We walked up and down the street near Plan B, searching until we found it: the little out-of-place, old-timey barbershop with the lights still on at 8pm. Inside, if you look to your right there is a  small, built-in bookcase with a hidden button on the side. Press it (you know you want to) and the back wall of the shop will pull back revealing a cocktail bar called Confidential.

Inside is a classic, polished wood bar and rows of backlit bottles and highball glasses. There is a good chance owner Ian Syer will greet you with a glass of Scotch in one hand and a suggestion of what to try first off the menu.

The menu lists classics like martinis, Manhattans, and Mai Tais, oh my! But ask the knowledgeable bartenders what they suggest and you might be treated to some creative off-menu twists.

For example, an old fashioned with a hit of cinnamon, or a French martini laced with cognac. Most cocktails run between RMB 88 and RMB 128, and everything we tried we enjoyed.

The ambiance was lovely, too. The bar seats were comfortable and offered hooks for bags and coats, while overstuffed booths offered perfect corners in which to sit all night chatting and playing cards with friends.

An excellent saxophonist played standards that added to the grown-up vibe, and I’m told there is live music several times a week.

So the next time you are looking to break the routine from your regular happy hour or grab one last drink after dinner, head to Shuangjing and step into a 1920s speakeasy. 

Find it:
Courtyard 32, Beijing 22 International Art Plaza (just west of Plan B), Pingod Community, Chaoyang District
朝阳区苹果社区二十二院街艺术区32号院
Tues 7pm-2am Wed-Sun 6pm-2am

Images: Julie Wolf, the Beijinger

Parenting is hard and for some women, parenting + a full-time job keeps you on your toes 24/7. There’s absolutely no shame in admitting that you need some time to relax with your friends. In fact, we think girls’ night out should be as important as date night with your partner.

Here are a few spots to score drink deals and kick up your favorite heels.

Where: Mei Bar, Rosewood Hotel
What: Free-flow sparkling drinks will get you in the door but the band will make you stay until the sun comes up When: Thursdays 8-10pm
Address: 5/F, Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang District (朝阳区呼家楼京广中心北京瑰丽酒店五层)

Where: Beersmith, Hotel Jen
What: Free-flow beer and cider for ladies, plus live music
When: Thursdays 5-9pm, band starts at 8.30pm
Address: 1/F, Hotel Jen Beijing, No. 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue Chaoyang District (朝阳区建国门外大街1号新国贸饭店1层)

Where: Commune Reserve
What: Ladies enjoy free-flow cocktails and beer
When: Thursdays 9pm-1am
Address: 101, 1F, Beijing Guanghua International, 6 Xidawang Road Chaoyang District (朝阳区西大望路6号光华国际大厦1层101)

Where: Mosto
What: Two hours of free-flow with any food purchase
When: Thursday evenings
Address: 3/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu Chaoyang District (朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园3层)

Images: Pexels

This Chinese New Year holiday, no matter how much you love spending time with your family, sometimes a little “me” time is just what the doctor ordered. For those Beijing dads who are spending the CNY in the city, here’s where you can catch a game and enjoy a cold pint this coming week.

Sanlitun / Liangmaqiao / CBD 
Arrow Factory – Closed Jan 24-26; Open Jan 20-23 and Jan 27-30, 4.30 pm-midnight
Beersmith Gastropub (Hotel Jen)
Brotzeit (China World Mall) – Jan 24, 11am-5pm; Jan 25-26, 11am-6pm
Jing-A Brewpub Xingfucun – Jan 24-30, 5 pm-midnight
The Local – open from 4 pm, Jan 24-31

Gulou / Dongzhimen / Dongsishitiao
Great Leap Brewing (all locations)
Side Street – Open 11.30am-1am

Lido / Wangjing / 798
Great Leap Brewing (all locations)
Xian (EAST Beijing) – Open 5 pm-midnight

Others
Jing-A Taproom Longfusi – Jan 24-30, 5 pm-midnight
Slow Boat Dengshikou Taproom – Jan 24, 11am-6pm; Jan 25, 5pm-midnight; Jan 26, 5pm-midnight

Photos: unsplash

A melodramatic Wall Street Journal article about a young Beijing expatriate’s month-long stint in a Beijing jail serves as a reminder to all of us to never forget that just because you are a foreigner doesn’t mean the local justice system can’t ensnare you.

In the article, Noak Jonsson, an 18-year-old Swedish student who was studying Mandarin at Peking University, appears to have been trying to stop a bar fight.

The incident outside an unnamed Haidian District club allegedly occurred a year ago last November after another expat Jonsson was partying with accused the club’s coat check crew of stealing her purse. According to the WSJ, the purse was returned the next morning.

"Outside the club, the argument continued. It came briefly to blows; a bystander who had jumped into the fray was bleeding and complained his nose was broken.

"Noak, who says he didn’t hit anyone, found himself in a police car," WSJ reported, which noted earlier in the story that all involved (except perhaps the coat check staff) had been drinking prior to the incident.

Jonsson spent a month in a jail, and then almost a year without his passport in Beijing before the charges were finally dismissed and he was allowed to return to Sweden, having already missed the enrollment deadline to study at prestigious Uppsala University.

Make no mistake, this particular expat was not singled out for poor treatment in the Chinese justice system – it’s more like par for the course, with the kid being treated much in the same way as a Chinese citizen would have been.

We don’t presume innocence or guilt in this case, but we can recommend the following common-sense guidelines for those who party in Beijing bars and clubs:

1. Drink in moderation when visiting local bars. Being sober is a great way to stay out of trouble.

2. Being a foreigner is not a "get out of jail free" card. A lot of expats tend to act as if the police will find it inconvenient to deal with a foreigner and just send them on their way if they are involved in something like a fight. This is not the case.

