Dig Into Beijing's Top Bar and Restaurant Openings, Jan-Feb

It's not every day that a new restaurant gets the majority of Beijing's foodie community talking, but Rive Gauche, the French-styled all-day dining restaurant at The Puxuan, seemed to have pulled off that rare feat when it opened in January. It bills itself as a bistro but don't go expecting casual dining. The staff is knowledgeable and approachable, and you will also frequently see executive chef Ivan Miguez, who most recently worked as executive sous chef at three Michelin-starred Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet in Shanghai, roaming the dining room chatting with diners. The beef short ribs (pictured above) are cooked for eight hours in a mixture of more than 20 spices (we detected chili and lemongrass, among others) before being carved tableside, and rightfully places it as one of the star dishes on an overall outstanding menu.

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Despite being trapped in the dining equivalent of purgatory in the basement of Taikooli North, Southeast Asian low-key street-style restaurant Kup Kup Kup does absolutely stellar work at transporting you south by the strength of its menu alone. Embracing its Asian food hall vibe, the simple, open, colorful cafeteria-style space gives little clue as to the caliber and authenticity of the food to come. The key lies in Kup Kup Kup's full embrace of all the aromatic, spicy, and occasionally pungent flavors of SE Asian cooking. Then there's the well-priced cocktail menu – a measly 38 kuai scores you a margarita, colada, sangria, or our favorite, the "Asian Jungle." Now that certainly doesn't sound like the Taikooli North we know.

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Pan-Southeast Asian restaurant Mulu heads the second wave of restaurants moving into WF Central. Although it has been open a few months already, it's only just getting its foothold thanks to its thick menu including dishes from across the ten ASEAN countries. Those include classics like Thai green papaya salad, Vietnamese pho, and Malaysian nasi lemak, among others. The interior design is slick and modern, and when coupled with the breadth of options available, positions Mulu as a good option for groups or the terminally indecisive and certainly adds a little spice to the dining line-up in WF Central.

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Sitting above the McDonald's on Maizidian, Gyu Tetsu could just as easily be called Japanese Castle of Meat. Part yakiniku Japanese barbecue restaurant, part izakaya, the ox that greets diners at the front door is a suitable indication of what's in store. And what's in store is meat. Lots and lots of it. The menu is bursting with expertly carved cuts of pink and marbled beef, more than enough to satisfy even the most bloodthirsty carnivore. We recommend you dive straight in with the eight-variety beef platter, just make sure none of your invitees are vegetarians or prepare to be stormed out on.

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The third and newest Southeast Asian eatery on this list is proof that Beijing is witnessing a veritable SE Asian explosion. Compared to the other newbies, Tease by CreatureS, an offshoot of popular Singaporean restaurant CreatureS, brings us fun-yet-upscale Singaporean dining just northwest of Dengshikou station. Overall, the concept has a clear focus on comforting, traditional dishes with a modern, Instagrammable twist to the presentation, whether that is rice dyed blue with butterfly pea flowers or a scattering of petals on the plate. Its stellar dessert menu, created by pastry chef Jacob Justus, also differentiates Tease from the competition and puts a finishing touch on the meal that wouldn't feel out of place in an international fine dining restaurant.

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Ask a foreigner if they want to go to a food court, and you're bound to get an eye roll and a groan of contempt. Yet trendier, tasty options are popping up in Beijing every day. Prime example: the newly opened Miam Miam, which brings eclectic offerings like Vietnamese rice noodles, Thai green chicken curry, pizzas, burgers, and more to Galleria Mall in Sanyuanqiao. It is also notable for its owners: Flo, the ever-expanding Beijing F&B empire behind Maison Flo, Café Flo, F Bistronome, etc. Overall, the wide array of options, along with inviting neon signs at each food counter and potted plants near the dining area, all make this upscale food court an easy option for a group with varied tastes.

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"What's next? Foie gras jianbing? Sous-vide stinky tofu?" These are the questions we asked ourself after stumbling into Xibei Super Chinese Hamburger near Gongti, specializing in fancy takes on the once dirt cheap way-of-Shaanxi roujiamo. However, this unabashed pimping of the beloved street snack is one we can get behind, swapping in the conventional stewed pork with some more offbeat fillings, including stir-fried pepper chicken, spicy veal, lamb, and an egg, tomato, and bacon combo. If you're going to put new twists on old Chinese favorites, this is the way to do it.

