great for visitors/special occassions

This is one of the more unique bars in Beijing, located on the 6th floor of the Emperor hotel on Beichizi, this spot is just high enough to give you a view over the Forbidden City, Jingshan, Tiananmen and Beihai. Drinks are pricey, most are around RMB70 with beers around RMB50, but its still a great choice if you're hosting friends/family from out of town or on a special night. The mixed drinks are well made and include some interesting options, including some baijiu and huangjiu cocktails, and while interesting, not all of them are winners. It's great that Beijing has a spot like this and its worth keeping in mind, but its not going to be your "local".