I've been going to the Drum and Bell ever since I arrived in Beijing a couple of years back, and always have a good time here.

The vibe is similar to a lot of other Gulou bars, with an "old Beijing" courtyard house feel. The Drum and Bell is bigger than most other bars in the area though, which makes it easier to get a table and/or find a secluded corner. And best of all they have a rooftop terrace, which is fantastic in summer.

They also have a foosball table at the entrance, which is a lot of fun if you're in the mood - the guy behind the bar will happily take you on if you don't have a partner. And he'll inevitably kick your ass. The last time I played him it was like Portugal vs North Korea - and I was North Korea.

The only issue I have with this place is the wait staff can sometimes be a little pushy. They tend to swoop the second you take your last swig and ask if you want another drink - and they'll keep asking until you buy something. They actually once told a friend she had to leave if she didn't have a drink, even though the other four or five people in the group were all buying. Is this really necessary guys? It's not like you're ever short of business.

Other than that though the Drum and Bell is recommended, especially if you like the down-home feel of Gulou's bars over the louder places around Sanlitun. Go up to the roof this summer, sink and beer and enjoy the view before the bulldozers come in and turn Gulou into a giant shopping mall.

you want to come here for the atmosphere, and you only want to come in summer to get on their rooftop. the downstairs rooms are ok but nothing special, but the terrace on their rooftop makes all the difference.
you can just sit there and chat away for the whole sunday afternoon (with 50 kuai all you can drink list) while watching the busy square between the drum and bell towers, or have a few evening beers under the two towers - the atmosphere here is just relaxing and totally layed back.
you not want to try too many of their drinks, though, since they hardly get them right, just stick with bear and snacks and you'll be ok.
with these "qualites" naturally most of the customers are laowai, and quite often you have a whole group of exchange students getting themselves drunk for cheap, which of course takes away a bit of the relaxing atmoshpere
still, in general you know when you come here that you will have a chilling time, and you shouldn't look for anything else in this place...

As usual, when I went to the Drum and Bell bar, I left satisfied and happy.

Had a few drinks, which I felt were reasonably poured and priced, and had the pizza, which filled me up as well as my dining companion. I had five slices, she had three.

Beijing draft for 20, cocktails from 25-35.

The staff were very courteous and attentive on the rooftop, I thought they were really nice guys and they kept an eye on us without being intrusive.

However, we had to switch seats, as a very obnoxious, gravel-voiced 50-ish woman, either american or canadian, and her geeky, fattish bespectacled balding 40-ish nerd companion started complaining about the amount of white wine in the old cow's glass.

"35?!" she screeched. "35?"

It was a large wine glass filled about 3/4 full.

"No, fix it, fix it!" she barked.

Geeky companion tried to chime in with some butchered Chinese which I couldn't understand. The poor waiter went away with the glass.

"Did you hear what I said?" yapped the bloated, balding sack of sh*t. "I told him to get the manager."

Waiter reappears, confused with the same glass of wine, which sends the harpy into hysterics. "You didn't add anything, you didn't add anything!" she shrieks.

At this point I had only had one drink, so decided instead of getting involved, I'd move to the other area of the spacious rooftop, thankfully out of hearing range of the foul old c**t and her lacky.

Poor waiter.

The place is awesome, and if you're going to start an argument about a 35 quai glass of white wine, then you deserve to have a penis put in that glass when you send it back.

DRUM AND BELL BAR = A nice place to spend a chill afternoon, good wifi and a good place to have a rooftop drink and smoke.

They have a shitty toilet, that's why it's not five star. There is actually a sign in the toilet asking you not to take a sh*t in there.