Down a quiet Jingtian side street, 622 Beer Warehouse sits between a pizza shop and a sushi joint – a good location, because the humble, wood-floored bar doesn't have a kitchen, instead welcoming patrons to order out.
Stocking 300 kinds of mostly bottled beer, according to owner Max Yiu’s count, only a portion of it sits in a brightly lit refrigerator, the rest on floor-to-ceiling shelving or boxed away in dusty corners. That means most of the beer is exposed to a changing room temperature, running the risk of eventually affecting taste, though we don’t find that problem on our visit.
Instead, we discover a bar with a distinctly built-by-friends vibe, with Yiu’s buddies sitting inside, passing cigarettes between each other and occasionally breaking into song. The casual attitude and lack of uniforms leaves us uncertain who is on the clock, but that doesn’t seem to deter the smattering of customers that swing through.
“We don’t care about how much money we make,” Yiu says. “We care about being chill.”
Her establishment has the chill part down, but 622 Beer Warehouse has bar-street prices. RMB50 gets a 500-milliliter draft of fruity Blanche De Bruxelles and RMB100 fetches a full liter. This price scheme extends to the few beers on tap, including the citrusy, California-made Easy Jack IPA.
There’s a much wider selection of bottled beers, with prices ranging from RMB30 to RMB80 and including some imports we haven't seen in Shenzhen before like Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest Fest (RMB40).
Despite the name, 622 Beer Warehouse also has a decent whiskey range that focuses on 12-year single malt scotch. Lacking a price list, you’ll need to ask about the Isle of Skye made Taliska 57°, which costs RMB75 per glass.
With a logo designed by the owner and a chandelier using old booze bottles as lampshades, 622 Beer Warehouse captures an endearing DIY energy and is only a short taxi ride from central Shenzhen, making it worth a look for those curious about the latest bottle bar on the block – just don’t expect bargain prices or a bumping party.
Price: RMB100
Who’s going: Jingtian locals, import beer drinkers
Good for: bottled ales paired with any food you bring, chilling out and lightening your wallet
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