Adding to what can only be called Sanlitun’s most horrific street, and that's being kind to this part of Sanlitun, Adam’s is a diamond in the rough. It offers a glimmer of hope that one day we will be able to enjoy having a drink on this dank patch, the home of hedonism. In fact, we now can now enjoy at least one watering hole: Adam's, the strip's new LGBT-friendly bar.
 

Adam’s is a bright little establishment with tables out front, tables inside, and a rooftop terrace. When we went to check it out last Saturday, it was absolutely rammed with no sign of things letting up. The atmosphere at this little hub of activity is very positive, with locals, expats and visitors coming and going, and while many people already knew each other, everyone was open to mingle with the new faces.
 

Their menu offers a range of whisky (RMB 40-55), beers (RMB 20-55), cocktails (RMB 40-50, apart from RMB 80 for a Scotch Bomb, which we were too scared to go near), and then there is coffee and snacks. In fact, Mondo Wong, Adam’s owner, hopes that people will also pass by during the day, as he aims to provide a friendly and safe space rather than just a bar. We had a long island ice tea and approved. It wasn't too boozy, but did the job.
 

Even if you’re not part of the LGBT community, this is a good alternative to the bars in the area, as Wong assures us that all of their alcohol is real. That's a pretty big deal considering everything else on that Bar Street always feels like it burns right through your esophagus and instantly blinds you. In fact, Wong guarantees us that if someone finds fake alcohol in his bar, he will pay them back the price of their drink times ten. That's a substantial promise and bodes well for this bar's future and forcing the quality of establishments in the area upwards in general.
 

Adam's
Daily 11am-late. 40 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (no phone)
朝阳区三里屯路40号

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Photos: Margaux Schreurs (whose iPhone clearly doesn't like the dark)