3. Don’t be a vigilante. Getting involved to mediate a fight is not in your personal best interest, as oftentimes all parties are rounded up regardless of who is at fault. We like to point out how sad it is that people here tend to look the other way and not lend a hand when public disturbances occur, but there seems to be a reason why this is the local custom.

4. Guanxi is a real thing in China, and as a foreigner, you are a lot less likely to have it than someone born and raised here.

5. Use caution when checking coats or other personal items, and don’t check purses, phones, or other expensive items. It’s too easy for things to disappear in there, be it by intention or by accident.

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on March 7, 2015

Photo: Universia

In Beijing the movie-star lifestyle can be found in PanSi Palace, a tripartite alignment of hair and beauty boutique, women’s fashion, and speakeasy saloon, which together hold an overwhelming vibe of glitz-and-glam in an otherwise lackluster area.

Bubble Bar was the first concept to be developed, and has already established itself as an experimental speakeasy bar. The newest additions to the family are Love Boutique and Beauty Salon – one an internationally branded female oriented clothing store with partitioned makeup area, the other a cutting edge hair salon.

In the middle is the gargantuan Love Boutique. Through the door you are met with floor to ceiling whitewash accentuated by vintage coving and shimmering chandeliers. A large swathe of empty space must be cut through before you get to the clothing collections. Femininity exudes itself here with an ample mix of both pastel and punchy dresses (RMB 1000-4000) and edgy two-piece items (RMB 1000-3000) hailing from far-reaching places in America, Asia, and Europe. Small statement piece jewelry shines in-between the clothing (starting RMB 600) and a raised make-up room with Dior, Givenchy, MAC, and other reputable global brands sits at the back, consultations go for an average RMB 300.

Beauty Salon is accessible via an inner walkway pass. Near the front are cutting stations with vivid red Perspex planes hanging between sections. Walk to the back of the salon and you will find curtained-off rooms for hair washing, and more segregated cutting and styling pods surrounded by high mirrors. Prices are determined by which stylist you want, women you’ll pay more regardless your selection, with the top director going for RMB 1100 (women) and RMB 800 (men) for a cut and finish treatment. A range of color and styling options are also available for discussion.

With a fully enclosed walk-through system between the three divides one partner can go off and get their hair styled while the other browses luxurious clothing or relaxes with a superbly crafted cocktail, all without leaving the premises. Don’t be surprised to find a few hours of your day gone before stepping back out into the real, unglamoros, world.

PanSi Palace,1Love 2Beauty 3Bubble
Daily 10am-9.30pm/10am-10pm/7pm-2am, 8 Xindong Lu, Shoukai Bojun Neighbourhood, Chaoyang District 8418 5641/8418 5342/8418 5331
新东路8号院 (首开铂郡北区)
800m northeast Dongsishitiao (Subway Line 2)

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on June 20, 2014.

Photos by Erin Strong

However you choose to celebrate Independence Day, there are plenty of options in town. There are pub quizzes, parties, drink deals and plenty of barbecue on offer. If you want to continue the fun (or delay gratification), AmCham is holding their annual event on July 5.

July 4

Fourth of July Mexican BBQ
Barbecued ribs, full Mexican menu and red, white and blue. 5pm-close. Q Mex

Kro’s Independence Day
Get American beer buckets with an assortment of Brooklyn, North Coast and Rogue for RMB 140 (5 beers). To wash down all that beer, Kro’s is offering beef wieners plus curly fries or onion rings and iced tea or Tsingtao for RMB 65. Deals apply at both locations. 11am-midnight. The Kro’s Nest

July 4th at Nola
Celebrate N’Orleans style with all-you-can-eat crawfish (RMB 130). No American party is complete without ice cream at the end. Choose from an assortment of scoops, go for their apple tart with SoCo ice cream or grab an ice cream sandwich. RMB 130. Nola

USA Independence Day Special Cooking Class
Join The Hutong for a culinary tour of America’s heartland. Chef Ali will teach three classic American dishes: Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup, Great Lakes Fish Boil, and Apple Pie. RMB 280. 7pm. The Hutong

Independence Day V.A. Open Mic
Celebrate the Fourth with some songs. We’re hoping for some American classics like "American Pie" and "Surfin’ USA." All other types of music are welcome, though. 9pm. VA Bar

Home Plate Bar-B-Que
Our mouths water at the very mention of their pulled pork. Given how regularly packed this joint is, we’d suggest making it an early dinner to ensure you still have your choice of barbecued meats. Also expect deals in beer throughout the night. Home Plate

Blue Frog
While not offering any special deal, their burgers (voted the readers’ favorite in our Burger Cup last year) offer a great way to indulge in some American food. Sweeten the deal by getting there for happy hour from 4-8pm. Blue Frog

Tim’s Texas BBQ
What’s more American than a plate of ribs and barbeque? Get that along with their weekly pub quiz at 8pm, happy hour from 4-8pm and live music. Tim’s Texas Bar-B-Q

Union Bar and Grille
While you can’t grab a burger, you can still show up for their extended happy hour from 4pm-close. Union Bar and Grille

July 5

AmCham China’s Independence Day: Hometown Cocktail Celebration
Join AmCham China for traditional American food, beer, wine, and the live band Overdrive, as well as lucky draw prizes. RMB 450, RMB 300 (AmCham members). Download the ticket form from AmChamChina.org. 5pm. Eudora Station

Want to celebrate the 4th at home? Check out this guide on where to get all your barbecuing supplies from the grill to the meats.

Need ideas of what to wear? Check out Get the Look in our July issue for some holiday-appropriate garb.

Photo: blog.timesunion.com

This blog is adapted from thebeijinger.com