Beijing Nightlife Awards: Theory and Practice

Media awards ceremonies do a good job ofhang out" #4. Suzie Wong's Suzie Wong is almost
summarizing some of the best bars and nightlifethe de facto club to take out of towners. It's also
around the world. Most media rely upon votes towhere Beijing ends up at the end of the night.
indicate popularity. Others host ‘expertBEIJING SAID: "Suzy Wongs owns the club scene
panels’ to decide for the public. Both methodsin Beijing" "Besides the drinks, women, music, and
have their merits and flaws. Voters rarely turndancing, the best part about Suzie W’s is the
out in numbers substantial enough to represent aroof top terrace" "Beijing`s real young and trendy
general consensus. High-end or expensivepeople" #5. Bookworm With an award winning
restaurants normally get left out because theyselection of Single Malt Whisky, the Bookworm
are accessible to fewer people / voters. Experthas made drinking a literary pursuit. Who said
panels are often composed of a very small groupreading isn't fun? BEIJING SAID: "8 billion whiskeys
of foodies whose opinions often run contrary theand good old Carlsberg" "my favorite early
actions of the general public they aim to enrich.evening cocktail spot" "Bookworm is home" #6.
For example, out of the more than 100,000Q-bar With skilled bartenders behind the bar and
foreign residents in Beijing, fewer than 300 votedone of the best rooftops in Beijing, Q-bar has
for a recent awards ceremony. A novel approachbeen a top destination since its beginning. BEIJING
has been taken by By tallying every search termSAID: "Great bar, great bartenders, great drinks,
done on the website within the last 365 days,everybody loves Q Bar" "excellent cocktails in an
localnoodles has created the 2010 Beijing Nightlifeunpretentious environment" "on my A-list of bars
awards that are based on user searches. Thein Beijing" #7. FUBAR Truly a hidden gem. The
theory is that what people are consistentlyonly bar of its kind is a popular destination for
searching for is a strong indicator of popularity. Inthose that care about quality drinks in the
localnoodles case, the awards were based uponcompany of friends. BEIJING SAID: "Value never
more than 2,780,000 searches. User voting andgoes out of style" "fast becoming a favorite spot
'expert panels' are valid approaches but eachof mine." "highest quality drinks at affordable
would be considerably more credible if searchprices" #8. Paddy O' Shea's One day a year
results were factored in to the final tally.everyone claims to be Irish. Paddy's has a good
For more on the results of the Awards, continueshot at increasing that number. Solid crowd, beer,
reading.and lots of international sports. BEIJING SAID:
Top 10 Beijing Bars of 2010: #1. Chocolate"This pub fills a cornerstone of my Beijing dining
Congratulations to the women of Chocolate forand drinking experience" "best version of an Irish
putting on and taking off more than anyone elsebar in Beijing" "A place that you'd expect to be in
in this city! BEIJING SAID: "Beautiful women inIreland" #9. Blue Frog Gets equal praise for its
go-go get-up, vodka and hookahs" "No other placeburger, rooftop and drinks. One of Sanlitun's
compares" "To guys: Go. Now." #2. XIU The Parkfavorite rooftop bars. BEIJING SAID: "It will be
Hyatt is known for a lot of things and now youhard to find a better spot in the summer to hang
can add XIU to the list. Dancing, drinks, service,out with friends" "Drinks are as well made as the
and legendary Thursday nights have have madeburgers" "service is great" #10. Enoteca With a
this a very popular destination. BEIJING SAID: "XIUcommanding view of The Place, inexpensive wine,
is my every Thursday night" "Service isand tasty tapas to match, this wine bar has fast
ultra-professional, drinks are great" "The crowd isbecome one of Beijing's favorites. BEIJING SAID:
top notch" #3. Bed Tapas & Bar Bed is as popular"unanimous in giving this wine bar a definite 5 star
with the expats as it is with local Chinese. Art,rating" "great selection of inexpensive high-quality
music, and a hip crowd keep beijing there until theimported wines" "The environment is cool and
late hours. BEIJING SAID: "one of the mostcomfortable"localnoodles is a user generated
happening after hours places in Beijing" "music iswebsite specializing in Beijing's restaurant and
delightfully loungey go house" "a great spot tonightlife scene.