Guangzhou Bars and Craft Beer: Areas, Hours, Costs

Where are the bars in Guangzhou?

Bars are spread over several districts rather than on one famous street. The table gathers what travel guides and one forum thread say. None of it is an official list, and venues open and close often, so treat the names as starting points and check each on a map app.

China Highlights places Party Pier on the south bank. Other guides disagree about which bank it is on, as the Guangzhou at night guide notes, so check the pin before you set off.

What do travellers say about Tiyu Xilu?

A commenter in an r/guangzhou thread from August 28, 2026 wrote that Tiyu Xilu is also a good choice “if you prefer cozy, unique small bars and craft beer spots hidden in the alleys” (thread comment). That is one person’s recommendation with no venue names or prices, so use it as a reason to look at the lanes, not as a list. Tiyu Xilu (体育西路) is also a Line 1 and Line 3 interchange, which makes it easy to reach; see the where to stay guide.

What do drinks cost?

Prices are thin in the sources. Two figures exist, both from travel guides.

• Craft beer: China Highlights says a cold craft beer at Wuyangcun runs ¥40 to ¥65.
• Pub pints: Wikivoyage’s Tianhe page lists Tavern Sports Bar near the Guangzhou Opera House with happy-hour pints from ¥20. Happy hour is listed as 16:00 to 20:00 and all day Monday. The listing is undated, so confirm it.

Rooftop and hotel bars cost more, but no source gives numbers. Read the menu before you order. A menu is the only price that counts.

What time do bars open and close?

One travel guide (Nomado, not re-checked) says most bars close between 01:00 and 03:00, and clubs can run later at weekends. That matches the Guangzhou at night guide. China Highlights says Party Pier is busiest from Thursday to Saturday from about 20:30, and that weekend tables at JoJo’s Riverside go early, so arrive before 21:00.

Two listings on Wikivoyage’s Tianhe page give exact hours. Hooley’s Irish Pub, near Liede station (Line 5, Exit D), is listed Sunday to Thursday 09:00 to 02:00 and Friday and Saturday 09:00 to 04:00. Tavern Sports Bar is listed daily 11:30 to 02:00. Both entries are undated community-edited listings and may be out of date, so check before you go.

Which pubs have live music or quiz nights?

The same Wikivoyage listings give event nights, which help if you want company rather than a quiet table. Hooley’s, an Irish-themed pub in Zhujiang New Town (Shop 101, 8 Xinsheng Road, near Liede station Exit D), is listed with live rock, pop, folk and jazz on Fridays and Saturdays, an open mic on Wednesdays and a Ladies Night on Thursdays. Tavern Sports Bar (2 Huajiu Road, near the Guangzhou Opera House APM station) is listed with live sport on big screens, pool tables, private rooms and a quiz night every Wednesday at 20:30. These are undated listings, so confirm the nights before you plan around them.

Which beer will you see?

Wikivoyage says Tsingtao and Zhu Jiang (珠江) are the two major Chinese beer brands sold almost everywhere, and that Carlsberg is also brewed locally. Craft beer is a separate, smaller scene. The sources name Wuyangcun and the Tiyu Xilu alleys for it and give no taproom list, so search the venue’s name on a map app and read recent reviews before you travel across town.

How do you get home after the last metro?

Use Didi. Last trains differ by line and direction, so check the official Guangzhou Metro app (广州地铁) or the line query on the Guangzhou Metro site (https://cs.gzmtr.com/ckfw/). This guide prints no last-train time; read the last train from your own station before you go out.

After that:

1. Set up Didi before you go out. The Didi guide covers English setup and foreign cards.
2. Order from a marked pick-up point, check the plate in the app and pay in the app.
3. Keep your hotel’s Chinese name and address ready. The driver cards are made for this.
4. If you must flag a taxi, read the taxi guide first.

What are the safety basics?

The safety guide covers the city. For a night out, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says to avoid leaving drinks unattended and to avoid accepting drinks from strangers (FCDO safety and security page). It also describes a tourist-area scam in which someone invites you to a bar, tea house or massage and the venue demands a large fee afterwards. The scams guide adds the rule never to pay a deposit to someone who approached you first.

Are “bottle scams” a problem?

Forum posts raise the idea. In a June 3, 2026 r/guangzhou thread, one commenter said they had never heard of bottle scams in Guangzhou (comment). That is one person’s experience and not proof either way. The sensible rules are the same in any city: choose the venue yourself, see the price before you order, and ask for the bill before more drinks.

How should you plan the night?

Pick one area, because Party Pier, Dongshankou and Tianhe are far apart. Eat first; the night food guide lists late dishes. If you want a riverside view before the bars, the Pearl River night cruise guide lists times and piers.