Alfresco Eats: Dining Outdoors in Beijing
As the flowers open and the weather warms, restaurants gradually open their patios, rooftops and gardens, and even put tables out on the street. Before the heat becomes overwhelming in the summer, May is the best time to dine outdoors at the numerous courtyard restaurants and lakeside venues around town. Thy these picks for the best outdoor dining options in Beijing.
Bocata
This smart little cafe’s patio, which overlooks Sanlitun Beilu, is a relaxing spot to enjoy the Spanish-style sandwiches and salads offered up on the menu. Chinese bank cards accepted.
Daily 10am-midnight. 33 Sanlitun Lu (opposite 3.3 Shopping Center), Chaoyang District. (6417 5291) 朝阳区三里屯路33号3.3大厦对面
Brasserie Flo
Don’t be thrown off by its proximity to the Third Ring Road. The terrace of this Beijing dining institution affords a nice view of the CBD skyline on a summer night – the perfect complement to its classical French fare.
Rainbow Plaza (Longbo Guangchang), 16 Dongsanhuan Lu (south of the Great Wall Sheraton), Chaoyang District. (6595 5135/9) 北京福楼餐厅. 朝阳区东三环北路16号隆博广场二层
Capital M
The terrace vantage facing Qianmen is one of the most impressive views in the city, and provides a refined setting for European culinary indulgence.
Mon-Fri 11am-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am-5pm, 6-10.30pm (afternoon tea between 2.30-5pm) 3/F, 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street (southeast of Qianmen), Chongwen District. (6702 2727) www.capital-m-beijing.com 崇文区前门步行街2号3层
Da Li Courtyard
Yunnanese food served in a small but charming hutong setting. Dining outside in the leafy courtyard is a fine way to relax away from the noisy avenues of central Beijing.
Daily 10am-9.30 pm. 67 Xiaojingchang Hutong, Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District. (8404 1430) 大理,东城区鼓楼东大街小经厂胡同67号
Element Fresh
Element Fresh’s pleasant Sanlitun deck affords flattering views of The Sanlitun Village area, and is the perfect setting for their hearty, healthful salads, smoothies and sandwiches and weekend brunch.
Shop 833, Bldg 8, The Village at Sanlitun, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (6417 1318) 新元素. 朝阳区三里屯路19号The Village南区8号楼833单元
Hazara/Lan Na Thai/Jia
The Face Bar’s triple bill of on-site restaurants serves Indian, Thai and Chinese food, respectively, in a sumptuous antique-filled environment featuring a sleek, candlelit terrace.
Daily 5.30-10.30pm. 26 Dongcaoyuan, Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District. (6551 6788) 朝阳区工体南路东草园26号
Lao Han Zi (Han Cang)
This Qianhai Hakka restaurant (the cuisine is that of a group of Han Chinese that migrated southwards over the centuries) has outdoor seating with a gorgeous view of Qianhai from its eastern bank. The food is good, and the outdoor area is always lively in warm weather months.
Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. Opposite North Gate of Beihai Park, Xicheng District. (6404 2259) 西城区北海公园北门对面
Nuage
The rooftop patio of this Houhai Vietamese restaurant located in a renovated Ming-era building (from which its Chinese name is taken) has one of the most breathtaking views in town – take in the Drum and Bell Towers (Gulou and Zhonglou) and the lakes while sipping on cocktails and scarfing down spring rolls.
Daily 11am-2pm, 5.30-10pm. 22 Qianhai Dongyan, Xicheng District. (6401 9581) 庆云楼. 西城区前海东沿22号
Saveurs de Coree
Relax on a rooftop seat at this sophisticated Korean bistro, where the set menus are reasonably priced and the dishes are delicate, health-conscious and intelligently proportioned.
Daily noon-10.40pm. 29 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District. (6401 6083) 韩香馆.东城区南锣鼓巷29号
Schindler’s Tankstelle
Located next to picturesque Ritan Park, this German restaurant’s backyard beer garden affords customers a lovely view of the park to go along with its selection of sausages, pig knuckles, sauerkraut and hearty steins of beer. All Chinese and foreign credit cards accepted.
Daily 11am-late. 15A Guanghua Lu (200m east of Ritan Park South Gate), Chaoyang District. (8562 6439) 申德勒加油站. 朝阳区光华路甲15号(日坛南门往东200米)
The Source
The Source serves Sichuan food in an elegant hutong setting. If the weather is fine, you can enjoy your meal al fresco in the breezy courtyard set beneath an ancient date tree and amidst rustling bamboo stalks.
Daily 11am-2pm, 5-11pm. 14 Banchang Hutong (next door to the Lusongyuan Hotel) Nanluogu Xiang, Kuanjie, Dongcheng District. (6400 3736) 都江源, 东城区宽街南锣鼓巷板厂胡同14号
Xihe Yaju
Scenic Ritan park provides the backdrop for this perennially popular Chinese restaurant set in a traditional courtyard.
Daily 11am-2pm, 5-10pm. Northeast corner of Ritan Park, Chaoyang District. (8561 1915) 羲和雅居. 朝阳区日坛公园东北角
