Modernista

With its black-and-white checkered floors, hardwood bar, and soundtrack of soft jazz music, the Modernista bar could just as well be found tucked away in a Parisian backstreet as a Beijing hutong. This bar will likely become a Mecca for the Euro-hipster scene. In its opening month, film screenings included Luis Bunuel’s surrealist classic or a film about an age of gold. It is tempting to draw comparisons between the film and the bar itself: hidden away, relatively small, self-consciously quirky, lacking in mass market appeal, and all the better for it.
For all those who have the inclination to meander the hutongs in search of this hidden gem, you’ll likely be delighted at the 20-plus wines on offer by the glass, starting out at just 35 RMB.

The Modernista has a selection and pricing structure which is almost unmatched in Beijing. A long list of single malts, including Talisker 18 (130 RMB) further adds to the quality drinks on offer. A noticeable lack of cocktail options doesn’t hinder much, although the beer range will further delight, with an international selection including reasonably priced treats like San Miguel (20 RMB). A small stage and a multilingual collection of books make this an ideal hutong hangout for the self-consciously hip. Walk-ins will be pretty much an impossibility.