Mifan or Mafan: Line Hunting

Another recent Gulou find is a quaint bar nestled among hutong cafes and vintage shops. Walking down Beiluoguxiang, we would have almost missed new cocktail joint Line Hunting if it weren’t for some modest outdoor seating and an open doorway inviting us into its dimly-lit interior. 

A small, minimally-stocked bar resides in the first space and a back room features more ample seating – a leather couch and a few tables. The brick-lined walls and mismatched tables glowing with real candlelight give it an antiquated feel, though the kitschy mom-approved wall art (we’re talking framed inspirational quotes about wine and a white ceramic deer head), along with Ed Sheeran crooning softly through the speakers, brings us back to reality. Odd decor aside, we’re still charmed, as the atmosphere is all too cozy not to sit and sip on a few cocktails. 

Line Hunting has drinks for all moods: Cheer up with the Glass Sentiment (tequila, whisky, rum and earl grey tea) or forget all your worries with The Last Night (both RMB90), a hazardous elixir made with absinthe, vodka, gin, Jaegermeister and – you knew this was coming, right? – baijiu. Oh, and there’s also Spanish Iberian ham on the menu (RMB580), which has us completely confused about the target clientele here.

[Images via Valerie Osipov/That’s]

See a listing for Line Hunting and read more Mifan/Mafan restaurant reviews