(china daily)
Updated: 2007-03-14 11:25

True to its namesake, Babyface is the place for beautiful young things in Beijing. Despite its reputation as the crown jewel of the Gongti Xilu mega-club strip, this nightspot shines without sparkling, compared to its relatively flamboyant but lesser-known neighbors.

The club lacks the flash and attitude characteristic of many of the capital's top nightspots, making it a refreshing stop for those more interested in having fun on the dance floor than seeing and being seen. The substance-over-style demeanor of the establishment, exemplified by a complete lack of neon inside, might explain why its clientele are hip and moneyed without being oh-so-so-cool cash splashers. Like the club, they have nothing to prove and are there to groove.

The most even mix of foreigners and Chinese on the Gongti strip can be found on Babyface's moderately sized dance floor. Here, crowds groove to house beats, which are incongruent with the hip-hop videos shown on the two large, adjacent projector screens hung above the bar.

Hyperactively attentive staffers serve beers that cost 35 yuan irrespective of brand, which they open with violent whacks from bottle openers, and cocktails ranging from 40 to 200 yuan. Shooters come by the half-dozen (100 yuan) and dozen (200 yuan).

While the establishment proffers more seating than most clubs, only a handful of chairs will be occupied at any given time, while the dance floor heaves.

Those needing reprieve from the bump and grind can perch upon one of the establishment's red-felt, square-shaped bar stools or the plush couches made from the same material lining the club's perimeter.

Private booths are separated from the general public by clear bead-string curtains, allowing those in both the downstairs and loft seating areas to watch the action while remaining aloof from it. But even these are usually vacant, because their would-be occupants are busy getting dizzy on the dance floor.

Opening hour: 8pm-4am.
Address: 6 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District.
Tel: 010-6551 9081.