Night Night: Beijing Nightlife Stalwart Bed Bar to Close

Bed Bar, one of Beijing's earliest hutong nightspots, is closing its original location in Zhangwang Hutong off of Jiugulou Dajie.

Opened back in January of 2004 by Cafe Sambal's founding partner Cho Chong Gee, who took inspiration from the tapas bars he visited in Ibiza and Miami, Bed was one of the earliest hidden hutong bars and spawned a legion of imitators with its minimalist look and dark, smoky vibe – Beijing's current hutong bar scene would not exist had it not been for places like Bed, Pass By Bar and the now-defunct No Name Bar at Houhai.

Over its ten-plus years existence, Bed (not to be confused with the Wangjing venue of the same name) was a consistent standout in our Reader Bar and Club Awards – no easy feat considering the fickle tastes of Beijing's nightlife denizens – and it played host to a number of memorable events, including a great set by Jamaican-Chinese reggae legend Clive Chin (and a few great evenings in my short-lived DJ career).

As is too often the case, Manager Tedd Park cites rising rent as the reason for the closure. "We're looking for a new spot to re-open but have not found a suitable location yet."

To mark its impending closure, Bed will be organizing a series of events until its tentative Aug. 16 closing date, including free mojitos for the first 30 guests every Friday, a Bed "Yard Sale" of some of its furnishings (paired with mojitos, white sangria, negroni sbagliato and tapas) every Sunday from 2-7pm and specials on champagne and fresh strawberries (RMB 680, by reservation only).

A blowout farewell bash is also tentatively scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16, and the venue is still available for private parties until then (e-mail tedd.park@cafesambal.com for more info).