Beijing's moneyed hipsters congregate at this upscale nightclub, to swill Chivas-and-green-tea cocktails and groove to a techno beat. The see-and-be-seen dance floor is surrounded by tables, which you must get bottle service to reserve. They provide the perfect vantage point for surveying the crowd of well-heeled, designer-jean-clad revelers.

Set on a hutong alley in a traditional courtyard house, this softly lit bar and tapas restaurant is furnished with traditional Chinese kang beds (more like platforms than mattresses), tables and chairs, and modern Chinese art on the walls. Ideal for postprandial lounging, Bed is popular with young sophisticates, who enjoy reclining on piles of silk cushions to sip sangria and listen to sexy, DJ-spun salsa beats.

This sultry lounge and multicuisine restaurant is located in a refurbished school building. The stunning interior is infused with Southeast Asian spirituality, featuring dark-wood furnishings; warm red, orange, and yellow tones; Buddhist statues; silver stupas; and contemporary Chinese paintings. At the front is a spacious, layered patio terrace beautified by bamboo trees, a trickling brook, and a grand lawn, and shielded by a protective Imperial red wall with arched gates.

Open daily 6 pm to late.

Designed by Philippe Starck and owned by Zhang Lan's South Beauty group, this grandiose, nearly 6,500-square-foot restaurant, bar, and club is signature Starck, only more so. It's a veritable design cornucopia of winged-eagle thrones, portraits, freestanding gold-framed mirrors, Mao-era memorabilia, and private dining rooms housed in Mongolian yurt tents. The club lounge has a Europe-meets-New-China vibe, with French DJ, hallucinatory video images, and Beijing's smart set socializing to impress.

Open daily, 11 am to 2 am.

This courtyard café and bar in the university district has a polished, scholarly vibe. The outdoor tables are usually filled with studying students; inside, light filters through the floor-to-ceiling windows across the colorful sofas and a bar that's cleverly built of stacked books. Nosh from a simple menu of Western snacks (pizza, pasta), and don't miss the bathroom, with its Plexiglas roof that doubles as a goldfish pond.

Party the Chinese way: with karaoke, known in these parts as KTV. Beijing's most popular karaoke club boasts a warren of private rooms, rentable by the hour, and a gargantuan list of top-40 American and Mando-pop tunes. Warble away with the help of powerful microphones, leather sofas, and an enthusiastic staff who can help you order drinks or find songs in the computer. Afterward, if all that singing has made you peckish, indulge in the free after-hours buffet. Partyworld is hugely popular on the weekends, so it's best to reserve a room in advance.

Though housed in the basement of a shopping mall, Song is one of Beijing's most creative bars. The concept is infused with both traditional and future China. A striking layered cream interior symbolizes China's famous terraced rice paddies, while the music mix, cocktail selection, and patrons are distinctly New Beijing. Live music and DJs are supplemented by occasional open-mike hip-hop nights. Popular with a young, stylish set, Song represents an innovative new style of Beijing lounge that eschews bling for quality beats—and seems set to influence the direction of Beijing's new venues in the coming years.

Open daily, 11 am to 3 am.

This tiny, tranquil watering hole on the edge of an artificial lake in Ritan Park is the perfect place for a summer-evening cocktail. Grab an outdoor table, order a cold beer, and relax under the gingko trees.

It's all about the music at this sparsely decorated underground club. Forget posturing superstar DJs and starchitect design: White Rabbit is a serious clubbers-only late-night hangout. Two minimalist concrete floors and a small bar are electrified by Beijing's hottest and most eclectic music mix. Weeknights feature several specialist music evenings, with weekends dedicated to house, techno, and electronica pumping frenetically from the high-tech sound system.

Inspired by the 1960s film of the same name, Suzie Wong's attracts a late-night crowd of guys and gals on the prowl. The slick multilevel bar and lounge has an ornate China-chic decor: jewel-colored rooms with glowing lanterns, carved wooden furniture, and the drowsy aura of an opium den. Upstairs, the outdoor terrace is a pleasant spot to relax to the Latin house and funk spun by resident DJs Chozie and Bobby.

Rock-'n'-rollers hang out at this relaxed, grotty dive, known as the city's best spot for live music. The cheap beer, pool table, rickety stage, and empty parking lot (where leather-clad groups gather to smoke between sets) contribute to the rocker vibe. Performances vary nightly; you might catch a local punk band, a jazz ensemble, or a DJ set. The place shakes hardest on the weekends, though, when the highest-decibel acts take the stage.