Travel Channel

Dining and Drinking

As a world class city Beijing offers a staggering supply of places to eat, drink and be merry, and the number only continues to grow. As capitol, the cosmopolitan flavors available should not be shocking except to those who remember the days when choices were limited to incredibly sumptuous Peking duck banquets or greasy attempts to Western cookery. How times have changed.

Chinese cuisine is a regional affair. Southwestern Sichuanese food is notoriously spicy, Cantonese food includes dishes familiar to the west but are best known for unusual ingredients combined in absolutely inspirational fashion. Northern Chinese food includes Mongolian hotpot and plenty of lamb. Beijing Specialties include the infamous Peking roast duck and lots of snacks. If you are ready for a different flavor, there is not shortage of international cuisine from any part of the globe, including a number of cozy Western comfort food stops of increasing quality.

You will find most of the city's restaurants in east and central Beijing, in the Chao Yang and Dong Cheng districts, respectively. Due to the wealth on offer, it is not possible to cover them all here. However, the places in the following areas are highly recommended.

Chao Yang District

This district is a foodie's haven housing a majority of Beijing's most talked about restaurants. Anything you want is here. For Chinese try Green T. House, with its devotion to taking the culinary history of China to a new level. Craving Peking roast duck? Beijing Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant, with its long standing popularity, will surly provide you with the experience you crave. Chinese dumplings reach their height at Bao Yuan Jiaozi Wu. What about Japanese? Try Hatsune with its plethora of fresh sashimi and delectable rolls. There is also Brasserie Flo, the famous French restaurant which is as close to Paris as you can get in Beijing. An evening at Lan will not soon be forgotten with its scrumptious cuisine and decadent decor. Vegetarians will be delighted by the Lotus in Moonlight.

Chao Yang Park

This once humble park is rapidly becoming one of the hippest spots for dining and drinking. For spicy, finger-licking Cajun and live blues, try the Big Easy. Enjoy its authentic atmosphere—a beautiful pink building, seemingly transplanted straight from New Orleans! Beijing's favorite Italian restaurant, Annie's, can also be found here. For new interpretations on Chinese classics give the cozy Andie Anniang a try. If you prefer to watch the Olympic action from a pub stool the Goose ‘n’Duck Pub, can’t be beat.

San Li Tun

It starts at Alameda the swank Brazilian restaurant that has won restaurant of the year on several occasions. With a delicious fixed menu and a wonderful wine selection to go with it, you can't go wrong. The cozy cafe in The Bookworm, offers delicious dining and excellent atmosphere for conversataion. Down the street from there you will find the intimate Golden Elephant, which serves well-prepared Indian and Thai food. If you want old school pub grub in a comfortable spot with booths and the occasional Hawaiian Theme night, try Brown’s, out for size. For something more sophisticated try the award winning Morel's where you can get some of the best Belgian food and beer in town. If you are looking for upscale Thai cuisine try Purple Haze, the much talked about restaurant and bar that has received honorable mention from several different Beijing city guides . A late night pizza carving will meet its match at the Kro’s Nest. Any place on San Li Tun Bar Street is good for a drink, but for those who want more ambience with their beer, Havana Cafe is alive with Cuban rhythms and beats. Q Bar, the bar sporting Beijing's best cocktails, can also be found here. With so much to choose from picking the perfect drink is a difficult task so don't limit yourself to one.

Jian Guo Men Wai and Ri Tan

From fast food to fine dining, this area has it all. Naturally, you will find the standard Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Starbucks franchises. For those who want more variety, Mexican Wave, an expat favorite, serves decent Tex-Mex. For Chinese food at affordable prices and in a romantic courtyard atmosphere, the Xi He Ya Ju Restaurant near Ri Tan Park is an excellent choice. Also located near the park is the fabulous Schindler's Tankstelle, a which serves delicious cold beers and tasty German food you won't get anywhere else. If you are craving wood-fired pizza, then Adria is the spot to provide that Italian fix.

Northeast Third Ring Road

This area is renowned for its plentiful restaurants. The place to go for authentic Thai food in an elegant, modern setting is Red Basil. For those who crave Thai but are on a budget, the Asian Star is a good bet. You can also sample a variety of Chinese, Indian and Malaysian dishes here. As a longstanding city favorite, San Si Lang offers Japanese dishes and fresh sushi at very reasonable prices. For American food with hearty servings, the Hard Rock Cafe and T.G.I.Fridays are hard to beat. For something out of the ordinary try Whale Inside for a meal in the dark!

Dong Cheng District

With many different styles of restaurants from east to west, this part of town is yet another of Beijing's culinary treasures. For classic and delicious Chinese fare order yourself a hot pot at Ding Ding Xiang. Their sesame sauce will be hard to forget. Looking for a place to take a date? Head over to the famed Court Yard Restaurant, for exotic cuisine and romantic ambiance. Rain Club offers fresh cuisine straight from their own garden made to order while Waiting for Godot is a cafe and meeting ground only possible in Beijing. For dinner accompanied by Beijing style live theater head to East in Red for a musical supper.

Xi Dan and Xuan Wu

For Beijing Duck, you cannot go wrong at any one of the Quan Ju De Roast Duck Restaurant branches in the city. But for sheer opulence, try the flagship branch on Qian Men Avenue. For a total tea experience accompanied by healthy organic food try out Geng Xiang Shi Fu. Jin Yang Restaurant offers a unique dining experience as the restaurant is over 100 years old, an elegant rarity in Beijing.

Hai Dian District

To fit the student budget, there are many cheap "hole-in-the-wall" style establishments that serve some of the best Chinese food in town. Wu Dao Kou, known as Korea Town, has many small, authentic Korean restaurants catering to the large, Korean student population. If you want to eat like the locals and love Korean barbecue, Han Na Shan is an absolute must. For those seeking an exciting and non-traditionalist dining affair, a trip to Blu Lobster is in order. The cook's innovative style will have you eating combinations you have never tried before including hot rice with cold ice cream. Vegetarians can eat to their hearts content at Buddhist-run Still Thoughts. To try unique regional cuisine from Shandong head to Feng Ze Yuan Fanzhuang. For an extra treat reserve one of their 17 private rooms for a party.

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