2011 Reader Bar & Club Awards: What Is Beijing's Best Bar?

The Beijinger 2011 Reader Bar & Club Awards is in the middle of its three-week voting period, and for those curious about what’s in the ballot, here’s a run down of the nominees for overall bar/club of the year. This category has a mix of everything in the city – from Sanlitun to hutongs, high-end hotels to neighborhood hangouts, sports pubs to rock bars.

Overall Bar/Club of The Year Nominees:

Paddy O'Shea's
Location: Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Type: Sports Bar
/Pub Known For: Irish craic, lots of sport and even more beer

Punk
Location: The Opposite House
Type: Upscale nightclub
Known For: Where the stylish come to mix it up as DJs spin

Apothecary
Location: Nali Patio
Type: Cocktail Bar
Known For: Creative cocktails made using homemade blends and infusions

First Floor
Location: Tongli Studio
Type: Beer and Whisky Pub
Known For: Busy Sanlitun bar where the beers are cold and the nights are long

Mao Mao Chong
Location: Banchang Hutong
Type: Hutong Bar
Known For: Innovative cocktails in the hutongs

d lounge
Location: Gongti Beilu
Type: Cocktail Bar
Known For: An exclusive hideaway to sip cocktails and admire or be admired

Mesh
Location: The Opposite House
Type: Cocktail Bar
Known For: Sipping signature Martinis in a relaxed lounge setting

Yugong Yishan
Location: Zhangzizhong Lu
Type: Live Music Venue
Known For: Rocking spot known for its live music and lively crowds

El Nido
Location: Fangjia Hutong
Type: Hutong Bar
Known For: Small space known for wide beer selection matched with decent (non-Sanlitun) pricing

Now check out the bars and see which one of the nine will get your vote.