Embrace the Warmer Weather with these Terraces

Editor's Note: With the sudden arrival of the omicron variant in the capital, and sporatic lockdowns threatening sudden closures and event cancellations, it's best to call ahead before going to these locations to see if they're still open.

Warmer weather is finally here, bringing some much needed relief after what has felt like an unusually long and cold (it snowed how many times!?) winter. So we've put together a list of some of the best terraces, mainly located in Chaoyang and Dongcheng, where you can enjoy some much needed fresh air and sun. 

Dongcheng

Café Alba

Just east of Gulou Tower Café Alba's rooftop offers great panoramic views over the hutongs. The large rooftop is surrounded by trees and has plenty of seating. Their simple menu is very reasonably priced and the homemade pasta is a must try. With busy Gulou just below this is a great place for a bit of people watching while sipping on one of the many cocktails on offer.

Toast at The Orchid

Botique hotel The Orchid’s restaurant Toast has a beautiful rooftop terrace right in the heart of Beijing's old city. Once the weather gets warm the terrace is opened up and customers are treated to lovely views of what's above the hutongs.

Toast offers a range of different foods, with Middle-Eastern inspired brunch in the mornings, afternoon tea after 2.30pm and dinner in the evenings. They are a super popular brunch destination so be prepared to wait as booking is only available for eight or more people.

El Nido @ The Other Place

Tucked away just off Beiluoguxiang is El Nido @ The Other Place, a cozy little brewpub that has a lovely outside courtyard along with a few tables up on the roof. While not a terrace per se, the ample greenery and skylight gives a very relaxed vibe, making it a great place to chill while sipping away at one of their many beers.

Or if beer isn’t your thing you can simply order a cocktail from Fang Bar, which is situated in the same courtyard. El Nido also has Mediterranean style food available which includes some tasty (and pretty cheap) cheese and charcuterie boards that are perfect for sharing.

Chaoyang District

Commune

Commune’s new Taikooli location offers a chic terrace overlooking the dazzling lights of Sanlitun. This popular bottle bar chain has a huge selection of beers which can be picked from one of the many fridges, or if you’re looking for something a bit stronger, liquor by the bottle is also available. They also serve reasonably priced Western food, mixed drinks and cocktails. 

WAA Riverside Gastropub

As you might guess from the name this Gastropub is located right on the Liangma River. WAA has a pier at the back with plenty of outside seating and spectacular views of the riverside, especially when all lit up at night. Run by a Shandong-based brewery, they have around 16 beers on tap and also serve Chinese fusion food which boasts some really tasty sharing dishes.

Arrow Factory

Situated right by the Liangma River, Arrow Factory has a small terrace, a relatively big rooftop area and a beer garden out back on the ground floor. This British style brewpub offers a range of Western foods, numerous beers on tap and a variety of other drinks.

This is a great brunch spot with one of the best English breakfasts in town. On Sundays they also offer a Sunday Roast for RMB 128 (booking in advance is required).

El Barrio

Sitting on El Barrio’s terrace or rooftop in Nali Patio, it feels more like you’re somewhere in southern Europe than in the heart of Beijing. As expected from any Mexican restaurant, they have the usual South of the Border classics as well as some great margaritas. During summer the terrace can get extremely busy, so it might be best to book ahead to ensure that you get a seat outside.

TiensTiens

French café TienTiens Sanlitun branch boasts one of Beijing’s biggest rooftops. With multiple levels, there are plenty of seats to choose from. The numerous plants and pretty fairy lights make it a perfect place to go any time of day. Along with coffee, tea and sweet treats they also have cocktails and other alcoholic beverages on the menu.

Migas Mercado

In the heart of Guomao you can’t get better views than those at Migas’s terrace overlooking some of Beijing’s most impressive buildings. Their large open space has no shortage of seating and is the epitome of class and their annual terrace opening party is not to be missed. With top quality Spanish cuisine including a great range of tapas on the menu and plenty of delicious cocktails, it’s clear why this is one of the top places to enjoy Beijing’s warmer weather.

Bonus mention

If you’re looking for something a little cheaper than Migas, Blue Frog’s Guomao branch one floor below (in lead image) also has a great terrace and daily happy hour buy one get one free deals!

READ: Fat Girl Brings Chongqing Heat to Taikooli West

Images: The Beijingers, Dianping