Wine 26 Twin Anchor

Not long ago, if you were after a tranquil watering hole near Nanluoguxiang, you were limited to local beers and dubious cocktails. The situation has changed as many good wine bars have opened in NLGX’s tributary lanes the last couple of years, offering hutong hideaways for Beijing’s oenophiles. While Cambulac on North Bingmasi Hutong graces the pages of every expat magazine, Wine 26 Twin Anchor in nearby Mao’er Hutong remains relatively off the radar probably because of its location, quite far down the quiet hutong.

Like Cambulac, the owners here have made use of the siheyuan space: they’ve resisted the urge to cram the bar full of tables. Instead, soft lighting, bamboo plants, partitions, and well-placed comfy sofas and chairs create an intimate setting where you don’t have to worry about being overheard. At either end of the bar, eight-seater mezzanines provide a private area for larger gatherings. While Cambulac focuses on quality Italian bottles at an average of about 250 RMB, Twin Anchor’s multinational wine list starts from a very reasonable 90 RMB, and more than half of its 40-plus labels go for under 200 RMB.