The majority of nightspots in Dalian are neon karaoke dives that cater to naughty Japanese businessmen, but there are a few pleasant exceptions. Resident foreigners favor the subterranean Makewei, known to English-speakers as Dave's Bar (south end of Qiyi Jie; tel. 0411/8282-2345; open from 1pm until late), a UN of watering holes just northeast of Zhongshan Guangchang. Americans, Russians, Europeans, Asians, and Africans mix and flirt at Dave's without prejudice over bottles of Tsingtao beer. Powerhouse (Baohao Ba), Wuwu Lu 6 in the Zhongshan District (tel. 0411/8272-7971; open 5pm-1:30am) has live Chinese rock-'n-roll music and is popular among locals. Just behind the Shangri-La Hotel, Alice Bar No. 2 (Zhifu Jie 8; tel. 0411/8256-1313; open 6pm-daylight) -- not to be confused with Alice's seedier No. 1 bar, just east of the Shangri-La -- has a Filipino band nightly and draws the area's expats until the wee hours. I-55 is open until midnight.
