Sips & bites | Jack Zhou’s new joint plus Slow Boat, Trouble, Mongolia & Union

By Jim Boyce | Beijing bar veteran Jack Zhou, known for his stint in The Tree empire and projects such as Shooters, 1F, The Bar and Groovy Schiller’s, says he’ll open a new place mid-September. It’ll be a stone’s throw from the former Schiller’s, closed earlier this year due to landlord issues. Zhou says customers can expect a similar vibe, which means a good local for that part of town, and an upgraded German food menu. Superior schnitzel, people!

Slow Boat Brewery is slated to open its Sanlitun South locale at the start of next month with three floors, three bars and 36 taps. The on-site brewing facilities can pound out 550,000 servings per year, says Slow Boat, with seating for over 200 customers. That’s 2,750 pints per person! Madness! You can find Slow Boat on the strip between The Intercontinental and Beer Mania / Q Bar. Speaking of the latter two, they offer a superb happy hour combo during the work week, with half-price Belgian draft at Beer Mania from 4 to 8 and buy one, get one free cocktails at Q Bar from 5 to 8.

Trouble Bar has either closed or is going through major renovations in the China View complex near Workers Stadium. With its selection of 150-plus bottled and draft options from the world over, Trouble became a regular for beer fans. It also allowed them to respond to queries as to their whereabouts with “I’m in Trouble”, even funnier after you’ve worked through a half-dozen IPAs. Trouble was the follow-up venue to The Drive-Thru in Sanlitun Soho.

Also on that China View back strip, Mongolia Bar appears to have closed, too. Given most people expected the place to last a matter of months, it did well to stay in business for over five years.

Finally, Union Bar & Grille is entering the home stretch, with a stated closing date of August 19. It’s your last chance to hug Charlie, enjoy one of the better happy hour / comfy bar seating combos, and mow down on arguably the city’s best Buffalo chicken wings.


Check out sibling sites Grape Wall of China and World Baijiu Day.

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Get regular Beijing updates via my Instagram and Twitter feeds. Also see my sibling sites Grape Wall of China, World Baijiu Day and World Marselan Day. Help cover the hosting and other costs of these sites with a WeChat, AliPay or PayPal donation.

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