Guangzhou's nightlife is concentrated in a few main zones. The area around Yanjiang Road along the Pearl River has a string of bars and outdoor terraces with views of the illuminated Canton Tower across the water. In Tianhe, around Tianhe Bei Road, you'll find cocktail bars and late-night venues popular with the professional crowd. The older expat bar scene has long since moved on from its early-2000s haunts.
Coffee culture is strong: Guangzhou has a well-developed specialty coffee scene, particularly in the Haizhu district and around the Zhujiang New Town area, where independent cafes have carved out space among the office towers.