The Garage: Shunyi's First Biker Bar

Just when you thought the expatriate “home-away-from-home” suburb of Shunyi couldn’t be a tamer area to fool yourself into believing that you are living in Beaver Cleaverville, USA rather than Beijing, a biker bar has rolled into town, parking itself between gated communities, golf courses, and prestigious international schools. There goes the neighborhood! We took a big gulp, put on a brave face and headed to The Garage.

Upon closer inspection, The Garage is more likely to attract teachers and their students’ families rather than the Hell’s Angels. Although, if you’re lucky, you might catch Beijing’s biker gang Mad Dogs there.

We soon discovered garages aren’t always a discarded oil stain, protecting your car from the neighborhood punks. They are often a safe respite. A place where you can build the first personal computer, form an iconic rock band, or sell your old bean bag chair. The Garage is just that: a comfortable escape.

Owner Glenn Phelan’s success with the Green Cap and The Filling Station fueled the idea behind The Garage. The recipe is a simple one involving a strategic location, decent diner food, a camp theme and the broadcasting of sports on gigantic plasma screens.

We were met by Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and a star-spangled red, white, and blue cycle on display, but the bartenders insisted we were not allowed to ride it. We couldn’t believe it. However, they patted the seat of a sad motorcycle resurrected as a bar stool. Between the handlebars, we noticed more grill than bar.

Harley-Davidson-themed orange and black booths overwhelm the large space, while the menu is dominated by entrees and appetizers. The deep-fried Cajun Chicken Wings (six for RMB 45) off the “Quick Fuel Filler” (read: appetizers) menu were seasoned well enough for us to reject the rack of sauces we were handed. The Garage Sandwich (RMB 80) is a grain-fed Australian beef medallion on flaky Ciabatta bread, and it is more appetizing than its name suggests.

Beer from more than ten countries is available, and the draught is dispensed out of engine pistons. However, the cocktail selection is limited to the familiar classics. I expected more creativity from a biker-themed bar, perhaps an “Easy Rider” or a “Bloody Hippy”, but we settled on a well-balanced Whiskey Sour and Lynchburg Lemonade (RMB 45).

Although the pool table, five big screen TVs, daily specials, and weekly events may be enough to draw a Shunyi resident out of their villa, a long, a trip from the city does not seem worth it, unless you’re riding in on your motorcycle, of course.

The Garage
Mon-Thu 3pm-late, Fri-Sun noon-late. Houshayu Yuyang Lu (100m east of Capital Paradise South Gate), Shunyi County
顺义县后沙峪榆阳路(名都园南门东行100米）

A version of this article appeared in the Beijinger's December issue.

Photos: Sui