Pay to drink at a stranger’s home? Home bars are becoming a growing trend in China’s lonely big cities.
In cities like Beijing and Shanghai, more and more people are converting their homes into bars and inviting strangers to drink with them for a fee. These home bars provide a cozy, relaxed atmosphere for unwinding and interacting.
One such home bar owner is Mr. Ken Yang, who turned his one-bedroom apartment in Beijing into a bar after leaving his engineering consultant job to pursue his passion for mixology. He opened his home bar in December 2023 and offers unique drinks like his own version of ‘Butterbeer’ inspired by Harry Potter, a creamy and sweet concoction, and a tomato-and-tabasco vodka mixture, a spicy and tangy blend, all priced at 40 yuan (S$7.50) each.
This trend started in Shanghai after pandemic restrictions were lifted in December 2022, allowing people to organize in-person events more freely. It has since spread to other cities across China. Social media platform Xiaohongshu has seen at least 70 listings with the hashtag “family-style bars,” including cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, and Hangzhou.
Most home bar owners charge an entry fee ranging from 100 to 300 yuan per person, regardless of how much they drink. Some even organize activities like movie screenings, board games, and speed-dating events to make the experience more enjoyable for guests.
The popularity of home bars can be attributed to the stress young Chinese face at work and in making friends. Home bars provide an opportunity to meet new people in a comfortable and relaxed setting, away from the competitiveness and stressful work culture of the cities.
However, there are challenges that come with running a home bar. Noise complaints from neighbors, inconveniences of dealing with drunk patrons, and the lack of clear regulation for these home businesses are some of the issues owners face. For instance, some owners have had to invest in soundproofing their homes to address noise complaints, while others have had to develop strict policies on alcohol consumption to manage drunk patrons. Nevertheless, the trend continues to gain momentum, as it offers an alternative and more intimate way for people to socialize and make connections.
For patrons like Ms. Gina Xu, visiting home bars is a refreshing change from the impersonal and crowded bars and clubs in Shanghai. It creates a more comfortable and less stressful environment in which to interact with strangers and have meaningful conversations.
Commencing this new trend, home bars in China’s big cities are becoming popular for young people seeking a relaxed and intimate setting to meet new people and share good times over drinks.
