Gertz
The latest cafe-bakery to take on Sanlitun has some serious cred: founders Frank Nielsen and Uffe Gertz have been making bread for 30 years in their native Denmark. The Beijing branch is the pair’s first in China but – going by the rye bread and delectable pastries – probably not the last. We’re not sayin’ fellow Taikoo Li cafe Baker & Spice should be worried or anything… but Gertz is pretty great, especially for those who can’t be bothered walking north 100 meters.
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Bracket
Gongti club meets coffee culture in this massive, Top 40-blaring cafe just west of Mix and Vics. So if you’ve ever thought, I could use a lovingly crafted latte, but I hate exposed brick, or I would love some single origin beans, but I detest hearing indie rock and light jazz, then you’re in luck. Also – is getting coffee before the club going to be a thing now?
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Kuma
Do you ever wish that you could hang out with your favorite WeChat stickers in real life? Would you like to enjoy an overpriced latte with them? Then Kuma Café is for you. The store-and-cafe dedicated to Japanese mascot Kumamon features more photo ops than any sane person would have time for – but if there’s one thing this cafe and purveyor of RMB100 Kumamon phone cases proves, it’s that we, as a society, have all gone raving mad. Enjoy taking a photo of your Kumamon cake – because that’s pretty much all it’s good for.
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Cravings
Cravings is both family-friendly and hip. Its lemon-yellow walls feature street-art-style paintings by local artists and designers. Its menu offers sophisticated sharing plates, kid-friendly nibbles, and a robust list of beer and wine. And during the day, Cravings transforms into a haven for brunchers, with reasonably-priced, creative brunch plates. To put it simply, Cravings makes good, shareable plates with Western and Asian flourishes.
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Maeda Coffee
Located on the second floor of Caochang, a hip building and courtyard opposite the US Embassy on Tianze Lu, Maeda’s Beijing branch is low-key cool. Maeda also roast, grind and brew fresh coffee on site. There’s a lot to consider here: original blend coffee (RMB58-98), Dutch coffee (RMB88), cinnamon milk tea (RMB68) and even soda floats (RMB58), all of which share little in common other than the fact they all cost over 50 kuai.
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Bodensee
Beijing is drowning in German restaurants – overpriced bratwurst platters are almost as ubiquitous as brick piles in the hutongs. But Bodensee Kitchen ups the game with a menu full of flavorful options, all worth their price. Located on the second floor above Maizidian’s South German Bakery, its warm, wooden space features cutesy kitsch and German-speaking staff at all hours.
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Transit
Transit has reemerged after a painfully long hiatus – a hibernation that left Beijingers woefully lacking a restaurant that could pair wine with koushuiji. If you’ve never been to Transit, you ought to go. If you simply haven’t been in a while, it’s time get reacquainted. But first, a rundown, because the gist remains the same: Transit serves modern, elegant takes on traditional Sichuanese dishes. Also, drinks. Really good drinks.
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Scandal
New Sanlitun bar Scandal is a bit of a misnomer. It’s less political thriller, more tropical funk fest – perhaps the biggest scandal is that it’s not another speakeasy (the reigning Beijing bar trend). At the time of our visit, cocktails number over a dozen and sell for considerably more (RMB80-90). Named simply for their dominant flavor (‘Pomegranate,’ ‘Almond’), each one is daring and complex. Basically, order to your taste, and you won’t be let down.
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Wonderwall
Wonderwall is an Oasis (get it?) in the constant shifting scene of hutong bars. It’s easy to pass, with a glowing sign that looks more like an advertisement than entrance, but the cocktails are nice – and tiny. Our Wonderwall (vodka, strawberry, lemon and pineapple) and Champagne Supernova (sparkling rosé with popping candy) are RMB100 each, so if you want to save, grab a beer (RMB35).
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