Prison-themed bars gain popularity in China

At these "prison" bars, patrons don orange jumpsuits, sign "confessions," receive criminal profiles, and are led to their "cells."

Inspired by the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black," prison-themed bars have popped up in several locations across China, including Qingdao in eastern Shandong province, Hangzhou in northern Zhejiang province, and Chongqing in the southwest. Customers dress in orange jumpsuits, and the interiors feature bars, old newspapers, graffiti, and mugshots.

Customers wear orange jumpsuits resembling prison attire. Photo: Yong Qi (Chengye homebar)/Xiaohongshu

Customers wear orange jumpsuits resembling prison attire. Photo: Yong Qi (Chengye homebar)/Xiaohongshu

Seating areas are divided into "cells," including an "interrogation room" complete with props like handcuffs, shackles, and batons.

Drinks, including cocktails, sodas, and coffee, cost around 50 CNY, equivalent to 7 USD, each. Some locations charge an additional 10 CNY, or 1.3 USD, for the jumpsuit rental.

Upon entry, customers sign a "confession," receive a "criminal profile" detailing their assigned "crime," and have their photos taken before being escorted to their "cells," which are actually the seating areas.

Alcotraz bar on Brick Lane, London. Photo: Eduardo Pramio/Instagram

The seating area is divided into "cells." Photo: Xiuxian zai Hangzhou/Xiaohongshu

Drinks at the bar. Photo: SALE/Xiaohongshu

Bar staff dressed as police officers and prison guards. Photo: LINXINR/Xiaohongshu

Photos of customers dressed as prisoners adorn the walls. Photo: Xiuxian zai Hangzhou/Xiaohongshu

Bartenders dressed as police interact with customers as prison guards, enforcing "prison rules," inquiring about their "crimes," and discouraging damage to the furniture.

This unusual concept has attracted both curious patrons and social media attention.

"The lighting, decor, and atmosphere create an immersive experience with plenty of unique photo opportunities," one social media user commented, adding that they had brought friends along.

Video: Yang tao/xiaohongshu

Another customer reported a 20-minute wait to enter the Hangzhou location on a weeknight around 10 p.m. due to the crowds. One comment described the bar's concept as both innovative and "crazy."

However, the prison-themed bar concept has also sparked controversy, with some deeming it "over-the-top and perplexing."

"Prisons are meant for punishment, education, and rehabilitation. Using this setting for entertainment trivializes the law and disrespects victims of crime and their families," one commenter argued.

Similar prison-themed bars also exist in Australia and several European countries, including Alcotraz on Brick Lane in London, which opened around 2018. This bar draws inspiration from Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco Bay, which housed over 1,500 inmates from 1934 to 1963, including notorious Prohibition-era gangsters like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly.

At Alcotraz, customers bring their own alcohol, which the staff then mixes into cocktails. The service is conducted clandestinely, simulating a prison break.