The best places to eat in Beijing

Exquisite Bocuse

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

Exquisite Bocuse (Jingcaixuan) is a Cantonese restaurant in Beijing’s CBD where you go not for culinary breakthroughs, but for impeccable service and the “right” atmosphere for meetings. The food is polished and reliable, yet rarely memorable — more…

Maison Flo

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

It’s out of the way and you need a taxi to get here. But when you see the vast patio and grand dining room styled after the archetypal Parisian brasserie circa 1900s, its suburban address will make sense instantly. On the menu, French classics take…

Shanghai Cuisine

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The cosy, understated space is done out in neutral greys with pops of teal green. The Shanghainese head chef and predominantly Shanghainese kitchen team reinterpret the classics, adding modern twists. Check out the seasonal offerings made with…

La Chansonnière

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

Formally trained as an engineer, the chef-owner opened this place in 2019 to pursue his passion for the culinary arts. The space, dominated by warm whites and neutrals, feels sleek and romantic. The menu offers much flexibility – French classics…

Tianchumiaoxiang Vegetarian (Chaoyang)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

After converting to veganism and going on to become a monk, the founder of this chain experienced improvements to his life. This inspired him to serve tasty vegetarian dishes eschewing eggs, alcohol and alliums in his restaurants. In the Kung Pao…

Yue Jie (Qi Yang Road)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

With stints in top establishments, the executive chef from Guangdong leads the kitchen team as it rolls out a lineup of Cantonese classics. Items like double-boiled soup and Cantonese barbecue need pre-ordering. Dried tangerine peel is a recurring…

Qian Li

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

Qian Li opened in a shopping mall in 2021 to serve various Taizhou dishes at wallet-friendly prices. Fresh seafood is shipped from Taizhou daily to ensure freshness and a good variety. The must-tries include yellow croaker and fish maw thick soup…

Rive Gauche

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

In this chic modern place inspired by Paris's Left Bank, Gallic techniques and recipes hold no secrets for the seasoned head chef from Hong Kong. Chinese influences are also apparent in the fermented tofu-flavoured butter served with the bread, and…

Bao Bao Hao

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

Dome awnings, faux stained glass and vintage photos conjure up the golden age of Xiguan, Guangzhou's former trading hub. Since 2000, the place has been jam-packed with diners coming for its famous sizzling claypot dishes. All ingredients are seared…

Bao Yuan

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

Popular among locals and foreigners alike, this shop has been serving dumplings and Sichuanese food for over 30 years. The colourful dumpling skin is made with natural fruit and vegetable juices, and there are tens of different fillings to choose…

Qiantang Garden (Shuangyushu North Road)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The owner opened this joint in early 2000s to serve signature dishes from his hometown of Ningbo, especially seafood – his close connections with fishermen back home mean he gets the freshest catch shipped to him daily. Pick from the fish tank, or…

1949 - Duck de Chine

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

As you set foot in this courtyard house-turned-restaurant, it’s hard to miss the life-size terracotta soldiers, painted beams and red pillars . All of these decorative elements impart a majestic feel befitting its imperial speciality – Peking duck…

Xiang Lin Tian Xia

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The Chinese farmhouse style interior boasts an open kitchen, in which authentic Hunanese dishes are crafted using the freshest ingredients from the province. The steamed fish head covered in chopped chilli sauce from Xiangtan has a briny taste and…

Meng Du Hui

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

Run by a team from Anhui, this restaurant opened its doors in 2023. The two-storey architecture seamlessly melds classical Anhui style and modern touches. The kitchen team imports most ingredients from Anhui for maximum authenticity. The signature…

Ji Chuan

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The chef champions a novel Sichuan cuisine based heavily on Chongqing cooking. Expect an intense tingly numbness in the mouth from signatures such as mapo tofu with marbled beef or the appetiser of pickled chillies with peach kernels. To quench the…

Jingyi (Liulichang East Street)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

This small, obscure shop in an alley features an understated grey-brick façade and pared-down décor. The calligraphic menu is short but sweet, heavy on river fish and home-style cooking. Try their braised tofu with fish roe, or hot and sour young…

Ladychai

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The second-generation owner of this family-run shop still follows the original c. 1920 recipes. The establishment is packed at peak times, so expect to queue, serve yourself and share a table with strangers. Order the signature braised beef by the…

La Roba

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The owner has paid tribute to his ethnic roots by naming his restaurant, La Roba, after a subgroup of the Nuosu tribe in Yunnan. The exotic ethnic flair is manifest on every level from the decor and artwork to the waiters’ outfits and background…

In Love (Gongti East Road)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The modern room furnished in a faux-industrial style easily passes for a chic bistro; the menu sees Hunanese classics reimagined with eclectic input from Guangdong, Sichuan and the like. Steamed fish head with pickled chilli duo uses bighead carp…

Qu Lang Yuan

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

You'll find this chic and charmingly run sanctuary in an award-winning remodelled courtyard house amid a bustling neighbourhood. The architecture effortlessly blends history with modernism, encompassing motifs from the north and south. Its food is…

Jing Hua Lou

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

Via the grand entrance with a...

Char (South Sanlitun Road)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Steakhouse

After passing through a red neon tunnel, diners are greeted by a copper cow sculpture that sets the scene for a beef-focused feast against panoramic views of the bustling Sanlitun area. Larger steak cuts for sharing, such as David Blackmore’s…

Huai Xiang Guo Se

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The interior is inspired by classical Jiangnan gardens; the menu is designed to re-enact the timeless beauty of Huaiyang culture. To ensure authenticity, the kitchen team from Jiangsu source produce from their home province. The sautéed river…

Beef & Dumplings (Chaoyang)

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining

The name of this shop says it all! Its signature braised beef shin is slow cooked for over 10 hours in a soy marinade with over 10 spices, resulting in robust flavours and tender meat. Dumplings, such as the popular beef and carrot variety, are made…

Les Morilles

Beijing, Beijing Municipality · Casual Dining