As its name implies, The Boat is moored on the Liangma River at the far end of Sanlitun Bei Lu, past the Embassies. Recently reinvented by DJs Alan and BB, The Boat has two levels, each with its own dance floor and bar. Upstairs is more of a lounge while below you can dance up a sweat while looking out of portholes. There is a small, red, boudoir-esque VIP room behind the main DJ booth. Known for electronica, the owners also bring in live acts to keep the sound fresh. Thursday night is dedicated to 70s and 80s anthems and The Boat is definitely gay friendly. The crowd is a mix of young local and foreign hipsters looking for something different. In the summer, The Boat’s deck-top bar is a great place to have one of its reasonably priced cocktails and chill with friends. This is Beijing’s answer to the Parisian Batofar.