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Poke U?... Don't mind if I do! This new Guanghua Lu restaurant's goofy name sharply contrasts with its serious mission: to win over nearby office workers with tasty, healthy, and affordable food. Should you suspect that the 'healthy' angle is just a ploy, Poke U helpfully lists calorific and other nutritional info alongside the names of its Hawaiian-style bowls. Highlights of those mouthwatering options include the marinated salmon avocado, torched salmon and sirloin steak, chicken piccata, and Hawaiian tofu. Overall, Poke U must walk the fine line between price, quality, and portion size, but manages to pull it off in a way that will likely attract nearby workers looking for a less carby lunch.

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Located in the heart of the CBD, 18cm Champion Mountain looks like a set piece from Happy Days, thanks to its retro, bubblegum decor (including a pretty but completely nonfunctional jukebox), and a repertoire of old-fashioned American grub. On the food front, there is certainly room for improvement but there's little to scoff at when paying RMB 15 for an 18cm chili-topped dog – just do the centimeter to cost math for chrissakes!

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The Shenzhen import Hotties in Hopson One caused a small stir in Shuangjing for its value for money takes on another American classic: burgers. For a mere RMB 32, try the Hotties Smoked, which comes topped with chunky mushrooms and mouthwatering mozzarella, all wedged between a buttery and toasted bun. The atmosphere, meanwhile, has a Royal Stacks-meets-Cannon's combination of loud colors and throwback vibes, and the army of deliverymen dashing in and out indicates that Hotties is already doing (dare we say) hot business in the neighborhood.

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Great Leap Brewing opened their newest venue just before Christmas (yes, we know that was last year) and with it brought the area a reliable craft brew joint for late night hobnobbing over a pint or three. Their Lido branch is notable for its sleek design, at the center of which stands a 40-seat wraparound bar and large floor-to-ceiling windows. The food menu, which also includes their #45 venue's famed pizzas, has also seen an upgrade; of the new items the Reuben sandwich, though pricey, is a favorite and comes crammed with corned beef and Swiss cheese. The brunch menu has also recently expanded to include souped-up jianbings.

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Maizidian lounge Stir Cocktail Bar is chic, modern, and understated, making it a novel departure from its many on-the-nose retro and ostentatious competitors. You won't find bowties, antiques, jumbles of bottles, murky lighting, or other overwrought speakeasy trappings here – owner and cocktail vet Ji Shaoshan and his bartenders even don dark sports jackets and T-shirts for their shifts. The menu is equally refreshing given its reasonable price tags (RMB 70 and up), harking back to how things were more than a dozen years ago when Ji got his start at the long-gone The Stumble Inn in Sanlitun and the CBD's Twilight, one of Beijing's first professional cocktail bars.

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Can a cozy café-turned-almost-chain retain its charm, post-expansion? If said café is Big Small Coffee, then it's a wholehearted 'Yes.' In truly unexpected news for Dongchengers, who are so used to closure notices that they've forgotten how to express joy at all, Big Small opened their fourth location just off Beiluogu Xiang, coupling with Beijing-based craft brewers Crafters for a venue that is one part café, one part pub, and one part... playground?

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Farina Bakery may not look like much – it is an unassuming kiosk in Xingfucun's food court The Crib after all – but that initial impression belies the tasty cakes, cookies, and pastries that it serves. Best yet, it's not all bad for you! Take their "healthy snack" cookies, which are made with a creative combination of shredded carrots, a cereal mix comprised of rye, wheat, and barley, and a splash of maple syrup for sweetness, making Farina a welcome addition to Beijing's snack scene for gluttons and gym rats alike.

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Pricy, yes. Adorable, hugely so. Situated south of Dashilan, Zhaowu Xishi is a hidden café worth finding. Its Japanese-tea room style ambiance – think heated tatami flooring, natural light, and lots of potted plants – is the perfect setting for their remarkable desserts shaped like bunnies, hedgehogs, and objects from the natural world. The coconut and mango "Meng Meng" bunny (pictured above) was almost too cute to eat, and we spent a while just admiring it from various angles before diving in.

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