1801 Club

A strange fusion of Gongti club and German brauhaus

Tucked away in the quiet, residential area of Xi Dawang Lu, 1801 is an odd hybrid of underground brauhaus and Gongti club.

The outside of the venue blazes the name into the skyline with huge illuminated signs that sit high above the club itself. A cartoon-like statue of a brewer carrying barrels of beer gives the impression that the owners originally intended this as a German-style beer bar, but the interior proves that they went down a different route.

As you approach the entrance you’re greeted by the standard Gongti-style army of workers who lead you inside, pointlessly buzz you over with a metal detector, and follow you every inch of the way until you choose somewhere to sit. To some people, this kind of attention equals the VIP treatment, but we found it to be little more than unwanted mollycoddling.

Despite the oppressive nature of the staff, the club remains pleasant overall. The décor continues the brauhaus theme: the dual-level underground tavern is decked out in dark wood, and everything from the bar to the banisters reeks of old-style class. Battle-worn musical instruments are set at random around the club, a second-floor balcony overlooks the main club area, and wooden chandeliers hang from the ceiling. In fact the only piece of interior décor that seems out of place is the huge screen showing sports, but watching a game amid the flashing lights and pounding house music won’t be a pleasant experience.

The prices are pleasantly low, with most beers costing 30RMB and cocktails ranging from 30-40RMB. The location isn’t ideal, and 1801 is bound to have a hard time convincing Beijingers to head away from the recognised party zones. The impressive interior is enough to recommend people pay the place a visit, however most will realise that one visit to 1801 is all they’ll need.

1801 Club. Blue Castle International Apartments, Xi Dawang Lu, Chaoyang district (8599 7856). Open 8.30pm-3am daily. 朝阳区西大望路蓝堡国际公寓

Ross Goulding