Related stories

About Hotpot in Beijing About Regional Chinese Cuisines in Beijing Shanghai Dining Experience in the Heart of Beijing About Western Cuisines in Beijing Millennium Residences: Rising Star in Serviced Apartments in Beijing

About Teahouses, Cafes & Bars in Beijing

Just like the capital’s culture, Beijing cuisine has absorbed and been influenced by many of the flavours of China’s regions.

Chinese cuisine in general has the four distinct regional cooking styles of Sichuan (Chuan) to the West, Canton (Cantonese) to the South, Shangdong (Lu) to the East  and Jiangsu (Huaiyang) to the North and the cuisine of Beijing brings together these contrasting styles.

In Beijing you can find menus from around the world including Spanish, French and Italian restaurants that are well-established, and Japanese, Indian and Thai outlets, that are also very popular with local Beijingers.

About Teahouses, Cafes & Bars in Beijing

Tea is integral to contemporary Chinese society and a mainstay of economic and culturally activity that has not waned since the days of old Beijing. In those days, teahouses were the centre of social activity and populated with the guns and chatter of every walk of life where noblemen, imperial officials, touts and peddlers chose their tea carefully and caught up on the day.  Modern teahouses in China still have the same function but not quite so much bustle, having adopted some of the aspects of peace and contemplation associated with Japanese tea culture.

Cafes and bars provide the alternative. Apart from Starbucks, most cafes have tea and simple meals. Naturally, bars are central to Beijing’s nightlife. Large bars have performances each night and the main bar areas are in Sanlitun (nr the Worker’s Stadium), Houhai, Shichahai, Chaoyang Park and the university area in the Haidian District.

Tips

• Restaurants in Beijing usually do not require tips or a service charge. Some expensive restaurants will charge 15% service.
• Opening times usually 11am-2pm and 5pm-10pm
• Menus written in Chinese, so be warned: bring a friendly translator!!
• Do not worry about getting the chopsticks right first time: practice not perfection!!
• Do observe some of the taboos associated with eating in China.