5 popular expat bars in Wuxi

Red Lion, Wuxi. Photo: facebook.com

Wuxi is not exactly known as a nightlife capital which makes finding a good bar all the more challenging. But with alcohol revenues in China growing at a yearly average of 27.2 % and bar culture creeping into more Chinese cities than you can keep track, you can be sure to find a suitable place to guzzle your worries away. Here are five of the most popular expat bars in Wuxi.

1) Red Lion

A relatively new bar in the Wuxi nightlife scene, the owner of this bar is an Australian expat (who used to own Blue Bar) and the chef at the helm in the kitchen was a former chef at the Indonesia Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. Red Lion – with its sold selection of food, cocktails and beers – has quickly turned into one of the most popular expat hangouts in Wuxi. The bar hosts regular events from live bands to comedy acts to open mic nights (on Tuesdays).

Add: opp. Nikko Hotel, 12-2 Nanxiatang Nanchang Jie, Nanchang District, Wuxi

地址：无锡市南长区南长街南下塘12-2号(日航饭店对面)

Tel: 150 5213 9791

Opening hours: 17:00-late

Getting there: 乘坐27路或106路公交车在金塘桥站下车可达

2) Blue Marlin

Founded in 1999 in Suzhou, Blue Marlin has branched out with a whopping ten bars in the Zhejiang/Jiangxi area. Part of the bar's success has been in providing a "home away from home" atmosphere complete with authentic Western dishes and a solid selection of imported beers. The bar's specialty is their hand shaken cocktails and long frozen drinks; to enjoy these without breaking the bank head there on a Tuesday when it's buy-one-get-one free on all cocktails. With monthly themed parties, live bands, drink deals and other events, Blue Marlin looks set to stay.

Add: 19 Yangchungang, Yongle Donglu, Nanchang District, Wuxi

地址：无锡市南长区永乐东路9号阳春巷19号（近日航酒店）

Tel: 0510 8503 8857

Opening hours: 10:00-02:00

Website: www.bluemarlin.cn

Getting there: take bus No. 15, 19, 27, 32, 41, 55, 62, 92, 113, 502, 505, 765 or 767 to Miaoguang Qiao (妙光桥) stop

3) Blue Bar

One of Wuxi's longest running gastropubs, Blue Bar is a no-frills place that provides everything a punter needs: good drinks, a foosball table, dart board, a laid back atmosphere and a steady stream of expat customers. They serve standard Western food such as burgers and chili cheese fries and have happy hour food and drink deals throughout the week.

Add: 53 Zongning Lu, Chongan District, Wuxi

地址：无锡市崇安区崇宁路53号(公安局对面)

Tel: 0510 8275 9866

Opening hours: 17:00-02:00

Getting there: take bus No.3 to Jianchayuan (检察院) stop

4) Paulaner Bräuhaus

Since opening its first location in Beijing over 20 years ago, Paulaner Bräuhaus has taken China by storm. In Wuxi, the German beer emporium can be found on the first floor of the Kempinski Hotel and just like its international branches, has expert brewers who ensure customers are always served top quality brews. Paulaner Bräuhaus is not cheap but it is one of, if not the best spot in town to enjoy authentic Bavarian food and drinks. The Bavarian atmosphere is further channelled through the nightly foreign bands who provide musical entertainment every night of the week.

Add: 1F, Kempinski Hotel, 18 Yonghe Lu, Nanchang District, Wuxi

地址：无锡市南长区永和路18号凯宾斯基1楼(近太湖大道), 普拉娜德国啤酒屋

Tel: 0510 8108 8420

Opening hours:11:00-14:00; 16:30-24:00

Getting there: take bus No. 29 or 57 to Yonghe Lu (永和路) stop

5) Jason's Bar

Jason's Bar is great for a more quiet night out, with jazz, blues, Latin and American country music being the soundtrack of choice here. Owned by an American expat, Jason's Bar has a free foosball table, dart board and large TV screen for airing live sports games.

Add: 93-95 Xintiandi Holiday Plaza, 8 Changjiang Lu, New District, Wuxi

地址：无锡市新区长江北路8号新天地假日广场93-95号(近汉江北路)

Tel: 0510 8522 1198

Opening hours: 18:00-02:00 (Sat-Sun, 15:00-02:00)

Getting there:

乘坐36, 70, 76, 765, 新世界国际专线公交车在长欣公寓站下车可达