30 Best Restaurants to Take Visitors to in Beijing
Beijing is blessed with a fast-paced, diverse restaurant scene home to everything from high-end Western fine dining to authentic regional Chinese cuisine. However, this can make choosing a restaurant from one of the thousands available a daunting prospect. To help you out, the Beijinger has put together a list of the restaurants we consider essential eating on any visitor's Beijing itinerary, whether you are looking for a quick snack or a slap-up meal.
READ: The Beijinger's Top Five Peking Duck Restaurants
The restaurants are grouped by area and each is marked with the cuisine they serve, along with a rough indicator on how much a meal there will set you back.
Price guide
$ less than RMB 100 per head
$$ RMB 100-200 per head
$$$ RMB 300+ per head
The below list is an abridged version of the original article that appeared in our blogs section online. To access full list, click "Read more".
SANLITUN
Bottega
The food at Bottega serves as a reminder that there’s more to pizza than mounds of toppings and masses of cheese; a good quality base doesn’t need much more adornment. Bottega’s Salvo brothers should know a bit about dough – their family has been in the Naples pizza business since the 1920s. With a bustling dining room and reliable menu, Bottega is a great casual dining choice in the heart of Sanlitun.
Daily noon-3pm, 5.30-11pm. 18 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6416 1752)
朝阳区三里屯路18号
$$ // Pizza // Vegetarian options available // English menu
Hatsune
This time-tested stalwart has become a veritable institution in Beijing’s dining scene. Hatsune’s elegant decor and neo-Japanese fare have aged well in its 14-plus years of operation – expect a huge selection of mouth-watering California rolls, fresh sashimi, creative salads, and regular seasonal specials. Their branch in the Kerry Center is well-located for business travelers.
3/F, Taikoo Li Sanlitun South, Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District (6415 3939)
隐泉日本料理：朝阳区三里屯路太古里南区3层
$$ // Japanese // Vegetarian options available // English menu
In & Out
Not to be confused with the Californian burger chain, this Lijiang-themed restaurant staffed by various ethnic minorities of Yunnan decked out in their traditional costumes affords a great introduction to the cuisine of the southern Chinese province. The seasonally rotating menu boasts Dai minority favorites such as fried potato balls and rice with pineapple, along with a mish-mash of Naxi, Bai, and Wa minority staples including Xishuangbanna roast fish bundled with lemongrass, and rich, leathery Shangri-La dried beef. Don't miss the fried goat's cheese slices.
Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, 5.30-9.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-9.30pm. 1 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, Chaoyang District (6467 5235)
一坐一忘丽江主题餐厅：朝阳区三里屯北小街1号
$$ // Chinese, Yunnan // Vegetarian and vegan options available // English menu
JIANGUOMEN/CBD
Chuan Ban
This raucous, modestly decorated dining hall has been around for years but is still frequently cited as Beijing’s best Sichuan restaurant, partially thanks to being part of the Sichuan provincial government representative office. Sichuan cuisine is famous for its spicy, numbing flavors, which you will find in abundance in dishes such as mapo tofu (má pó dòufu 麻婆豆腐), kungpao frog (gōng bǎo niúwā 宫保牛蛙), and deep-fried chicken with chilies (làzǐ jī 辣子鸡).
Daily 10am-10pm. 5 Gongyuan Toutiao, Jianguomen Neidajie, Dongcheng District (6512 2277 ext 6101)
川办餐厅：东城区建国门内大街贡院头条5号
$$ // Chinese, Sichuan // Vegetarian options available
Najia Xiaoguan
Consistently well-executed imperial cuisine – specifically, Manchu cuisine – without the swanky atmosphere. Dishes here are quite novel, including ingredients such as venison that are not commonly seen in modern Chinese cooking. Be sure to try the crispy skinned prawns and the braised eggplant. Make a reservation or be prepared to wait, but the wait is worth it.
Daily 11.30am-9.30pm. 10 Yonganli, Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6567 3663)
那家小馆：朝阳区建国门外大街永安里10号
$$ // Chinese, Beijing // Vegetarian options available // English menu
LIANGMAQIAO
Baoyuan Dumplings
Head to Baoyuan in the Liangmaqiao area for a healthful rainbow of cheap dumplings, their dough dyed with vegetable and fruit such as spinach and carrot. Fillings are just as creative – kungpao chicken dumplings, anyone? – and there are plenty of vegetarian options packed with ingredients such as smoked tofu, celery, mushrooms, eggs, chives, cabbage, carrots, and cellophane noodles. The crispy rice and cabbage is a long-time favorite.
Daily 11am-2pm, 5-10pm. 6 Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang District (6586 4967)
宝源饺子屋：朝阳区麦子店街6号
$ // Chinese, Dumplings // Vegetarian and vegan options available // English menu
Cai Yi Xuan
The Chinese restaurant in the Four Seasons Beijing serves upgraded versions of traditional Cantonese dishes in a dramatically decorated space. Look out for dishes such as soy-braised pork belly with abalone and black truffle sauce and sautéed king prawns with black garlic and dried chili. The dim sum – similarly adorned with high-end ingredients such as truffle and lobster – is exemplary.
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-10.30pm. 2/F, Four Seasons Beijing, 48 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District (5695 8888)
采逸轩：朝阳区亮马桥路48号北京四季酒店2层
$$$ // Chinese, Cantonese // Vegetarian options available // English menu
Vin Vie
A true hidden gem (the restaurant is tucked away down an alleyway once you reach the address below), Vin Vie is an unpretentious izakaya serving Japanese dishes with a Western touch. Alongside a menu of excellent yakitori, you'll find dishes such as horse meat carpaccio, foie gras pate on toast, and beef tongue braised in red wine. There is an extensive and reasonably priced wine list, alongside sake, soju, and whiskey. The space is small and popular, so be sure to book in advance.
