Beijing's Best Restaurants to Impress, Whatever the Occasion
As Beijingers, we eat out a lot but there are some occasions when your regular haunts just won't cut it. Maybe it's your anniversary or maybe you've got clients in town but one thing's for sure: you need to impress.
Of course, you can go to any high-end restaurant and drop a chunk of change to impress someone but for this blog, we have endeavored to find places that are unique, not just fancy, and won’t require you to take out a bank loan in order to afford them.
Perfect for… a meeting with clients: Migas Mercado
What better way to impress those important clients than with a sweeping view of Beijing's most iconic building? Migas Mercado offers just that, in a convenient location in the heart of the CBD, alongside a menu of modern Spanish cuisine and tasty cocktails (if you're looking to entertain with drinks, too). The set lunch menu is particularly business friendly and is easy on the corporate credit card at RMB 118 for two courses. Picking a restaurant that is formal but not too formal to entertain clients can be a challenge but Migas Mercado strikes a good balance (the background music isn't too loud either, a pet peeve of ours).
Daily 11.30am-late. 7/F, China World Mall North Zone, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District (6500 7579)
朝阳区建国门外大街1号国贸商城北区7层
Perfect for… a first date: Hulu
It can be hard to figure out how formal to go on a first date but luckily Hulu hits right in the middle, with sharable food with a few fancy twists here and there and staff that are attentive but don’t hover awkwardly. Our only caveat would be that the lighting is perhaps a touch too bright to be date friendly but the recently re-opened terrace could be a great alternative.
Daily 11am-11pm. S4-32, 3/F, Taikooli, Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6512 5701)
朝阳区三里屯路太古里南区3层S4-32
Perfect for… an anniversary: TRB Forbidden City
Its location alone would be enough to make TRB Forbidden City an impressive venue but like all of the TRB group’s ventures the food, service, and wine list are all exceptional too, adding up to one of Beijing's finest dining spots. It’s not cheap (quality usually isn’t) but the set lunch and brunch menus offer good value. If you book ahead and mention it’s a special occasion they will often go out of their way to do something special for you, too.
Lunch Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, brunch Sat-Sun 11.30am-3pm, dinner 5.30-10pm. 95 Donghuamen Dajie, Dongcheng District (6401 6676)
东城区东华门大街95好
Perfect for… impressing on a budget: Haidilao
Old Beijing hands will probably roll their eyes at this one but there is just something impressive about the scale and slickness of the Haidilao operation that never fails to impress, particularly if you’re new to China. On top of that, you can order to your heart’s content and rarely come away spending much more than RMB 150 (not to mention getting a free dance show if you order the noodles). All of the more than 30 stores in Beijing are equally competent but we have a soft spot for the Wangfujing branch.
9am-7am. 3/F, In88 Shopping Center, 88 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (5762 0741)
海底捞：东城区王府井大街王府井银泰In88 3层
Perfect for… newbies or visitors: Hua’s Restaurant
Hua’s flagship location near Beixinqiao is like a checklist for visitors: Peking duck? Check. Cute hutong courtyard location? Check. Traditional music in the background? Check. Their duck isn’t necessarily the best in town but it is a competent rendition (served with batons of hawthorn jelly alongside the traditional accompaniments) and sits on a menu packed with other popular local dishes such as boiled crayfish.
Daily 10.30am-4am. 235 Dongzhimen Neidajie, Dongcheng District (5128 3315)
花家怡园：东城区东直门内大街235号
Perfect for… impressing vegetarian diners: Blossom Vegetarian
With its tome-like menu, Blossom Vegetarian will have your guests redefining their expectations of vegetarian cuisine. Not every dish here is successful, particularly the ones featuring mock meat (although that in itself can be impressive for a first-time diner - the smoked salmon in that picture above is anything but, for example), but those that are, such as the tofu with toon sprouts or braised chestnuts with lion's head mushrooms, really knock it out of the park. The upscale decor is a nice touch, too.
Daily 11am-9pm. 144 Dongzhimen Neidajie, Dongcheng District (6401 2228)
东城区东直门内大街144号
READ: Beijing's Best Restaurants for Visitors and Tourists
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Photos: Pixabay, Migas Mercado, Robynne Tindall, Wikimedia, TRB, Ken Liu, Dazhong Dianping
