An Overview of Beijing's (Kind of) Beer Gardens

      With the intense summer heat (and hopefully rain) behind us, now is the ideal season to enjoy a drink or two outdoors before the warm weather disappears. Recently, we've been exploring some of the best rooftops and terraces in Beijing – but what about beer gardens?

      In my "expert opinion" as a Brit, Beijing doesn't really have what I would consider a true beer garden since there aren't any "proper" traditional pubs here. However, there are places that come quite close. Additionally, there are many bars with courtyards throughout the capital, which I would suggest is a sort of Chinese interpretation of a beer garden. So, let's take a look at what the capital has to offer!

      For our reviews of rooftops and terraces, you can find these articles:

      - Beijing's Rooftops & Terraces: Sanlitun and Gongti

      - Beijing's Rooftops & Terraces: Andingmen, Gulou & Beixinqiao

      - Beijing's Rooftops & Terraces: the Liangma River

      - Beijing's Rooftops & Terraces: the CBD

      - Beijing's Rooftops & Terraces: the Forbidden City and Beyond

      **COMMUNE RESERVE Dawanglu**

      The Dawanglu location of COMMUNE RESERVE features a beautiful outdoor area that I would say is as close to a beer garden as you're likely to find here. It spans a large space, surrounded by lush greenery and offers plenty of seating, with its cream-colored sofas providing a particularly inviting spot to spend the afternoon. They boast an impressive 20 beers on tap, offering a wide selection, including everything from IPAs to sours and fruity options to stouts. In addition to beer, they also offer a variety of cocktails, mocktails, and a comprehensive food menu.

      **Address:** 101, 1/F, Guanghua Intl. Bldg, 6 Dawang Xilu, Chaoyang District

      **Hours:** Mon-Thu, 11am-2am; Fri, 11am-3am; Sat, 10am-3am; Sun 10am-2am

      **Phone:** 136 9323 2573

      **Paulaner**

      Located near the Liangma River, Paulaner features a large outdoor area bordered by hedges and adorned with artificial grass, creating a decent beer garden atmosphere. As expected, they offer several Paulaner beers on tap, along with cocktails, wine, and other beverages. Their Bavarian-inspired menu emphasizes hearty, meaty dishes, but they do provide a few vegetarian options.

      **Address:** 1/F, Yansha Youyi Shangcheng, 52 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District

      **Hours:** 11:30am-1am

      **Phone:** 010 6465 3388, 010 6410 4211

      **Slowboat Maizidian**

      Every summer at their Maizidian location, Slowboat sets up a cozy beer garden right outside the taproom on the street. Surrounded by plant walls, the space has a nice garden ambiance, and in the evening, globe lights create a warm glow. Here, you can enjoy 20 Slowboat beers on tap, featuring everything from classic options like Drink Like A Fish Pilsner (RMB 40) and Monkey’s Fist IPA (RMB 45) to regular new releases. If you'd like to sample a few different beers, they offer a tasting paddle of three 100ml glasses for RMB 50. Beyond beer, they also serve their famous burgers, shareable plates, and more.

      **Address:** 1/F, 78 Maizidian, Chaoyang District

      **Hours:** Sun-Thu, 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 11am-2am

      **Phone:** 136 8306 8225

      **Great Leap #6**

      A favorite spot in the hutong for many, Great Leap's original location features a lovely courtyard beer garden. The courtyard has over 100 years of history, and you can appreciate the traditional hutong architecture while enjoying a pint. Expect to find some of their signature brews on tap such as Honey Ma Gold (RMB 45), Banana Wheat (RMB 55), or Little General IPA (RMB 50), in addition to seasonal offerings. While food isn't served here, you're welcome to order takeout from anywhere. The courtyard is also completely dog-friendly!

      **Address:** 66 Doujiao Hutong, Dongcheng District

      **Hours:** noon-midnight

      **Phone:** 184 0060 8074

      **Side Street Jianguomen**

      Somewhere between a beer garden and a terrace is Side Street’s Jianguomen branch. The long terrace is surrounded by greenery, with trees further back, giving it a beer garden feel. In terms of

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