Chongqing is a city of many faces, and that variety becomes even clearer at night. One side is the hillside hot pot spectacle of Nanshan Pipa Garden. Another is the smoke and laughter of barbecue stalls tucked under residential buildings. Another is the club energy of Jiujie Street. And then there are the open-air food rows along Keyuan Fourth Road. It’s vibrant, stylish, free-spirited, and grounded all at once—this is Chongqing at night.

Where to Go for a Tipsy Night in Chongqing?

Chongqing is a city that loves nightlife, with its small bars, nightclubs, and livehouses ranking among the best in the country in both quantity and quality. Raising glasses, playing drinking games, and sharing stories—Chongqing's night belongs to every local who enjoys the vibrant nightlife.

Guanyinqiao Jiujie

Jiujie Street in Chongqing is located on Liyuchi Road in the Guanyinqiao business district of Jiangbei District. It is the liveliest street in Chongqing at night, bustling with crowds of beautiful young men and women until the early hours of two or three in the morning. The nightclubs on both sides are brilliantly lit, and luxury cars are a common sight on the road. This vibrant atmosphere has also given rise to numerous small bars, stalls, and the Jiujie Night Market, which remains lively even in the wee hours, continuing to attract many visitors.

Ti Kan Xiao Jiu Guan: A Small Tavern in the Basement of a Residential Building

Reason for Recommendation: A tiny, unassuming tavern near Guanyinqiao, with many wine jars piled at the entrance. Located in the basement of a row of old, low-rise residential buildings, you descend a dark staircase and suddenly enter a new little world. The menu mainly features Chongqing cuisine, with dishes like chopped pepper pig trotters, three-pepper clams, spicy chicken cartilage, spicy seaweed, and wine-infused beef, all of which are delicious. The specialty Nepalese wine and hawthorn wine are also highly recommended.

Address: No. 110, Ta Ping Residential Community, Jiang Bei District

Business Hours: Monday to Sunday 17:30-24:00

Chunyang Old Tavern: A Time-Honored Tavern in Chongqing

Reason for Recommendation: Chunyang Old Tavern has been operating in Qixinggang for over 30 years. It embodies the classic Chongqing tavern style and is almost always packed with patrons. The decor is retro, exuding a strong ancient inn atmosphere. The dishes are also in the Chongqing style, spicy and perfect for pairing with drinks. The live-caught lettuce, fresh pepper pig trotters, tofu with sauce, and roasted brain are all exceptionally delicious. The drinks are mainly fruit wines, with peach blossom wine being the specialty. Watermelon wine and green plum wine are also highly recommended.

Address: B2 Floor, No. 1 Chunyang Cave (Exit 2 of Qixinggang)
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00-14:00; 17:00-22:00

MuaGuitar Acoustic Music Bar: Enjoy Night Views and Folk Music

Reason for Recommendation: Located on a high floor of a commercial building, this bar offers a view of Chongqing's night skyline, providing a peaceful escape in the bustling city. The bar was co-founded by a group of young men who not only run the place but also perform as resident singers. Performances start every night at 8 PM, and each singer has a unique style. Cocktails can be customized to taste, with most drink names inspired by song lyrics. The bar also serves delicious snacks that pair well with the drinks.

Address: Room 30-10, Block C, Hongding International Garden, Beicheng Tianjie, Guanyinqiao
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday, 19:00 - 02:30 the next day

Nuts: Livehouse

Reason for Recommendation: Nuts is a long-standing Live House in Chongqing, hosting over a hundred independent music and electronic performances each year, ranging from rock and folk to electronic music. Some local bands, such as Huolun, Fool's Boat, C.P. CAMERA, and UNCLE HU, made their debut here.

Address: B1-21, B1 Floor, De Yi Chao Guan, Jiaochangkou
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday 19:30 - 02:00 the next day

Where to eat late-night snacks in Chongqing?

The other side of Chongqing's night is barbecue and street food stalls. It's freshly grilled fish, skewers by the handful, marinated dishes behind glass, and sizzling meat on iron grills. Chongqing's late-night eats are no less varied than its daytime offerings. The street food stalls may not be elegant or luxurious, but they are undeniably satisfying. Barbecue, seafood, dumplings, duck intestines, marinated dishes, and cold jelly cakes—all await you in the night of Chongqing.

Southern Garden Night Market

When it comes to night markets in Chongqing, the first place that comes to most people's minds is definitely Keyuan 4th Road.
Keyuan 4th Road Night Market Street, also known as Southern Garden Night Market, comes alive around 5:30 PM every day. The once quiet Keyuan 4th Road is ignited by lights and bustling voices as nearby vendors collectively set up tables, chairs, and prepare ingredients. Here, you can find everything from seafood, hotpot, soup pots, barbecue, skewers, local dishes, tea drinks, to desserts. At its peak every night, both inside and outside the shops are packed with people. Although it has been renovated and is now much quieter, the shops remain popular, and the delicious food is still preserved.

Chen Laoqi's Grilled Brain
Reason for recommendation: A small stall run by a couple for over a decade. The brain melts in your mouth, the dipping sauce is generous, and the lotus root slices at the bottom are refreshing and crisp.

Address: No. 81, Keyuan 4th Road
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday 19:00 - 02:00 the next day

Yusheng Glasses BBQ
Reason for Recommendation: Glasses BBQ is a time-honored barbecue spot on Keyuan 4th Road, known for its irresistibly spicy and numbing flavors. The secret seasoning crafted by the bespectacled uncle leaves a lasting impression. The grilled crucian carp, brain, and duck intestines are all exceptionally delicious.

Address: No. 54-1, Keyuan 4th Road (Near Xietai Zi)
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday 17:30 - 03:30 the next day

Luo Ji Grilled Fish
Reason for Recommendation: A long-standing grilled fish shop on the street, the skin is perfectly charred, the fish meat is tender, and it's thoroughly flavorful inside.

Address: No. 6, Keyuan 4th Road, Shiqiaopu, Jiulongpo District (next to the Jiulongpo Municipal Characteristic Night Market sign on Keyuan 4th Road)
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday, 16:00 - 03:30 the next day