"Traditional Teahouse Defu Lane is peppered with eateries and bars, but aside from being a good option to enjoy Xi'an's nightlife, it's also home to Fubaoge, a five-story traditional Chinese teahouse. Rest your feet after a long day of exploring and sip hot cups of Chinese tea like Longjing and chrysanthemum. Fubaoge's crosstalk comedy shows are also popular with the crowds."

"Best of the Worlds Vice Versa is the best of many worlds. It serves Western fare by day as a cafe and restaurant, and at night it morphs into an underground bar serving cocktails and local and foreign beers. The bar also hosts a variety of bands for intimate live music nights. Frequented by both locals and expats, Vice Versa also has a stellar rooftop space for those sunny days and breezy nights. Still not enough? There's also a skate shop run by pro skater Xiao Jian on the premises."

"Yanta Bar Street There's a little bar area south of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, two blocks east of the Westin. The bar scene in Xi'an isn't as boisterous, by Western standards, as in other cities. That being said, if you're in the area and want a beer, this is a good place. There's the Lan Kwai Fong bar, Emi Club, and the Blue Lotus to try, and lots of outdoors vendors and street food help make for a fun night."

"Irish Speakeasy and Restaurant in Xi'an This is a slightly odd place. It's in the middle of a commercial area, with no restaurants in sight. If you get to the right block, it's actually behind a large building. You have to knock and be let in like a speakeasy. Once inside, it's a pretty normal expat locale. The first floor is a Spanish restaurant, supposedly with one of the only wood-burning pizza ovens in Xi'an. Downstairs is the real Green Molly, an Irish pub. You can also order food here. The pizza was disappointing, but the Caprese salad and potato skins were outrageously good. Green Molly is 200 meters north of Ginwa Shopping Center on the intersection of Gaoxin Road and Keji Road. It is behind the GAOKE building."

"Dance the Night Away This two-story nightclub knows how to throw a party, and is one of the best venues in Xi'an to experience the city's nightlife to the fullest. Party girls show off choreographed routines while the crowd grooves to both Chinese and English music spun by house and guest international DJs. A large video screen overlooks above one of biggest dance floors in Xi'an. There's also karaoke, if you fancy. Themed evenings are super popular here, as are weekends, so it's a good idea to make a reservation before you head over."

"Endless Ales In search of a pub? The Belgian Bar, located near the South Wall, boasts a huge collection of—you guessed it—imported Belgian beers. Pair your ice-cold pint with pizzas, burgers, and other snacks while enjoying live bands play. Settle outside to people-watch for the perfect, chilled out evening."

"Waffles and Coffee at Caffe Bene Caffe Bene is a coffee chain out of Australia . This Xi'an outpost is one of the strangest and most enchanting coffee shops I've ever been to. It's essentially a glass box on top of a nondescript shopping center on Center Street, a few blocks up from the South Gate on the left. You need to walk around the side until you find a small elevator. At the top you'll come out into a wonderland, like a forest with chandeliers. There's a bunch of little areas to sit, including outside and upstairs. It's an amazing spot at sundown, when you can watch the city lights come on. As well as drinks, there are lots of snack options, including a layered ice cream bowl about the size of my head. What I loved most were the waffles, which were really tasty. They were proper waffles, too—crisp on the outside and moist inside. I got mine served with a sweet condensed milk sauce and blueberry jam. To top it off, when you order you are given a stuffed animal to take to your table. How cute is that?"

"Drinking Yogurt Northern China has some of the most amazing tasting yogurts. Since we don't have any decent yogurt in Shenzhen, I pig out every time I go north. Stalls and shops around Xi'an sell really cool drinking yogurts. This stall was on the west side of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The yogurt was perfectly tasty, though the best bit about it was the glass jars."

"Time for a Coffee With several locations around the city (and around China), Sculpting in Time is known for its down-to-earth, relaxing vibe—paired with great coffee, of course. Once inside, you'll feel like you've stepped into someone's home. Order a cuppa, some sandwiches to tide you over until the next meal, and browse through their collection of books and music. If you're lucky, you'll chance upon their movie nights and various other events, planned throughout the week."