Enjoy Cultural Fusion, Meet New Friends, and Party the Night Away at Awaguli

Robynne Tindall, Contributing Editor | Nov 29, 2019 11:30 am | Add a comment | 264 reads | Paid for by Awaguli

The TV show Cheers may have made the phrase “where everybody knows your name” a cliche but there is something to be said for having a regular, local bar or restaurant where you feel at home and always see a familiar face. New venue Awaguli Bar and Grill in the popular Courtyard 4 area in the heart of Sanlitun is aiming to be just that kind of place, billing itself as a community social “platform” as much as a bar and restaurant.

Awaguli’s eye-catching two-story frontage is hard to miss. Downstairs, the space is set more for dining and quiet drinks, while upstairs a large stage with a state-of-the-art light and sound system and a huge screen is ready-made for parties and events. And indeed, events are set to be the focus here going forward.

You might expect a bar in this area to just be about music and dancing but marketing manager Da Han explains that Awaguli will focus on events that celebrate Beijing’s diverse cultural spread and bring the community together. “I don’t see entertainment as just a way to spend money; I think it can be a service, too,” Da Han says. “We all live very hectic lives these days so giving someone the opportunity to blow off some steam or make a new connection is something very valuable.” Plans are in the works for a new regular comedy club, as well as workshops on topics such as art and cinema. “Basically, we want this to be the kind of place where people can actively engage rather than just passively being at a venue,” he says.

Just a few of the upcoming events include open mic nights, themed movie screenings with topical food and drink (look out for their Spaghetti Western series), salsa dancing with a group from Cuba, live bands, and DJs from around the world.

Awaguli also plans to cooperate with local and international commercial associations to provide a platform for business connections as well as social ones. The venue’s owner told us that he hopes that new visitors to Beijing may even be able to come here to get advice on living and working in China, creating a support network for new expats.

Awaguli serves a menu of uncomplicated Western pub grub such as burgers, pizza, and pasta that keeps the focus on the community and events but nevertheless satisfies with some classic flavors. A classic burger comes with a dense, well-seasoned beef patty and a generous helping of melty cheese, which will certainly serve to soak up the odd drink or two during an event, while those looking for something a bit different may want to try the soft-shell crab burger. Serving sizes are pretty generous, too – a chicken quesadilla comes with eight large portions that would be more than enough for a few friends to share.

Together with an expansive selection of drinks that takes in beer, cocktails, mixed drinks, and wine, Awaguli’s menu offers something for everyone. Notably, they also brew their own custom craft beer – check out the beer tanks on the second floor.