A.T. Café
4# JiuXian QiaoLu, in 798 Art District, BeijingThe Cedar Tavern of Factory 798, where everyone who is anyone runs into someone they know.
Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant
Bldg3, TuanJieHu BeiKou, DongSanHuan, SE corner of ChangHong Qiao, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6582.2892The gold standard in Peking Duck, featuring a special set of seasonings.
Bellagio
35# XiaoYunLu, ChaoYang District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.84519988
www.bellagiocafe.com.cnTurns effortlessly from white-collar weekday lunch spot to Sunday brunch hangout to post-clubbing oasis, serving a menu of Taiwanese dishes and sweets.
Daijiacun (Dai Village) Restaurant
13 Tiyuguan Lu, Chongwen District, Beijing Tel: 010 6594 2454
www.daijiacun.com
DingDing Xiang Hot Pot
1/F 14#DongZhongJie, DongZhiMen WaiDaJie, DongCheng District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6417.2546
www.dingdingxiang.com.cnInstant-boil mutton has never tasted so good.
Green T. House
6# GongTi XiLu, ChaoYang District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6552.8310
E-mail: reservations@green-t-house.com www.greenteahouse.com.cnHigh design pervades this fusion favorite, from the tall chairs to the rose petals surrounding the excellent sesame beef.
KaoRou Ji
14# QianHai DongYan, XiCheng District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6404.2554
www.jdht.com.cn/shownews.asp ?newsid=569 Halal standard at the narrowest point of Houhai lake.
LongShun Yuan MaLa XiangGuo
1# HeYing ZhongJie Dong, Beijing Tel: +86.10.6473.3483Aernout Mik loves this subspecies of Sichuan hotpot, in which the ingredients (frog, eel, beef, lamb) are tossed with a mix of trance inducing herbs and spices.
A very local and cheap resto, super spicy.
Made In China
1/F Grant Hyatt Hotel, 1A Dong ChangAnJie, DongCheng District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6510.9608
beijing.grand.hyatt.com/hyatt/ hotels/ entertainment/ restaurants/ index.jsp Refined twists on the standard northern Chinese repertoire, with fantastic duck and lobster dishes.
South Beauty
2/F China World, West building, ChaoYang District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6505.0809
www.qiaojiangnan.comNew spins on the Sichuan classics amidst China-chic decor; try the cumin fish.
To Where (Qu Na’r)
16# DongSanHuan BeiLu, ChaoYang District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6508.1597Called just “the cafeteria” by the inner circle of artist and owner Ai Weiwei, and serving the refined southern cuisine of his native Zhejiang.
Xu Xiang Zhai Vegetarian Restaurant
26# GuoZiJian DaJie, DongCheng District, Beijing Tel: +86.10.6404.6568Vegetables that look and taste like meat on a quiet street near the Lama Temple.
YueLu ShanWu
51-10 DiAnMen XiDaJie, in Lotus Lane, XiCheng District, Beijing Tel: 86.10.6617.2696Spicy Hunan classics on the west bank of Beijing’s Houhai lake. By artist Fang Lijun.