You could be forgiven for giving up on Loft 345. The not-so-short walk from the metro station, the inconspicuous entrance and the inviting bright lights on the other side of the river could all result in you never making it to the bar/art space. However, I would encourage you to not be put off so easily. The heavily gratified stairwells and corridors that greet you are an indication of what is to come; something that breaks the mold, especially in comparison to the relatively formulaic alternatives Guangzhou has to offer.

The bar itself is housed on the fourth floor, and has everything any good bar should. Firstly, drinks are fantastic value for money, with large bottled beers from 20RMB, and generous spirit mixers around the 25-30RMB mark. There is something for everyone in terms of recreation. A well-kept pool table and a fantastically detailed foosball table satisfy those looking for more traditional bar entertainment, while a wide variety of books and magazines – with subject matter ranging from skateboarding, to collections of lesser-known artists’ work – cater for those who seek something a little less conventional. This seems to be a recurring theme at Loft 345; it does everything it should incredibly well, as well as providing you with a little more that you don’t quite expect.

The music doesn’t stray from this path, with an eclectic mix satisfying almost all and offending very few. On my second visit we had everything from 30s jazz and 70s reggae to more recent indie rock. The bar itself is a constantly changing space, with quirky student sculptures and paintings providing the décor. This, combined with a projector showing old movies in one corner, an assortment of old sofas, carefully placed lighting, and exposed factory walls creates a fantastically interesting, yet comfortable environment.

The underpinning of this success is inherently linked to its location; in the middle of such a creative atmosphere good things were always bound to happen. Established in 2003 as Park19, it became Loft 345 in 2005, and is one of Guangzhou’s longest running art spaces. There are around 40 studios available for anyone wanting to do something creative, and it appears that they are filled with people doing just that.

This location naturally means that the clientele are a diverse bunch too. The Loft 345 bar is frequented by Haizhu locals (who are offered even cheaper drink rates, to try and cultivate a sense of community), the artists in residence, and inquisitive foreign exchange students too, so it seems. One of the highlights of my time there was meeting an oil painter who has a studio in the building. Lei Xiaozhou (雷小洲) is an artist who has experienced many different landscapes, countries and people, all of which have shaped his rich, textured works. I was lucky enough to see for myself, as he showed me and some friends around his studio when we met at the bar, one Friday evening.

He tells me that Loft 345 is ‘a place where we can just pursue our art, as we see fit’, in comparison to other similar, more commercial Guangzhou art spaces. It is sentiment to the place that you can meet people such as Lei Xiaozhou there, and that they have such good things to say about it. A fantastic place for a quiet drink, and a departure from the ordinary.

How to get there:

Subway Line 2 – Jiang Nan Xi (江南西) Station, exit C. LOFT345 is about 400 meters east of the station, along the river / Jiang Nan Dong Lu. Walk along the river until the brick workshops end, then head through the gate on the left. The entrance is on the building on your right, once through the gate. Take the stairs to the 4th floor.

Detailed address, hours, and phone number on Loft 345′s Nightlife page.