A roundup of all the latest bar and restaurant openings in Beijing.
Mplus Coffice
Coffice: It’s a portmanteau of ‘coffee’ and ‘office.’ Horrifying, we know. While we award its name no points, the cafe itself fares significantly better – chic ambiance, cute primary-school-style desks, obligatory single-origin beans. Plus there’s a co-working space next door, so at least the name is appropriate. No f*cking clue what Mplus is, though.
See a listing for Mplus Coffice
Simply Fresh
Simply Fresh is the latest joint in a Beijing mall to hawk its chef’s ex-Michelin credentials. What exactly was the chef doing in his previous Michelin restaurant? We do not know. What we do know is that Simply Fresh is a simply good lunch option in Guomao, where imported Italian ingredients come without the imported Italian prices.
See a listing for Simply Fresh
Afandi
Afandi, whose alarming slogan is ‘MUSLIMDELICIOUS,’ is the best restaurant on Gui Jie. If that sounds like a bold proclamation, consider the following: Gui Jie is sh*t, and that makes Afandi more like a five out of 10 in the scheme of things. But we might be willing to slide that up to a six on weekends, when a belly dancer performs for uncomfortable table guests. Is it gaudy? Absolutely. But there are worse places to eat chuanr.
See a listing for Afandi
Baker & Spice
Baker & Spice (AKA the more mature version of Wagas – they’re owned by the same people) keeps things classy at its second location in Taikoo Li North. In fact, the new spot is so similar to the first one in Liangmaqiao, it even has the same neighbor, Starbucks. Think open-plan interior, baked goods and sandwiches, good coffee and bottles of wine. Yes, please.
See a listing for Baker & Spice
Jing-A Brewpub
There is a lot to like about Jing-A's new brewpub: it is damn big, with dining tables in the front, a taproom in the middle and a bar near the back. There’s even hallway seating, because why the hell not? Essentially, the brewpub takes all the good stuff from the original taproom – delicious beer, red bricks – and adds a heap of other great stuff, like Texas-style barbecue, room to move and double the number of bathrooms. But if you’re not into beer, there’s whisky, rum, wine and even cocktails on tap (RMB50, including mixes by Mao Mao Chong and the Tiki Bungalow). On the food side there is barbecue meat (RMB70-400), BBQ brisket sandwich (RMB70), mac’n’ cheese (RMB40), crispy Brussels sprouts (RMB30) and so much more.
See a listing for Jing-A Brewpub and read our full review here
Chaplin Bar & Kitchen
You may know Charlie Chaplin Bar, Sanlitun, or Charlie Chaplin Bar, Chunxiu Lu, but have you heard of their little bro Chaplin Bar & Kitchen, Shilipu? Chaplin Empire’s latest opening is something you never knew you wanted or needed: a place that serves up Charlie Chaplin Bar’s stellar cocktails alongside full-on meals. The food is mostly good, but skip the snacks and go straight for the ‘classic American combo’ meals. Presented on silver dining trays, the combo meals include a main, appetizer, salad, bread, and beer or wine. They’re a delight – the New York-style burger, especially – and the sets are a steal at RMB125-145.
See a listing for Chaplin Bar & Kitchen and read our full review here
Teddy Bear Theme Restaurant
3.3 Mall's newest oddity is Teddy Bear Theme Restaurant. Despite being named after the children’s toy (that itself was named after former US president Teddy Roosevelt, after he refused to kill a bear caught during a hunt), the restaurant has a pretty loose definition of ‘teddy bear’ – literally hundreds of soft toys, not limited to the Ursidae family, line the walls of the restaurant’s three ginormous dining spaces. Apart from a somewhat random page dedicated to Korean cuisine, the menu offers generic Western grub: pizza, steak and sandwiches.
See a listing for Teddy Bear Theme Restaurant and read our full review here
Boiling Pot
Boiling Pot does so much for the humble crayfish by serving it in its most perfect form: a New Orleans-style boil. Crayfish aside, you can basically go to town on crustaceans here. There are clams, shrimp, lobster and crab by the pound. But be warned: the premium seafoods (like our King crab legs) come at premium prices. After picking your favorite creature, you can choose the spice level and the sauce. You can also add vegetables – it’s like hot pot, but in a bag.
See a listing for Boiling Pot
Wulixiang
Shanghainese food is one of the greats, and it is equally rich in both nutrients and history – but long story short, its flavors can take some getting used to. Where do you begin? You begin at Wulixiang. The Shanghainese restaurant is fit for both China gastronomy nerds and the freshest of the fresh off the boat. The eight-treasure duck (RMB480) is delicious – deboned, cooked three times, stuffed with all manner of sweets and savories. Their red braised pork (RMB108) glistens. But our favorite is the perfect scallion oil noodles (RMB28), the best dish we had in Beijing all month.
See a listing for Wulixiang
0 User Comments