Okay, so right before the winter temperatures sweep through the city, it is imperative that we make the most of what the Capital has to offer in terms of al fresco drinking. We tried and tested a few and narrowed down the list conveniently for you because we love you and we love a few good drinks.

Combining fantastic views, great mixes, of the quaffable and auditory kind, and above all experiences you want to tell your friends about, we’ve come up with a pretty good list:

Great Leap Brewing 大跃啤酒

Great Leap Brewing

A few years back the hutong’s hidden gem, Great Leap Brewing, burst out from nowhere with its fabulous micro-brewed beers, capturing our hearts and tastebuds. Now summer’s back, the Great Leap’s cosy courtyard is the ideal spot to sit and enjoy a cold beer once more – but remember there’s a maximum capacity, so be sure to reserve a space.

The larger Xinzhongjie location, also has a number of outdoor tables, but if your going at peak hours get your boxing gloves at the ready, you may have to fight it out for one of these.

Great Leap Brewing2

Add: 6 Doujiao Hutong, off Di’anmenwai Dajie, Dongcheng District
Open: 2pm – midnight daily
Telephone: 0086 010 5717 1399

Migas 米家思

Migas

The tussle for best Nali Patio terrace had been going for years, until Migas delivered a crushing blow when it opened up its newly renovated, expanded area a few years back. Decked out in the kind of organic, white furniture you’d expect to see in a ’60s spy film, and surrounded by the glittering lights of Sanlitun, it radiates style – and pulls in the punters, especially on weekends, when queues of attractive twentysomethings stretch out of the front door. Sure, it’s pricey and staff can be flaky, but there’s no better place to be – and be seen.

Add: Sixth Floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
Open: 6pm – 2am Sun – Wed, 6pm – late Thur – Sat
Telephone: 0086 010 5208 6061

Heaven Supermarket

Since moving to it’s new location, Heaven Supermarket is less like a supermarket and more like an actual bar – on a daily basis English teachers, students and pretty much any connoisseur of the budget piss-up are to be found spilling into the streets and crammed around the numerous outdoor tables sprawled out in front of the bar. It’s best to either get there early or incredibly late for a half decent chance of bagging a table.

Add: 14 Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District
Open: Midday – 4am daily
Telephone: 0086 010 6415 6513

The Big Smoke

The Big Smoke

Well known for luring in homesick westerners with it’s hearty American grub, The Big Smoke is also home to the ‘Jing A’ micro-brewery, so patrons can now enjoy some of the finest homebrew in town while taking advantage of the outdoor seating area to soak up the summer sun.

Add: First Floor, Lee World Building (near Frost Nails), 57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang District
Open: 11am – midnight Mon-Sat, 11am – 10pm Sun
Telephone: 0086 010 6416 5195

Mas

Mas

Mas is slap-bang between Dongzhimen and Gulou, tucked away behind exit B of Beixinqiao subway station, an area seriously lacking in serviceable bars – we’re talking a desert here. And it’s got a niche: it’s a tropical inspired rum cocktail bar with weekly drinks deals and Sunday barbecues. It serves decent cocktails (40-55RMB), house wine by the glass (30RMB), but (unfortunately) precious little beer (Tiger; 30RMB). An adorably dinky terrace seats just a pair of tables, forcing those stuck indoors to gaze enviously on. But location is everything, and here Mas is the king of all.

Add: 25 Beixinqiao Toutiao, off Dongzhimen Neijie, Dongcheng District
Open: 6pm – late Tue – Sun
Telephone: 0086 010 6405 4337

Fez

A much-loved fixture of Nali Patio, the Moroccan-themed Fez offers an exotic night out with some fabulous cocktails to mix things up. So for your alfresco hit this summer, why not kick of your work shoes, throw on your party frock, and wind down with a martini or two on one of Beijing’s best rooftop terraces.

Add: Sixth Floor, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
Open: 6pm – late daily
Telephone: 0086 010 5208 6138

Blue Stream

Blue Stream

Located at the South end of Gulou Dajie, Blue Steam has a pleasant roof terrace with a great view of the Drum Tower and the surrounding rooftops and it’s a much better option to the expensive, touristy, dive bars surrounding nearby Houhai. When the sun goes down, head downstairs to watch some live music from an eclectic mix of expat and Chinese musical talent.

Add: 183 Jiugulou Dajie , Xicheng District
Open: 4pm-late daily
Telephone: 0086 010 6403 2597

Face Bar

Find your inner Zen among the bodhisattvas and Buddhas in Face Bar’s tranquil bamboo garden. A luxurious oasis of calm in the middle of downtown Beijing, this is the place to go to escape the pressures of everyday life. There’s an extensive cocktail list (from 60RMB), with other drink prices ranging from the affordable all the way to the stratosphere and it’s happy hour everyday from 5.00-8.00pm. A relaxing and classy way to wile away the long summer evenings.

Add: 26 Dongcaoyuan, Gongti Nan Lu, Chaoyang District
Open: midday – 2am daily

Alba Café

Alba Café

While most people think of Alba Café exclusively as a food spot or a daytime hipster hangout, it’s actually open until 2am and it offers a nice selection of beers, wines and cocktails. Why not have an afternoon cocktail on the roof, grab a board game and have a few rounds with friends. We recommend sitting in the sun, overlooking the hutong rooftops and listening to life’s gentle banter on the street below.

Add: 70 Gulou Dong Dajie, Dongcheng District
Open: 9am – 1am daily
Telephone: 0086 010 6407 3730

Xiu Bar

Xiu Bar

If your wallet is over-flowing and you have a desire to mix with people with more money than sense, then why not try out the Park Hyatt’s ultra-swanky Xiu, with its extensive drinks menu and sizable roof terrace offering fantastic views of the city.

Add: 6th Floor Beijing Yintai Center 2 Jianguomenwai Street, CBD, Chaoyang District
Open: 5pm – 1am Sun – Thu; 5pm – 2am Fri – Sat
Telephone: 0086 010 8567 1108

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