💙 The One Place In The Life, Kulangsu (Gulangyu)

This recent addition to the island took over a large swath of outdoor-bar territory just a few blocks down the waterfront. If you turn right as you’re stepping off the Lun Du ferry, it’ll be the biggest bar garden in sight. If you come to the Global Bowen Bear Hotel, you’ve gone too far. The most notable thing about this spot is its live music stage and expansive garden with bay views, complete with a kitschy white digital baby grand piano. Live music is mostly Chinese pop, and performances are of highly variable quality. There’s also an unremarkable, medium-to-high-priced menu of Western dishes. T-bone steaks with black-pepper gravy are thin but tasty, french fries are decent, and potato skins and other appetizers will help satisfy homesickness for Westerners. Torches warm things up in the garden on cold evenings in winter. Service is slow and indifferent.

For more Kulangsu (Gulangyu) travel ideas, see the new Kulangsu Island Visitor’s Guide.