The diverse cuisines of China’s many provinces all find representation in the city’s capital, making eating in Beijing a culinary delight. Plus the burgeoning nightlife scene means there are plenty of cool bars and clubs for any thirsty tourists.
Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant
Peking duck is Beijing's signature dish, and this popular establishment, which overlooks a row of 600 year-old former Ming Dynasty grain warehouses, is one of the best places to taste the city's namesake poultry.
(Building 1-2 Nanxincang Guoji Dasha A22, Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng District, phone 010 5169 0329)
Lining the moat overlooking the
Forbidden City, The Courtyard offers continental cuisine fused with Asian flavours. It's a stylish fine-dining restaurant occupying an historic building that once belonged to the imperial court of the Qing Dynasty. (95 Donghuamen Da Jie, Dongcheng District, phone 010 6526 8883)
Home-style cooking in an impressive, traditional courtyard setting. Private rooms abound, but a table in the central section of the restaurant means a view of the nightly folk performance. The house specialty is scrumptious
baicai (white cabbage). (235 Dongzhimennei Dajie, Dongcheng District, phone 010 6405 1908)
Golden Peacock
Golden Peacock serves some of the city's most authentic Dai food, Dai being the minority people of the Chinese province Yunnan. Be sure to try the fish with lemon grass, glass noodles, bamboo shoots, fried banana and pineapple rice served in a whole, hollowed out pineapple. Located in a district featuring a wide range of ethnic minority restaurants. (16 Minzu Daxue Beilu, Weigongcun, Haidian District, phone 010 6893 2030)
There's nothing more social than hot pot: pile up the table with plates of meat, veggies and tofu, then you and your friends can start throwing them into the bubbling broth (if you dare, make it spicy as the Sichuanese like it). Request the noodle show and the waiter will start tossing around the food like it was a dance partner. (Several locations,
www.haidilao.com
Drum and Gong
Fronting the trendy Nanluogu Xiang old
hutong (street), this inexpensive fusion restaurant serves excellent spicy Sichuan fare from China's southwest. In summer the rooftop is mega-popular and the ambience of old courtyard buildings and the clacking of chopsticks make it a top spot. (102 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District, phone 010 8402 4729)
Stone Boat Café
In a spot where once the emperors prayed to the sun gods, today Ritan Park is home to one of Beijing's most picturesque cafés. Perched on a lake in the park's southwestern corner, the Stone Boat Café features simple décor and hip music — perfect for an afternoon tipple. (South West Corner, Ritan Park, Chaoyang District, phone 010 6501 9986)
Vics
This longstanding clubbing establishment has all the hallmarks of a Chinese favourite: gaudy, flashy superclub-style interiors, DJs spinning R&B, hip-hop, pop, and tables that require a minimum one bottle of whiskey purchase. Regulars of this club also like to head to nearby Mix, so much so that they're often called "Vics & Mix". If you want a taste of clubbing Chinese style, this is where you go. (Inside the north gate of the Workers' Stadium, Chaoyang District, phone 010 5293 0333)
Located to a new home inside a century-old former government building, Yugong Yishan is one of Beijing's coolest live music venues, with regular performances from a variety of Chinese and foreign acts.
(2 Zhang Zizhong Lu, Dongcheng District, phone 010 6404 2711)
This popular lounge and cocktail bar, with its chic interior, and a roof-top terrace has quickly risen as one of Beijing’s hippest hangouts. Local DJ’s spin house and nu-jazz tunes. (Top floor of Eastern Inn Hotel, 6 Baijiazhuang Lu, Chaoyang District, phone 010 6595 9239).
In Beijing's ever-changing nightlife scene, Suzie Wong's has remained perennially popular for years. With its 1930s Shanghai Art Deco inspired interior, it's a good place to spot the city's beautiful people. (1A Nongzhanguan Li, Chaoyang District, phone 010 6500 3377)
With gorgeous views of the cityscape Xiu’s fusion of traditional Chinese architecture with contemporary design sees it widely lauded as Beijing’s best looking bar. Features live Jazz and Pop bands. (Park Hyatt, Jianguomenwai Da Jie, Chaoyang District, phone 010 8567 1108)
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