A real sports, Irish bar... Paddys is a great place to be. People is very friendly and there is always something going on there. I can say that is the best place in Beijing for having a Guinness. The food is just ok, could be much better, but with the Ganges restaurant upstairs, that wont be a big problem. My only complain will be about the staff.. they seem to be lost all the time.... But thats a general thing here in China I guess.
Chaoyang Qu Sanlitun Lu 19 Hao Sanlitun Village Nan Sanceng S3-31 Hao
This is a good bar. More than 100 bottled beers, several more on tap, a few capable bartenders, and two floors of fun. Downstairs they have foosball and upstairs they have a pool table. Downstairs is more quiet (but not quiet) while the upstairs is packed and more fun. Music is classic all the way to the present pop but super fun to sing along too after a few beers. Staff are professional and very cheery. French fries are great and inexpensive. Other than the smoke, which can be a bit much at times, this is a rock solid bar.
Chaoyang Qu jiangtai Lu 311 Hao (Lidu Fandian Dongmen Duimian)
Spent the afternoon here singing Christmas carols in a packed bar full of Christmas cheer. It was a very enjoyable time spent in a bar that I wish I knew about earlier. It’s smallish and quaint with lots of character. I love that they put a ledge and stools outside for smokers to sit and enjoy their beer without making them suffer. More than anything else I was stunned at the food. Absolutely phenomenal. Unusual for a sports bar. Apparently someone found an underemployed Thai cook and hired him or her to produced the most luscious red curry I’ve seen in this city. It was much much better than anything I’ve had in even the best restaurants near Sanlitun, changan jie, etc. I had one piece of pizza which was pretty darn good too. I’m definitely going back when I’m in the area!
Chaoyang qu lai guang ying dong lu (Beijing jing xi xue xiao pang bian)
Beijing is the better for another Irish bar. Of course, there is always the pressure to “localize” one’s offering. Clearly, Green cap has not given into cultural or linguistic pressure. After all, to wear a green hat in China is a none too subtle declaration that your wife is sleeping around - or as it is so politely referred to in China, cuckolded. On appearance the green cap is not as rabidly Irish as Paddy O’Shea’s but it’s a good bar just the same. Me thinks that it will take a while for this bar to “fill out” the way Paddy’s and any other good Irish bar does over time. For now, they are broadcasting sports, have clean beer lines and tasty Guinness to carry me through.
We ordered 2 Mojitos drinks. The barman has used inferior products and completely wrong compared to the original mojito recipe. After we tasted them we realized that was not drinkable. We left them intact and i asked for a bottle of water. He has filled the glass with stinking water from an opened pitcher... I PRETENDED a closed bottle. At that point we asked the bill... and 130 RMB for 2 drinks NEVER drinked! Their website slogan is: "there is no stranger, but friends you have not met". Please change "friends" with "dishonest" word. we were the only two clients... i know why.
its a slow news day on my laptop so figured I would pass the time sharing my first experience at this joint a couple Saturday nights ago. I was there for the charity night bandstand which didn't disappoint along with the friendly atmosphere and al fresco ambience.
Best if all there were no foreign language students in attendance- this meant no mass whining about when the hip hop & techno DJ was gonna start. Shunyi is far enuff away from the Wu metaphorically and geographically that its a no gone zone for the 20+ set. Its like if their parents moved here then they would like live in Shunyi like too & it would be like OMG get me out of here hella boring.
Highlight of the night was Black Cat Bone and if your old enuff to remember the Blues Brothers movie you will absolutely love these guys. Great songs, great style and great musicianship. Brilliant. The lead guitarist has real talent and caus its partially relevant here the bass player owns the Purple Haze franchise(a Hendrix reference no doubt)The lead singer looks like Telly Savalas with a goatee and channels Jake Blues on stage.
As for the venue its a top summer hangout with a dirt floor courtyard with lots of character & local style. If you have a jonesing to get outta town and don't want to do the culture thingy then get in a cab and come here for the night.
This is an edit to my earlier review (Posted Below)
DD's has been going through a rough patch lately. What with firing the original manager, upping the prices, canceling the specials, and generally being unreceptive to criticism - the management had ruined a once exceptional Beijing bar.
However, I must give credit where it is due. Someone was obviously listening. Last night's St. Patrick's Day party was awesome! The staff were on their toes, the drinks were well priced (31 kuai Guinness compared to Paddy's 55!) and the environment was lively. They even had one of the old waitresses around who I hadn't seen in a while. My group had a great great time. I seriously hope they can keep up the good work.
I'm a big fan of Danger Doyle's. The place has the best beer selection in the gongti-sanlitun area. I agree with the previous reviewer that Sierra Nevada Pale Ale would be incredible (in fact, I'd have lost my final reason of ever visiting the US again) but someone once told me that due to SA's picky quality control it's impossible to ship such long distances. Not sure if its true, but it's what I heard.
Not only is their bottled beer selection great - but they keep the taps of the draught selection amazingly clean. You can get a 20 RMB pint of Qingdao and it'll be the best Qingdao you'll ever drink outside of the brewery in Shandong. It probably doesn't take too much effort to keep them this clean - other bars should take notice. It's an actual pleasure to come to DD's and order a Qingdao.
They've also got a great Irish Whiskey selection - there's one I can never remember the name of (two words with the first letters T. and D.) that is ridiculously smooth and at 25 RMB a glass, a great bargain.
Pool table, bar bowling all are a good time. Haven't tried their food but the pizza over looks great.
I have only one complaint. Some friends and I decided to go up their rooftop the last time we were there. It took 10 minutes for the waitress to come take our order (and then she forgot to bring a menu). Finally, after ordering we waited close to 25 minutes for our drinks. I admit, its a long walk up all those stairs. However, the rooftop is beautiful and comfortable as any other place in the city. If you don't want to serve people up there - just tell us we can't sit there.
That said - service on the lower levels is great. Some of the cutest bar tending girls in the city. Well done.
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