Beijing’s burgeoning wine scene: 5 great places to imbibe
BEIJING is growing up, shedding its sealed-off past – when the expat nightlife options consisted of one seedy bar street – to become a truly cosmopolitan city. The restaurant and nightlife industries in Beijing are young, but growing all the time, and these great leaps forward are reflected in the burgeoning Beijing wine scene.
Though Chinese wines tend to be rather hit or miss, an appreciation of wine has been growing among China’s affluent citizens, bolstered by plenty of expats hailing from some of the finest wine-producing regions in the world. The following are five of the best spots in Beijing to imbibe quality wine in China’s capital.
Enoterra wine bar and restaurant Pic: Time Out Beijing
Enoterra
A small but charming wine bar located on the fourth floor of chic Nali Patio, Enoterra delivers when it comes to quality and customer experience. The dimly lit main bar and restaurant is small and intimate, a great place for a date or catching up with friends. The Enoterra rooftop is one of the less appreciated in the city, but is beautiful and spacious, and on a clear night, affords guests lovely views of the heart of Beijing. All this is enjoyed while sampling their solid wine selection by candlelight. Unlike many bars in the city, Enoterra rarely feels crowded, so there’s room to breathe while enjoying your drinks, rather than being jostled by a hundred other patrons. Weeknight happy hours include a buy-one-get-one-free deal. Tuesday is Ladies Night, when the fairer sex enjoys the buy-one-get-one option all day.
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Pic: Temple Restaurant Beijing
Temple Restaurant
Though not a wine bar per se, Temple Restaurant deserves a nod because of its impressive wine collection. With more than 800 wines, this premiere dining establishment boasts one of the best collections in the city. The bulk of the Temple Restaurant wine collection comes from France, specifically Champagne, Bordeaux, and Burgundy. There are also selections from other European countries and wine-producing regions around the world. Take a gander at Temple’s lists of reds and whites to get a sense of just how vast the offerings here are.
(ALSO ON TWA: Best dive bars in Beijing)
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Enomatic machine at Modo restaurant Pic: Modo
Modo
One of the most-buzzed restaurants in Beijing, Modo is known for its flavorful cuisine and its wine list. Also situated in the Nali Patio enclave within the Sanlitun nightlife district, Modo is conveniently located for enjoying good eating and wine tasting before an evening out. The restaurant boasts an offering of 80 unique wines, as well as an Enomatic machine for sampling. Patrons can purchase a Modo wine card and taste test the wines of their choice. Bottles of wine are 30 percent off on Tuesdays, and early birds can take advantage of the happy hour dinner set.
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Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant Pic: Hotel G
Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant
If you like to enjoy your wine surrounding by pretty young things in an uber-trendy environment, head to Scarlett. A bar at luxury boutique establishment Hotel G, Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant is known for its tasty French cuisine and extensive wine list. There are more than 80 wines offered here, and all are enjoyed in luxe, stylish setting. That it’s a highly stylish place comes as no surprise, since the hotel sits in the Gongti area, home to some of Beijing’s most popular clubs.
(ALSO ON TWA: Beijing nightlife: Where to party with the young, hip and beautiful)
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Pic: Cheers Wine
Cheers Wine
Thoughts of wine bars usually involve the chic, polished atmosphere seen at some other venues on this list. Cheers Wine takes a different approach, one that smacks of quintessential Beijing style. This chain of wine wholesale stores doubles as a wine cafe, where you can linger over a bottle of wine before carrying your purchases home. There’s nothing glamorous about the sidewalk seating at the Sanlitun store, but who needs glamor when you can get decent, discount wines that will satisfy but not strain your wallet. The Cheers staff members are exceedingly friendly and only too happy to offer up samples or make suggestions. Prices and quality vary, but the Cheers selection is well-suited to those who appreciate a tasty wine on a budget.
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