Blue Marlin

For more than two decades, Blue Marlin has welcomed people with a simple promise: "Your Home Away From Home". It is a slogan that perfectly captures the role the venue has played in Suzhou's international community since the original Blue Marlin first opened in 1999.

The SIP location opened in 2003, making it one of the area's earliest bars. At a time when there were still relatively few places for Suzhou's international community to meet, Blue Marlin quickly became one of the city's best-known meeting places for expats and internationally minded locals, particularly among British and German residents. As SIP has grown into the centre of Suzhou's international dining and nightlife scene, Blue Marlin has welcomed an increasingly diverse mix of Chinese and international customers.

Over the years, Blue Marlin has continually evolved alongside SIP. The venue has expanded, downsized and changed shape several times, while its customer base and role within the city have changed just as dramatically. Long-term residents may remember several different versions of Blue Marlin, each representing a different era in Suzhou's international community.

Traditionally a bar first and a restaurant second, Blue Marlin has gradually evolved into a restaurant-first, bar-second venue. The drinks, house-brewed craft beer, live sport and welcoming atmosphere remain very much part of the experience, but today the food is just as much of the reason people come.

The menu focuses on great-value western favourites, from burgers, steaks and pizzas to salads and pub classics, while also embracing a playful fusion side. Dishes such as Mapo Tofu Pasta and Kung Pao Chicken Pizza have become Blue Marlin signatures, combining familiar Chinese flavours with western comfort food in ways that are uniquely their own.

Blue Marlin brews its own craft beer on site, with the brewing equipment forming part of the venue's modern industrial-style interior. Sports are shown throughout the week, the music stays relaxed, and the outdoor terrace provides a pleasant spot to enjoy a meal or drink.

Blue Marlin may look different from the place many long-term residents first remember, but its spirit hasn't changed. Whether you've lived in Suzhou for twenty years or have only just arrived, it continues to offer exactly what it always has: good food, good beer, friendly service and a genuine home away from home.