Not everyone lives a stone’s throw from Sanlitun or Gulou Dajie, and for those on the outskirts of the city, facing up to a 50RMB rush-hour cab ride isn’t too tempting. So what’s the answer? One burgeoning hotspot vying for the attention of bored Shunyiites is the airport, where the new hotels are now attempting to do the incredible – change people’s drinking habits.
Long Bar
Located in the new Beijing Capital Airport Hilton, a free shuttle bus departs regularly from Terminal 3 and, thankfully, the driver has no qualms ferrying a solitary, passenger to the Hilton, less than a five minute drive away but still impossible to walk thanks to the twisting motorways.
The bar
Long Bar itself is a nice space. Split into two sections, it creates an ‘L’ shape, with the first section styled like a high class champagne bar. Muted colours and high-backed armchairs delight and, as its name suggests, the bar itself is very long, stretching a good ten metres. The second section eschews the white leather chairs of the first for brown coloured sofas and hard wood tables. A humidor finishes off the cigar lounge feel, as do the specially designed cigar ashtrays.
The pull
Long bar is a great location to grab a relaxing drink. It is huge for an airport hotel bar, so much so that we doubt they’ll ever be more than half full. The drinks menu is well stocked, with an impressive wine list that contains ‘by the glass’ wines from as little as 30RMB. A pint of draught Stella costs 65RMB, a draft Tsingtao 45RMB, with standard cocktails coming in at 59RMB, so there aren’t too many bargains to be had, but for anyone living ‘on the edge’, this is a bar with plenty of style, and well worth an airport excursion.
Fuel
Burning its way to the forefront of the Terminal 3 bar scene, the Langham Place’s Fuel is a molten blast of fun that takes the cliche of stuffy hotel bars.
The bar
Alongside the pizzas, ribs and burgers on the food menu, Fuel works well as just a bar. The décor is dramatic, using warm, dark colours, with creepy-yet-cool works of modern art strewn on the walls. The drinks list contains 50RMB pints of Stella, martinis from 60RMB, house specials from 80RMB and a long wine list with glasses starting at 60RMB. Not cheap, then, but not as insultingly expensive as many of the bars downtown.
The pull
Two pool tables, a foosball table, wide screen TVs, a selection of retro arcade games (including Sega’s 1987 classic After Burner!) and two KTV rooms fitted out with PS3s and Guitar Hero ensure that you’ll never be bored. Another DJ booth on a stage overlooking the bar further confirms Fuel’s status as a party venue. The daily 4-8pm buy-one-get-one-free happy hour is a waste, as most people will be stuck in rush hour, but Fuel does everything else right. It manages to be a sports bar, yet retain a semblance of class, and for those on the rim, it is simply heaven sent.