Juicy Spot

Relax in a Spanish tavern

With bars in Beijing regularly choosing names that are either solemnly chic (see this month’s Ruby Khi) or simply exhibit gauche materialism (that’d be Bling), it’s refreshing to note the naming of Juicy Spot – fun, unpretentious and with a hint of sexual innuendo (that’s there for people who want to find it).

Opening in part of the space formerly occupied by bottle-twirling funspot Pepper, Juicy Spot has the feel of a Spanish tavern, with a wooden staircase leading up to the third-floor bar surrounded by exposed brick walls.

Despite power tools idling on the stairs when we visited, it still manages to accurately recreate the feeling of a bar in a Mediterranean fishing village characterised by donkeys walking the cobbled streets and healthy septuagenarians taking siestas in the afternoon sun.

The music conforms to the relaxed, sunny southern Europe vibe with acoustic guitar tunes pumped out at a pleasant volume.

The bar’s small balcony has also recently opened and is proving to be a bit of a hit, especially on Thursday nights when Juicy Spot offers free sangria between 9pm and midnight.

The sangria is tasty, with plenty of fruit – it doesn’t feel like it has much of a kick, but a few glasses will get you quite amiable.

Beijing’s Latin-themed bars haven’t done too well in recent years, with Latino’s and Sangria both closing down, meaning that Juicy Spot has the market somewhat cornered.

The relaxed atmosphere, sunny balcony and the free sangria make this a venue that’s well worth checking out. Ross Goulding

Juicy Spot 1-3 Chaoyang Gongyuan Xi Lu (between the west gate of Chaoyang Park and the No 8 apartments), Chaoyang district). Open 6pm-late daily.朝阳区朝阳公园西路1-3号