Goodbye Nali Patio: Remembering the Good Times Ahead of Its Coming Closure

What seemed like déjà vu when rumors first surfaced was eventually confirmed, and will now soon come to pass. Nali Patio is closing the curtain for good on Jul 31.

The popular dining and nightlife spot, which has made its home in the heart of Sanlitun since 2008, has gone through a great many changes over the years – and despite constant changes and dire situations like the havoc the outgoing landlord wreaked on the property during the summer of last year, Nali Patio has always kept going.

And what a great many changes it's gone through up until this point. The rooftop that’s now home to Italian-themed restaurant and outdoor club of sorts The Bell x Martini was the original home of Migas until 2017, with the latter having moved to the CBD and rebranded as Migas Mercado.

Bars like Black Moth, Schrödinger’s Box, Apothecary, Furniture Store, Entoerra, and countless others have all come and gone. The same can be said for all the restaurants that have called Nali home over the years; even early on the space had developed a reputation as a revolving door establishment.

Still, despite all the comings and goings, the places that now call Nali home all fit well into the Mediterranean-inspired architecture.

From the Latin flare of La Social and El Barrio, to the expansive, intricately crafted rooftop of the aforementioned The Bell x Martini, all the way down to the quiet sleekness of Niajo, Daruma, Bottega, Bei 27, M Natural, and Wagyukami. Everything just fits.

One individual who has frequented the complex over the years is Chi Fan For Charity (CFFC) director and self-proclaimed Foodie Emperor of Beijing Preston Thomas, who is himself a big fan of Niajo. “The business lunch there was a staple for years,” he reminisces. “Any time I could get an afternoon free it was straight to Niajo for lunch. So many good memories and good meals there.”

For Thomas, the good memories don’t just stop at the food, but include many of the events and happenings that have taken place at Nali over the years as well. Chief among these for Thomas is the paella/fideua cook-off. “It was awesome, all the Spanish chefs in town, plus Chef Alex of Niajo, battling it out,” Thomas says. “Alex ended up winning, and they had this massive paella bowl that could feed 500 people!”

For others, the party at Nali happened every night. “My fondest memory of Nali was dancing with my friends at La Social,” says Beijing resident Ansel. “I’m a sucker for Latin music, and La Social is the one place that has it all.”

Eva Biörck, co-founder of Mosto, one of the longest standing restaurants in Nali Patio to date, has seen the space she created with her husband within Nali become a home away from home. "It has been our sanctuary, where we've shared countless meals, drinks, conversations, laughter, and dances" she says of Mosto. "Those cherised memories will stay with us forever."

Even for Leo Hu, founder of Seikyo Japanese Cuisine and Japanese-style sandwich shop Wagyukami, the latter of which has called Nali Patio home since 2021, the people he's interacted with during his tenure there have stuck in his mind. “My fondest memory of Nali Patio is all the people,” says Hu. “They all come together to create a special environment in Beijing, creating an interesting twist in the heart of China.”

This sentiment is echoed by Ansel: “People [in places like La Social] in general are just so nice, and it has such a great party vibe.” And the energy these people brought could keep the party going all night long, according to Meng, founder of Martini. “Summertime on the Martini rooftop was always the best. You could forget about everything and, soon enough, you’d see the sun rising and painting the sky pink with morning light.”

Nali’s 15 years in the capital means it’s one of the last connections to what longtime Beijing residents like Thomas call the good old days. “This is truly an end of an era that won’t be able to be replicated. It’s sad but all good things come to an end, and that’s why I’m thankful for all the great memories.” For those like Ansel, who hasn’t spent as many years at Nali, the closure still hits hard. “It’s like seeing a piece of my college life dying.”

Of course, just because the party at Nali has to end, doesn’t mean the good times can’t move elsewhere. Most of the venues we spoke with in the complex have either already found a new location or are planning their next steps.

Thus far, both Mosto and The Bell x Martini have found new locations, with the former gearing up to move to MixIsland, near Chaoyang Golf Club, and the latter moving to Huamao North District Building, close to SKP. As for other places, Niajo will be moving to Shanghai, while Wagyukami and the restaurants under the BFB banner – Bottega, Daruma, El Barrio – are keeping their plans a closely guarded secret for now.

Even though the time of Nali Patio is coming to an end, the resilience of the Beijing F&B industry means that the Nali spirit can live on. And one way to keep the Nali spirit alive is to keep supporting these venues, no matter where they go next. “One thing is for sure,” says Thomas, “Beijing’s F&B community are survivors. Once these new venues open up, go out and support them! We have enough KFCs and McDonald’s already, so get out and support your local little guy!”

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Images: Uni You, The Bell x Martini