
Mao Mao Chong is an expat favourite, and has ranked highly on expat magazine awards — and it is not hard to see why. Not only is this bar’s name adorable (Mao Mao Chong translates as ‘The Hairy Caterpillar’), but the bar serves great cocktails, crafted with precision, in an intimate setting right in Beijing’s hutongs. A lot of the cocktails in Mao Mao Chong are Chinese renditions of the classics, with chilli’s and Sichuan peppercorns as a key ingredient.
For example, there is the Bloody Mao, which is a spicier version of the Bloody Mary. On top of this, it is one of the only bars in the area that is non-smoking, making for a pleasant change around Beijing, and potentially even a dinner destination for families’ because the pizza’s are also amazing. If you can, come here on a Wednesday when a special selection of drinks are only 35 yuan. Otherwise, prices for cocktails range between 40 and 70 yuan.