Booze News: More Bars Reopen, Free-Flow Sake, and a Beer-Fueled Party Fit for the Whole Family
Thirsty? Wet your whistle with Booze News, our wrap-up of the week's best bar deals, parties, drink concoctions, industry gossip, and more.
More bars reopen, signaling a return to normal
In the clearest sign yet that things are nearly back to normal in Beijing, the capital's best-beloved bar for all things scuzzy and rock, Temple, has reopened after 180 days in the dark. Getting right back into it, they're using the occasion to celebrate their ninth anniversary, Jul 31-Aug 2, with big plans on "drunken merriment and the celebration of that good ol’ devil music" – what else? There's a bunch of swag available to help support the reopening as well as a range of pre-paid options so that you can drink for cheap from now until the grave. Read more about the party here or about how you can help support the best dive bar we've got here.
Over in Sanlitun, what is arguably the best-looking Latin cocktail dance closet, La Social in Nali Patio, has also reopened as of Tuesday. Renowned for its cheap (for Sanlitun) but deliciously strong cocktails that help grease the hips late into the night, we recommend heading over earlier rather than later as restrictions are still in place limiting the number of patrons and requiring the bar to close at 11pm for now. More on that here.
Finally, just down the road in Courtyard 4, The Local has also finally been allowed to sell alcohol and operate until 2am (though this may change "depending on the daily situation"). To usher in their newfound freedom, happy hour will be extended until closing from now through August, they'll restart airing live sports, and daily deals and brunch are back. For more info, click here.
Free-flow sake and beer at Beyond Yakitori
To mark Beijing's COVID return to a level 3 risk area and with it the recommencement of alcohol sales in Sanlitun, Beyond Yakitori is celebrating with a sake and beer blowout. Head over on Monday through Wednesday, 6-9pm, and enjoy two hours of all-you-can-drink house sake and Kirin draft for just RMB 99. That's alongside 50 percent off small creative plates like gooey scotch eggs (Mondays), grilled wagyu steak (Tuesdays), and white foie grass (Wednesdays).
A pint-sized party at Jing-A
Who said kids and beer don't mix? OK, well, maybe kids drinking beer – that never ends well – but adults drinking beer while their kids go about being their drunk-small-human selves in a safe setting. Roll on the third Jing-A Pint-Sized Party this Sunday at their Longfusi taproom. As part of their monthly family-friendly events, there'll be activities, games, and workshops between 11am and 2pm as well as a special kids’ menu for the occasion, "complete with pint-sized portions." Activities are intended for children between 3-8 years old, and costs RMB 50 per child, including lunch. If you want to start the party early, Jing-A is also hitting up neighbors Burton for a summer campout this Saturday from 11am onwards with happy hour prices on select beers and the large of their new Get Toasted white stout. Details here.
Looking for more boozy news? Look no further than our latest What's Up in Beer.
Images courtesy of the organizers