Daily 6pm-midnight. In the allweyway north of 8 Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang District (6508 5517)
万火：朝阳区麦子店街8号北侧平方
$$ // International, Japanese // English menu
FORBIDDEN CITY/JINGSHAN PARK
Beijing Pie
A bright and clean restaurant just west of the Forbidden City specializing in Beijing roubing – the eponymous “Beijing pie,” a wheat pancake stuffed with pork, beef, or vegetables – alongside other classic homestyle dishes such as kungpao chicken and stir-fried eggs with tomatoes. English menu and English-speaking staff make the dining experience smooth.
Daily 10am-10pm. 159-2 Beiheyan Dajie, Dongcheng District (6528 2187)
河沿肉饼：东城区北河沿大街159-2
$ // Chinese, Beijing // Vegetarian options available // English menu
Black Sesame Kitchen
A Beijing institution, Black Sesame Kitchen moved from their original spot on the eponymous Black Sesame Hutong in 2014, eventually relocating to a quiet hutong just east of Jingshan Park and the Forbidden City. They hold communal Chinese dinners every Tuesday and Friday night. The meal includes 10 courses, cooked in the open kitchen by their experienced chefs, as well as generous pours of two paired wines. Sample dishes include red-braised pork belly and kungpao shrimp.
By appointment only. 28 Zhonglao Hutong, Dongcheng District (136 9147 4408)
东城区中老胡同28号
$$$ // Chinese, pan-Chinese // Vegetarian and vegan options available // English menu
Capital M
There is nothing better after a long day of touring the Forbidden City than retiring to the terrace at Capital M for a sundowner overlooking Tiananmen Square. This long-running restaurant serves reliable international cuisine that boasts Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. In addition to cocktails and dinner, Capital M is open for weekend brunch and afternoon tea. Both of the latter are extremely popular, so you'll need to book in advance.
Daily 5-10pm, Sat-Sun brunch 11.30am-3pm, afternoon tea 3-5pm. 3/F, 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street, Xicheng District (6702 2727)
前门M餐厅：西城区前门步行街2号3层
$$$ // International // Vegetarian and vegan options available // English menu
DONGSI/BEIXINQIAO/LAMA TEMPLE
Da Dong
Da Dong might be best known for serving Beijing's leanest roast duck (you'll barely find any fat between the moist meat and shatteringly crisp skin) but the rest of its innovative modern Chinese cuisine is equally as noteworthy. The menu is full of high-end ingredients like lobster, foie gras, and sea cucumber, so best to save this one for a special occasion or when someone else is picking up the bill. There are several locations of Da Dong around town; we favor the Dongsishitao branch, one of the older locations, or the tuhao-chic branch at the east gate of the Workers' Stadium.
1-2/F, Nanxincang International Plaza, 22A Dongsi Shitiao, Dongcheng District (5169 0329)
大董烤鸭：东城区东四十条甲22号南新仓国际大厦1-2层
$$$ // Chinese, Peking duck // Vegetarian options available // English menu
Crescent Moon
A fixture in Beijing guidebooks for years, this Xinjiang restaurant is less rough-and-ready than some of its counterparts, despite its location down an anonymous hutong alleyway. Tuck into hearty portions of dishes such as chicken and potato stew alongside lamb kebabs, grilled naan bread, and homemade yogurt. Complement your meal with a Xinjiang beer.
Daily 11am-11.30pm. 16 Dongsi Liutiao, Dongcheng District (6400 5281)
弯弯月亮：东城区东四六条16号
$$ // Chinese, Xinjiang // Vegetarian options available // English menu
Hua's Restaurant
Set in a warren of restored courtyards just east of Beixinqiao subway station, Hua's Restaurant serves upgraded homestyle Beijing dishes. This is a good place to try Peking duck (which here comes with batons of hawthorn jelly alongside the traditional accompaniments), as well as other popular local dishes such as boiled crayfish. There are nightly music performances in the open-air courtyards in the summer months.
Daily 10.30am-4am. 235 Dongzhimen Neidajie, Dongcheng District (5128 3315)
花家怡园：东城区东直门内大街235号
$$ // Chinese, Beijing // Vegetarian options available // English menu
WANGFUJING
Haidilao
Hot pot chain Haidilao is as famous for its hospitality as it is for its spicy Sichuan hot pot. You'll be in for a long wait for a table, but you won't mind when you're getting your nails done or enjoying a fruit plate while you wait. Don’t forget to ask for the noodle show – an energetic waiter will pull noodles right at your table. There are more than 10 branches around town, including one south of Sanlitun, many of which are open 24 hours a day.
24 hours. 8/F, In88 Shopping Center, 88 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (5762 0741)
海底捞：东城区王府井大街In88百货8层
$$ // Chinese, hot pot // Vegetarian options available // English menu
Siji Minfu
For Peking duck in a fun "old Beijing" atmosphere, head to Siji Minfu. The duck is consistently good and much better value than some of Beijing's touristy "time-honored brands" (we're looking at you, Quanjude). This is also a good place to order other traditional Beijing dishes such as zhajiang noodles. There are several branches around town, of which our favorites are the raucous Dengshikou branch and the Forbidden City branch, which has views over the moat surrounding the palace. Note that none of the branches accept bookings for small groups so you may have to queue.
32 Dengshikou Xijie, Dongcheng District (6513 5141)
四季民福：东城区灯市口西街32号
$ // Chinese, Peking duck, Beijing // Vegetarian options available
Click "Read more" to access the full list.
Photos courtesy of the venues, Uni, Zeus, Sui, Joey Guo, Margaux Schreurs, Robynne Tindall
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