There are so many new bars and restaurants opening up in Beijing every month that sometimes even we find it difficult to keep up. Need a refresher? Here's a roundup of all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our August 2016 issue.
Restaurants
Long Xiao Bao
We’ve had many, varied noodle soups in Beijing. And still, Long Xiao Bao adds something new to the pot. Long Xiao Bao takes China’s most aggressive gastronomic tradition and fits it into aesthetically pleasing wooden bowls, pairing its broth with mild, rubbery rice noodles. Visitors to the shop can select dry or soup noodles (RMB19-39), and then choose additional toppings. We love the soft egg dumpling (an additional RMB5) atop ours. And we strongly recommend adding extra scallions, which serve as delightful oases of cooling flavor.
Read our full review here. See a listing for Long Xiao Bao.
Yi Jia Ren
As far as hot pot restaurants go, Yi Jia Ren is a welcome change of pace – at least from the chaos and subsequent gastrointestinal issues that is the Haidilao hot pot experience. Or the Gui Jie hot pot experience, for that matter. Put simply, few hot pot spots exude the hospitality and comfort of Yi Jia Ren. It is a great place to go if you want to boil your own meat without the clamor or confusion.
Read our full review here. See a listing for Yi Jia Ren.
Dog House
If being “in the dog house” is an English-language idiom that roughly equates to “you’re in trouble,” then what does “the Dog House is in Beijing” mean? It means hot dogs. The Shanghai chain’s first Beijing shop serves novelty dogs such as the Sichuan Dog (RMB45, topped with crispy pepper flakes) and the Philly Dog (RMB45, smothered in Philly cheese steak cheese). Both delicious.
See a listing for Dog House.
Artemis
Sanlitun is hip cafe central. But Artemis takes hip to new heights with its cafe-within-a-design shop concept. The Taikooli store sells arty objects and designer notepads alongside pastries, drinks and a really rad raspberry and mint ice tea (RMB28). Snack prices are low, but we dare you to buy only edibles.
See a listing for Artemis.
Charlie Chaplin 2
Charlie Chaplin has opened a second location a 15-minute walk from its first. This one screams faux-prohibition era speakeasy just as much as the first (velvet chairs everywhere) – but adds one crucial thing: a lengthy menu. The decor borders on cheesy, but we don’t mind when the drinks are this good. We love the house special Charlie Chaplin and the Rose Old Fashioned (both RMB80).
See a listing for Charlie Chaplin 2.
Dubujib
The Grand Summit is shaping up to be a veritable cornucopia of quality, good-value eats. The latest is Dubujib – and no, we can’t pronounce the name either. Crowds form daily at lunch for its biggest seller – a gently spicy seafood-and-tofu soup – but also for its hot bowls of bibimbap and perfectly cooked beef bulgogi. It’s a quick lunch spot, sure – but that doesn’t mean it’s low quality. Expect to fill up your belly for under RMB100.
See a listing for Dubujib.
Café FLO
Café FLO isn’t a grab-and-go sandwich joint (although you can take away yogurts and pastries at the shop counter); nor is it a stuffy dinnertime affair. It’s quality, hearty French food and swift service, but in relaxing, charming environs. It’s also a place with a lot of wine. Nothing makes more sense in Beijing’s pleasure capital, Sanlitun.
Read our full review here. See a listing for Café FLO.
The Woods Café
The cafe is newly opened, and also quite literally open, with an inviting deli counter facing the public thoroughfare and tables set on an exposed island in the middle of the ground floor. The set-up is welcoming and is particularly great for busy shoppers and businesspeople. Meanwhile, the menu is simple and well-executed (salads and sandwiches), with a twist. The ‘signature sandwiches’ are served on homemade ‘Dutch crunch’ bread. We love The Californian (RMB45), filled with tender chicken and soft mango chunks, and complemented by homemade smoky Jack Daniels BBQ sauce.
Read our full review here. See a listing for The Woods Café.
Ke Cong He Chu Lai
There is an epidemic in Beijing – hell, in China; hell, in the world – of services created specifically for their social media shareability. People love taking photos of pretty things, and restaurants love when those people share their photos online. Ke Cong is very worthy of your photographs. All this sleek design, ultimately, is why we dub Ke Cong a Place Worth Checking Out. It is also why the food comes as a second thought.
Read our full review here. See a listing for Ke Cong He Chu Lai.
Bars
No.9 Beer
No.9 Beer is that kid at school who hits puberty early and develops long, uncoordinated limbs: It’s so big that it doesn’t know what to do with itself. And this gargantuan new beer fortress is, simultaneously, another playground pariah: the kid who tries too hard.
Read our full review here. See a listing for No.9 Beer.
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