★ Chic cocktails
Chic ground-floor design bar inside The Opposite House in Sanlitun — wines and signature martinis, a younger professional crowd, long a gay-friendly favourite.
Mesh is the stylish little bar tucked into The Opposite House, the Kengo Kuma-designed hotel at the heart of Sanlitun, with windows opening onto the buzz of Taikoo Li. The look is airy and minimalist — linen and mesh drapes, comfortable couches, a serious wine list and well-made signature martinis — making it as good for a post-shopping drink as for a stylish start to the night.
This is a smart, mixed cocktail bar rather than a dedicated gay venue, but it has a real history with the community: Thursday nights were the traditional gay-friendly draw, and these days a younger crowd of professionals and LGBTQ locals and allies treat it as their own most evenings. Expect upscale hotel-bar pricing and a polished, design-conscious vibe rather than a dance floor — it pairs nicely as a civilised warm-up before heading to Destination.