Frank’s Place

Frank’s Place: Arguably the first non-hotel bar to open in Beijing, way back in 1990. Frank Siegel left a high-flying job in the oil industry—benefits included extended stays in Qinghai—to establish this bar and restaurant near Workers Stadium. Given the dearth of drinking options in Beijing, it attracted a crowd that ranged from penny-pinching students to expat-packaged executives. Siegel later sold Frank’s and went on to open John Bull Pub and coffee shop chain Sequoia. Fun fact: Jack Zhou (The Tree, Shooters, 1F, The Bar, Groovy Schiller’s) got his start at Frank’s Place.