With a meal to suit every purse and every palate, Beijing is indeed an epicurean’s delight. From the distinctive cuisines of the various provinces of China to the traditional Beijing specialities of roast duck, hot pot, and imperial cuisine, Beijing’s restaurants cover the entire gamut of world cuisines.

Beijing is a gourmet's delight, with restaurants offering great food to suit all tastes and all budgets!

[read more]

In our Beijing restaurant guide below you will find information about great places for eating out in Beijing, the perfect end to a day of shopping. Relax and experience the exotic food & cuisine of China.

Food & Cuisine in Beijing

Chinese cuisine includes many renowned provincial cuisines like Sichuan, Canton, Fujian, Hunan and so on. With a continuous influx of people from the provinces to Beijing, there emerged restaurants that began serving these provincial cuisines. At the same time, with a rise in the number of tourists and business visitors, restaurants also began serving a variety of international cuisines. If you are a vegetarian, then step into any of the numerous vegetarian restaurants of Beijing where the range is extensive.

It is believed that when you visit Beijing, there are two things you should not miss. One is to take a walk on the Great Wall while the other is to sample the typical Beijing roast duck. Beijing roast duck is a delicacy where the bird is stuffed with millet sticks and herbs and roasted slowly over an aromatic fire. You can choose the order in which you do these (a brisk walk on the Great Wall can whip up a great appetite for the roast duck), but you must do them!

Eateries spill out of every corner in China, especially Beijing. Food and eating is ingrained in the psyche of the Chinese and gastronomy is serious business here. Beijing may be a pale cousin of Shanghai, which is known for its pulsating restaurants and international mix of cuisines, but the capital is catching up soon and is adding its own unique trademark.

With the onset of Olympic fever, food is only getting better and going international. The eagerness to reap the economies of scale has led to a sudden surge of new eateries mushrooming all over the city. Unlike their older kin, these new eateries have innovative menus and cater to the international palate.

While in Beijing, tourists don’t have to walk too far to find an eatery. Sidewalk restaurants and small restaurants dish up local delicacies like Peking duck, fried pigs trotters, duck’s tongue and other regional specialities from China and Tibet all through the day. You can also find an interesting mix of international cuisine in Beijing, given that it is the capital city. Diners can choose from an array of cuisines like French, Thai, African and Indian.

Surprisingly Peking duck, which is the signature dish of Beijing, is overshadowed by other fare that is associated more with Shandong cuisine, which is also known as lucai. Shandong cuisine is largely wheat based and uses strong-flavoured vegetables like cabbage, kale and potato. The cooking technique is often the simple steaming, stewing and stir-frying. However, when they are combined with the strong flavours of garlic, soy sauce, and scallions, they emit mouth-watering smells and taste absolutely delicious.

Eating hours

Lunch hour is 11am–2pm and dinner is 5pm–8pm. The hours in hotels and private restaurants, though, are flexible. Expect packed eateries during the lunch hour.

Good Eating Places

Chao Yang district in the east and Dong Cheng district in central Beijing are considered the best. Yong An Li vegetable market is known for its interesting ambience of market and restaurants. Donghuamen night market, off Wangfuijing, is great for an authentic local spread.

Restaurants List

The Astor Grill

Succulent steaks, a long wine list and beautifully presented dishes in a swish atmosphere.

Open daily for lunch Mon-Fri (12-2pm) and dinner (6-10pm).

Type : American

Address : 3/F St Regis Hotel Apartment, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District.

Phone : 64606688 ext 2637

Opening hours : 18:00 to to 22:00

Grandma's Kitchen

Snuggle up to a Yankee-sized platter of meatloaf and mashed potatoes, or enjoy sandwiches, burgers and shakes.

Type : American

Address : 11A Xiushui Nanjie, Jianguomenwai, chaoyang district.

Phone : 65032893

Opening hours : 08:00 to to 23:00

Quan Ju De

If you are looking for the most typical Beijing duck experience, this centenarian chain can't be beaten. Eating quacker of this reputation doesn't come cheap though, fowls are RMB 168 each.

Daily 11am-1.30pm and 1.45pm -8pm.

Type : Beijing Duck

Address : 32# Qianmen Dajie, Chongwen District

Phone : 65112418

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 20:00

Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant

Swanky duck eatery that does brisk business on prime real estate near Sanlitun, they also have a large selection of home style standards. Expensive, but good for visitors. Make a reservation.

Type : Beijing Duck

Address : Bldg 3, Tuanjiehu Beikou, East Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District

Phone : 65822892

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 22:00

Kosmo

Smoothies, great coffees, juices and decadent cookies all topped off with fabulous rooftop views of Houhai.

Type : Cafes and Teahouses

Address : 51-5 Dianmen XIdajie, In lotus Lane, Xicheng District

Phone : 66118234

Opening hours : 10:00 to to 01:00

Lao She Teahouse

Check out Lao She's Chinese vaudeville show while enjoying bottomless cups of tea and traditional snacks. Performances vary every night, so call ahead if you're keen to see acrobatics.

Type : Cafes and Teahouses

Address : Building 3, Qianmen Xidajie, Xuanwu District

Phone : 63036830

Opening hours : 09:00 to to 21:00

Be There Or Be Square Cafe

Popular restaurant serving Cantonese fare in a perpetually busy environment.

Open daily, 24 hours.

Type : Cantonese

Address : BB71 Oriental Plaza, Dongcheng District.

Phone : 85186518

Opening hours : 00:00 to to 23:00

Beijing Noble Dragon Restaurant

Cantonese diner straight out of Tsim Sha Tsui. Great cha shao roast pork, wonton soup and stir-fried rice noodles with beef.

