Hot Cat Club

A happening hutong music venue showcasing local bands
Word to the wise: Head to School Bar on 53 Wudaoying Hutong afterwards and you'll probably find the band you just saw perform strutting their stuff on the dance floor.

This place is run by a local rocker and his mum who is often at the bar serving the unpretentious punters their Qingdaos (beer). Add disheveled sofas, board games, and garishly painted walls to the mix and you really feel like you're in the middle of the owners' living room while their friends are over for a jam.
Which is actually partly true: it serves as a venue for local jazz, blues, reggae, and rock bands to showcase their stuff. Drop by any day of the week for a feel of the lesser known Beijing music scene.