars like 1F Bar or Salud and clubs like Butterfly or Poachers.

The trees come alive at Solana at night.

Solana: Style beside the park

Built on the edge of Chaoyang Park, Solana Shopping Park is one of Beijing's most modern leisurely hangouts.

With lots of international brands including Zara, fast and sit-down restaurants and a bar street facing Shuizhui Lake, it has it all.

From the American All-Star Sports Bar and Grill to the elegant eatery Water, Solana is an international shopping area that boasts itself as a "lifestyle".

Anyone not interested in shedding their hard-earned cash in the shops lining the mall's massive open-air plaza can just grab a seat and observe the lifestyles of the rich and (sometimes) famous.

Wangfujing Street: Top shopping

Described by some as the 5th Avenue of China, Wangfujing has long been Beijing's top international street. Just a short slide down from the Forbidden City, Wangfujing is a melting pot of culture and architecture with some of the city's most famous shops.

One of the biggest draws is the Foreign Language Bookstore, sporting five floors of Chinese and English books. At one point it was the only place in Beijing to get English novel.

At night the street transforms into an episode of Fear Factor, with Wangfujing Snack Street offering up a freakish selection of foods from grilled scorpion to fried seahorse and silkworm cocoons.

Wudaoying: Beijing's up-and-comer

Across from the Yonghegong Lama Temple, Wudaoying has shown a lot of progress over the past few years.

It's the type of day or night hutong where dainty cafes and laidback bars mesh with the relaxed rhythm of traditional life.

Often hailed as Nanluoguxiang's little brother, tattoo parlors and vintage shops give the young hutong a fresh edge.

With classy restaurants at similar prices, The Vineyard, Argo and Saffron offer visitors to this street some of Beijing's hidden culinary gems.

Wangjing: A cultural crossroad

Location of Beijing's largest Korean population, Wangjing is a step outside of the capital's classic hangouts.

With fewer bars than some of the other locations, the district is an ideal place to grab a seat in Wangjing Cultural Square and observe a smattering of Korean culture.

Though the area remains true to its roots with Stove Fire, one of the best Korea restaurants in Beijing, it also stars one of the city's few-and-far-between Burger Kings.