Type : Cantonese

Address : 1A Jianguomenwai Dajie, Jinzhiqiao Building(East side of the Jiniglun Hotel),Chaoyang District.

Phone : 65958546

Opening hours : 07:00 to to 23:00

Kong Yiji

This well-known Houhai restaurant does brisk business with Zhejiang specialties including Zuixia (Drunken shrimp), dongporou (stewed pork) and huangjiu, a "yellow" rice wine reminiscent of sake that is far more palatable than baijiu (white wine).

Daily 10am-2pm, 4.30-10pm.

Type : Chinese

Address : 322 Dongsi Beidajie, Dongcheng District.

Phone : 64040507

Opening hours : 10:00 to to 22:00

Crab Apple House

Taking its name from the 100-year-old tree that stands in the centre of its beautifully converted courtyard, the Crab Apple House serves up a variety of regional cuisines including Imperial, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Hubei and Chaozhou, all in a truly relaxed and intimate setting.

Open daily 10.30am-10.30pm.

Type : Chinese

Address : 32 Xiheyan, Xuanwumen, Xuanwu District.

Phone : 8315 4678

Opening hours : 10:00 to to 22:00

Brasserie Flo

Owned by the powerful Flo Group, this French brasserie has become a bit of a Beijing institution. Fans hail the sun-soaked terrace, prompt service and classic fare like oysters imported from France, Alsatian choucroute and steak au poivre. Delivery available.

Open daily noon-3.30pm, 6pm-midnight.

Type : French

Address : 2/F Rainbow Plaza, 16 Dongsanhuan Lu(North of Changhong Qiao), Chaoyang District.

Phone : 65955135/139

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

Le Petit Paris

A bar street stapled with decent food at reasonable prices, especially sandwiches. The plant-filled outdoor patio is a beautiful place to sit in the warmer months.

Type : French

Address : 29 Sanlitun Lu(opposite the French School)Chaoyang District.

Phone : 6416 9381

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Dazhaimen Restaurant

Haidian's ‘official cuisine' restaurant features wait staff clad in traditional garb and a charming secluded garden courtyard.

Type : Imperial

Address : 15 Suzhou Jie(next to Ba Yi Middle School), Haidian District.

Phone : 6265 4186

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 22:00

Li Jia Cai

This exclusive restaurant is no longer tiny, as a large addition has raised its seating capacity to 100. Imperial-style food, with set meals priced per person. English menu available.

Type : Imperial

Address : 11 Yangfang Hutong, Deshengmennei Dajie, Xicheng District.

Phone : 6618 0107

Opening hours : 18:00 to to 22:00

Asian Star

Southeast Asian restaurant serves a mishmash of Indian, Thai, Singaporean and Malaysian cuisines.

Daily 11am-2.30pm, 5-10.30pm.

Type : Indian

Address : 26 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District.

Phone : 6582 5306

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 22:00

Danieli's

Elegant Italian restaurant located within the St Regis hotel. Arias echo throughout the tastefully decorated dining room, and the menu offers classic Italian fare including fresh pasta-though it all comes at a price.

Mon-Fri 11.30am-2pm, 6-10pm, Sat-Sun 6-10pm.

Type : Italian

Address : 2/F St Regis Hotel, 21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District.

Phone : 6460 6688 ext 2441

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 22:00

Green Tian Shi Vegetarian

Wangfujing outlet serving nothing that breathed through lungs or gills. No booze or meat here, but a variety of mock meat.

Type : Vegetarian

Address : 57-5 Dengshijou Dajie, Dongcheng District.

Phone : 6524 2349

Opening hours : 10:00 to to 22:00

Lotus in Moonlight

A large array of meatless and fish-less meat-like and fish-like dishes, made from tofu and related products. You can tell it's the real deal by the number of monks who dine here-though we're not sure how they manage the prices. A little hard to find, but worth the search.

Daily 11am-2pm, 5-9.30pm.

Type : Vegetarian

Address : 12 Liufang Nanli, Chaoyang District

Phone : 6465 3299

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 21:00

Miaoshan Vegetarian Restaurant

Endlessly enticing veggies including green versions of classic home-style dishes as well as unique creations like corn and ginko nuts braised with pumpkin. Bright flavours.

Daily 11am-2pm, 4.30-9.30pm.

Type : Vegetarian

Address : 76 Gulou Xidajie, Xicheng District.

Phone : 84045899

Middle 8th Restaurant

Comfortable and hip Yunnan restaurant. Try the Yunnan-style spare ribs and the Dragon beans.

Daily 11am-12.30am

Type : Yunnan

Address : Dongsanlitun Zhongba Lou, Chaoyang District.

Phone : 6413 0629

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 13:00

Restaurants in Beijing

Beijing is a gourmet's delight, with restaurants offering great food to suit all tastes and all budgets!

Food & Cuisine in Beijing

Eating hours

Good Eating Places

Restaurants List

The Astor Grill

Grandma's Kitchen

Quan Ju De

Beijing Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant

Kosmo

Lao She Teahouse

Be There Or Be Square Cafe

Beijing Noble Dragon Restaurant

Kong Yiji

Crab Apple House

Brasserie Flo

Le Petit Paris

Dazhaimen Restaurant

Li Jia Cai

Asian Star

Danieli's

Green Tian Shi Vegetarian

Lotus in Moonlight

Miaoshan Vegetarian Restaurant

Middle 8th Restaurant

Local time: 07:29:46 PM

Your Local Connection

Sinohotel Team

Accommodation From

Tours From