Pool halls are scattered all over Beijing. Tucked away down salubrious alleyways, the doors are unmarked and players merge into a 60-cigarette haze.

Ball House is in a tiny hutong to the east of the Drum and Bell towers in the Houhai area, and a plain red door that causes new customers to pause and question what lies behind. Inside, if your pool skills lack artistry, the surroundings make up for it.

The high ceilings and balconies overlooking the three pool tables creating a spacious, manor house feel. But there are still enough low-lit secluded sofas to make the recreation of the "boy shows girl how to line up a shot" movie scene a real possibility. The rough concrete walls host a few pieces of warm-coloured art and a bottle of red wine adorns every table-1990 it may be but the grape is not the finest.

Classy pool bars have sprung up in cities like London over the past few years but Ball House is different. You rarely have to wait two hours for a table-despite there being only three-and it has an exclusive feel to it without pretension. One of the owners, a cheerful lady in her 40s and at first glance an unlikely potting expert, makes sure of that.

Pool is fair enough at 50 yuan an hour but drinks are on the pricey side. A Tsing Tao is at the low-end on 20 yuan but spirits and mixers touch the 40 yuan mark.

Ball House
Location: East of the Drum Tower, Zhonglouwan Hutong (next to Hosanna Cafe), behind Gu Lou Xidajie
Opening time: 2pm-late
Tel: 010-64074051.