Ichikura

Ichukura: A speakeasy opened by Kuroki Koji in 2003 before such places became popular in Beijing, Ichikura was reached via a flight of stairs off the deserted parking lot behind Chaoyang Theater. This cozy venue had an impressive lineup of hundreds of whiskeys, including lots of Bourbons, at a time when a dozen bottles could get one labeled a “whiskey bar”. Add top-notch cocktails and service, and Ichikura offered a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of Beijing. This Ichikura closed in 2015—see this post about a final visit—although a new one has opened off Workers Stadium West.