Beijing Nightlife

Beijing entrepreneur Zhang Lan hired Philippe Starck to design this 1.5-acre space, which comprises a restaurant, bar, and club. The result is eclectic – Mongolian yurts star in the dining room, while upside-down Regency-style portraits, ’50s Chinese memorabilia, and Starck’s eagle-winged thrones decorate the lounge.

You’ll never believe that this three-floor building used to be a school. Infused with southeast-Asian style, the bar/restaurant serves Thai, Indian, Moroccan, and Chinese cuisines. The warm-toned bar features scarlet armchairs, contemporary artworks, and hanging lanterns. There is also an outdoor patio terrace.

This enduringly popular martini bar at the Kerry Center Hotel attracts both business travelers and a monied local crowd. Cocktails and cigars are the ubiquitous order of the day.

Opened in late 2007, this two-floor venue caters to dedicated clubbers, offering creative electronica and experimental techno, while artfully avoiding the current Chinese urge to import ‘90s-era, ‘superstar’ DJs.

A long-standing favorite with independent travelers, this hutong bar, with its Tibetan-style interior and atmospheric, off-street courtyard, provides guests with travel guides and magazines, plus pastas, salads, and beers.