If there's one thing to anticipate as the Earth orbits the sun each year, it's the numerous holidays that celebrate just about everything, every day of the week. This is particularly true for days focused on cocktails and spirits.
Most drinks receive just one day annually, but one drink enjoys an entire week dedicated to it: the Negroni.
Negroni Week is a yearly celebration that began in 2013, organized by Imbibe magazine to honor this balanced bitter beverage. Since then, it has expanded and gained international popularity. Last year, more than 13,000 bars in 90 countries participated in the week-long event, raising over USD 600,000 for Slow Food, a global movement of local groups and activists committed to ensuring that everyone has access to good, clean, and fair food.
This year, Negroni Week will be held from September 22-28 and has again partnered with Slow Food as the charity of choice, with all proceeds going to community-led projects that promote better and more sustainable food and drink options.
To participate, simply visit a bar that is taking part—there are an impressive 65 bars involved in Beijing this year—and order a Negroni. You can view the complete list of participating bars here. If you're interested in trying something unique or prefer a classic Negroni, we have three recommendations for you.
**a BAR of Crayon**
Opened earlier this year by former Union bar manager Harry Hua and the team behind Bar Long Fong, a BAR of Crayon features a menu of craft cocktails with modern twists on classic drinks, particularly for their two Negroni Week specials.
One option is the Aged Negroni (RMB 108, pictured), which combines gin, red vermouth, and Campari with roasted coconut, vanilla, and coffee beans. The other is the Wetland Negroni (RMB 108), which substitutes red vermouth for a blend and introduces beetroot, cacao, and bold Fernet Branca alongside gin and Campari.
*Location: N4-L33, Sanlitun Taikooli North, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
Hours: 7pm-1.30am*
**Alley Diagon**
Not far from Andingmen, Alley Diagon is a cozy venue that pays tribute to Harry Potter while also embracing their Beijing roots with the drinks served. For Negroni Week, they have one special version available: the South Negroni. This drink maintains the traditional equal parts base but infuses it with a bit of southwestern Chinese flair through grapefruit, Yunnan coffee, and 木姜子 (mùjiāngzǐ), a small green fruit valued in Yunnan and Guizhou for its strong, lemongrass-like flavor.
*Location: A11 Fensi Ting Hutong, Dongcheng District
Hours: Mon-Thurs & Sun, 6pm-1.30am; Fri-Sat, 6pm-2am*
**The Local**
You might think the Local is an unusual choice for a Negroni, but given the bar’s emphasis on detail in classic drinks—especially Tiki varieties—we believe it’s the best option among the 65 bars for a traditional Negroni in central Beijing.
Here, you’ll find a classic Negroni (RMB 70), crafted with equal parts Beefeater gin, Dolin red vermouth, and Campari. No frills, just a straightforward Negroni.
*Location: 101, 1/F, Southeast Side of Bldg 80, Zone E, Courtyard No. 4, Gongrentiyuchang Beilu, Nansanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
Hours: Daily, 11am-midnight*
*READ: CFFC 2025: Full List of 46 Restaurants*
*Images: Pexels, Negroni Week, courtesy of the venues*
"I fear a life not fully experienced; I dread the thought of looking back as an elderly person and regretting the time spent on trivial matters or attempting to be someone other than myself. I yearn for a life I'd be eager to read about; a grand story in which I am both the writer and the protagonist." Justin Shelter
Today, we will explore the largest and most famous monastery in Lhasa. I can see it from my hotel room window, and I am quite excited about it. If you've ever come across a postcard of Tibet, it probably features this monastery. That being said, I can express similar sentiments about monasteries as I do about ancient cathedrals; I appreciate the art, the distinctive architecture, and witnessing the local devotion, but after visiting a few in a short span, you often crave something different. This afternoon will also include some time at the local market street, which could be the perfect opportunity to find my trip souvenir.
The flight from Chengdu to Lhasa was just right. It lasted 2.5 hours and included one of the best airline meals I've ever had—yogurt, crumbly cake, and rice with a chicken mixture. For some reason, I found myself in a priority seat with plenty of legroom and no one next to me. I didn’t pay extra for this, so I'm feeling lucky. I really wanted to sleep, but about 45 minutes into the flight, I spotted a completely snow-covered peak rising above the clouds. This sight sparked excitement and kept me wanting to gaze out the window. Roughly an hour before we landed, the clouds began to clear, revealing numerous mountain peaks below me, and I could see a sea of them. In the valleys, I noticed small clusters of houses that were likely quite remote from any major towns. The mountain ridges had paths that seemed to connect circular structures, which I finally concluded were small water tanks positioned high to supply pressure to the villages below. Flying over the mountains occasionally felt strange, as the plane seemed to gently rock side to side, likely due to the air currents above them being somewhat turbulent. As we approached Lhasa, it appeared we were following a valley with ridges on either side. Eventually, I spotted a landing strip over a ridge. We continued to follow the valley, moving north from the landing strip as the ridges began to fade away. The plane then turned gradually about 80 degrees to align with the runway, making for an interesting approach to the airport.
I need to rectify a mistake from yesterday. Today, we visited the Potala Palace, which is a palace, not a monastery. I initially thought it would be similar to the monastery experience, but it was truly unique. We climbed 375 steps to reach the top. One advantage of being part of a tour is that it grants access to more areas than solo travelers, so we had a thorough tour. This is where the Dalai Lama would reside if he were in Tibet. In photos, his quarters can be seen on the top floor with the yellow curtains.
Negroni Week 2025 has arrived, and 65 bars in Beijing are participating! We've highlighted three that you should definitely check out.