best in town

Good and tasty Russian food for good price yesterday. Continue with events like this !

I moved to Kunming in January, right before the height of the corona virus shut down. I was lonely and eager to make friends. My roommates were quick to add me to the Barfly Wechat group, which seemed to be a friendly place to become a part of a supportive community. I joined the group and thought I would be welcomed. However, when I actually went to the bar I was so disappointed. After trying to dance to Eurotrash white, hetero outdated head banger music all night long, I talked to a friend to try and think about music that might be a little more danceable. She took me behind the bar and immediately, before I even said a word, I was told that my musical tastes would not be cool enough. When I suggest Lady Gaga (a queer icon) or Beyonce (one of the most accomplished women of color) I was told that my tastes were in fact not cool enough for this bar and was dismissed. Whatever. However after I was standing next to another friend who was asking to change the outdated music once again, the bartender freely gave him her phone and said "don't worry I trust you, you wouldn't pick something like Lady Gaga." Then she turned to me and repeated "No Lady Gaga" as if I was a fucking idiot. Overall I find the Kunming expat community to be welcoming and kind, but not Barfly. To quote another band that is probably not cool enough to be played in this establishment: "Bye Bye Bye!"

This has been my favorite bar to go to for the last two years. You never know what you'll get- a quiet chill night or a group of rugby girls coming in to dance on the bar. Whatever the scene, there's someone to meet and chat with. The owners are super friendly. There is always a mix of fun events and they are open to new ideas. They are also very supportive of the expat community. Probably the best burger I've had in Kunming. Their other food is pretty damn good too.

Barfly is the kind of place where you can count on walking in and there will always be someone to talk to; someone at the bar, or Alex and Kris behind the bar. They put on a lot of activities such as game nights, the fabulous Girl Power night, exhibitions and Celebrity Bartender nights. The home baked food is pretty amazing and I'm a huge fan of the brezel. A great local pub!