New bars and restaurants opening up in Wuhan

This could have more to do with the fact that I didn’t know the city well when I first got here, but it certainly does seem like there is a recent glut of bars opening up in Wuhan. Whether this is a reflection of the rising incomes in the city or the growing proclivity amongst young Chinese people to go out for the odd drink I don’t know, but either way – I like it.

Bars in China tend to come in two forms; those that cater to groups looking forward a lively night out and those that cater to patrons looking for a nice drink in a good atmosphere. The former type of bar tends to stock cheap drinks, play loud music and attract a younger crowd. The latter will often stock better quality beer and spirits (though it will be expensive) and will not be quite so loud. In terms of cheap bars to start a night out, Helen’s is a popular choice amongst a younger crowd. With the first Helen’s opening in Wuhan 3 years ago, there are now 3 in Wuchang and 2 in Hankou, all of which regularly fill up on the weekends. Another bar similar to Helen’s is Coco, a recently opened bar near Guanggu that shows sports on big screens on the weekend – definitely worth a look. For sports fans in Hankou, the recently opened London Bar near Dazhilu plays most football games as well as other sports upon request. One other benefit of many of these bars is that they usually have an array of bar snacks and food for pretty reasonable prices.

Beyond the bars there has also been a number of new restaurants opening up that cater to western tastes. Admittedly the western food in Wuhan often leaves a lot to be desired but this is gradually changing. In the Lingjiaohu Wanda there is a new Italian restaurant that has authentic pizza and pasta, whilst the bakery at Wuhan Tiandi has a number of items worth looking into. In terms of fast food the new Burger King at Baotong Si offers a choice beyond KFC and McDonalds (though the huge lines of people queuing out the doors is a bit much..).

From the 3 years in which I have lived here the city has changed greatly. Not only the new roads, subway system and bridges but also in the new shops, restaurants and bars. One of the things I like most about Wuhan it still retains much of its character and is very much a Chinese city. The growing number of international outlets and cuisines have not changed this – though for people living away from home they certainly provide a comfortable reminder every now and again.