7pm-midnight
22 Houhai Xiyan, Deshengmen, Xicheng
8403 6256 ext 20

Opened by design firm Blue Elephant, this bright, Fellini-esque space is full of plant life, slick modern couches and the occasional antique. A second floor balcony is a little too intimate, but the rooftop patio offers one of the lake’s best views. Mid range prices for cocktails and coffee.

Daily 6pm-late
1 Qianhai Bei Bian, Xicheng

Yet another bar by the lake featuring the now bog-standard loungey, laid back, antique-filled vibe.

Daily 9am-10pm
180 Xi Dan Bei Dajie, B4 Fiesta Plaza, Xicheng
6606 3417

A title befitting an album rather than a bar. Ensconced in the basement of Xi Dan’s Fiesta Plaza, this bar’s décor is certainly no-frills and is in line with the soullessness one can expect from a shopping mall. The attraction is the sport itself, and the place is stuffed with youngsters at weekends. There are a dozen or so shuffleboards filling the space, and electronic dartboards chirp your score at you in Chinese. Bevies are cheap and shuffleboard is RMB 20 weekdays before 5pm, RMB 25 after 5pm and on weekends.

141 Xiwai Dajie, Xicheng
68316187

Daily 2pm-2am
30 Yandai Xiejie, Xicheng
6406 4075

One of several new beverage-related additions to Yandai Xiejie, the old-world alley behind Kao Rou Ji. Full of antiques and furniture inherited from the owner’s grandparents, the bar feels more like a living room. The second floor is a great place to spend a leisurely afternoon sipping moderately-priced teas, ice cream, soft drinks and alcohol.

Daily 1pm-2am
4 Qianhai Beiyan, Xicheng
6651 0187

Tibetan themes run through the bar, thanks to the owner’s (keyboardist for Underbaby and Catcher in the Rye) newfound conversion to Tibetan Buddhism. Milkshakes (RMB 25-30) and coffee-related bevies (RMB 20 and up) are best, and the usual range of booze runs RMB 30.

Daily noon-2am
29 Yandai Xiejie, Xicheng
6407 7857

A spruced-up storefront serving an assortment of delicious cocktails (RMB 15-40). Their namesake, available in sweet-sour and bitter, is a must. A couple of couches in the loft can hold a party of six, and a small rooftop terrace houses additional seats.

Daily 3.30pm-2am
11 Qianhai Beiyan, Xicheng
6416866

A swanky spread of couches, wicker chairs, wooden chests and tables. Paintings and small framed pictures ornament the walls above a bevy of flowers, fishbowls and potted plants. A great place to chill out and chat and sip yummy boozed milkshakes.

No. 72 Fuxingmen Neidajie, Xicheng
6605929

Daily 2pm-10pm (closed in winter)
Island on Qianhai, Xicheng
6400 2787

Just like it sounds - atop the island in the middle of Qianhai. The island’s only buildings are a small pagoda and a mini-WC/kitchen. To get there, grab a boat from River Romance, at the south-western-most bend of Qianhai.