Beijing’s Best Rooftops and Terraces Pt.1

Summer is here and it’s here to stay, at least until temperatures suddenly take a plummet in October, and that means one thing: It’s rooftop and terrace season! The capital has no shortage of stunning outdoor venues to indulge in some food and drink, so we’ve decided to bring you a selection of some of the best Beijing has to offer. 

To start off, in this series we’re going to take a look at the rooftops and terraces situated around the Sanlitun area, so grab your sunglasses and go enjoy the beautiful weather!

Spring Patio

Located on the third floor of Sanlitun Taikooli, Spring Patio is a Yunnan-style bistro that opened up back at the end of 2021. Featuring a beautiful rooftop terrace with plenty of flowers and chic mint-green decor, it certainly lives up to its name. The menu has plenty of Yunnan classics like Yunnan Rice Noodles (RMB 38) or Zhanyi-Style Fried Chicken With Ziba Hot Pepper (RMB 68) but with a slightly more upscale twist. They also have a great wine selection, and they even have a “wine pairings” section of the menu. 

Spring Patio
S9-31, 3/F, Sanlitun Taikoo Li South Area, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区3层S9-31号
Hours: 11.30am-2pm, 5pm-midnight
Phone: 156 1108 2609

Casa Bacardi

Channeling Caribbean late-night beach party vibes with palm trees, fluorescent lights, and even a beach hut-style bar, the only thing missing from Casa Bacardi’s rooftop is a pool. Open until the wee hours of the morning, this is one of the best rooftops around for those looking to party all night long during summer. For non-party animals, they also have a range of Western-fare food options and plenty of drinks, including, of course, a ton of Bacardi-based mojitos like Watermelon Mojito (RMB 68), Passion Fruit Mojito (RMB 68) or the more unusual Granny Smith Mojito (RMB 68).  

Casa Bacardi
L40, 4/F, S8, Sanlitun Taikoo Li South Area, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区S8 4层L40
Hours: 3pm-5am
Phone: 010 5368 8761

The Bell x Terrazza Martini

Up on the roof of Nali Patio, Martini’s rooftop brings a slice of Mediterranean chic to Sanlitun with its black and white tiled floors, gold chairs, and white arches. It’s the perfect spot to take in the sunset while sipping on one of their signature Martini cocktails, such as the Martini Rosso Tonic (RMB 50) or Pornstar Martini (RMB 60), while enjoying a bite to eat from their menu, which features a whole range of salads, pasta and various other Western dishes. 

The Bell x Terrazza Martini
7/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园7层
Hours: 5.30pm-5am
Phone: 185 1062 4695

COMMUNE·X

Having undergone a complete revamp last year, COMMUNE•X’s large rooftop terrace is dotted with plenty of flowers and greenery among its striking red and white chairs and tables, creating a bright, summery atmosphere. For beer lovers this is an ideal place to spend an afternoon sampling some of COMMUNE•X’s home tipples. You can even get a tasting flight of four different beers (150ml/glass) for RMB 128 if you want to try a few different ones. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, they also have extensive brunch, lunch, dinner, and even late nights menus with favorites like their COMMUNE CRISPY CHICKEN WINGS (RMB 88) or OXTAIL GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH (RMB 78).

COMMUNE·X 
S8, 3/F, Sanlitun Taikoo Li South Area, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号院8号楼3层S08-3内S8-31单元
Hours: 11am-3am
Phone: 152 1097 7183

Frasca

Shielded from the hustle and bustle of Sanlitun by a line of strategically placed garden screens with ivy growing up them and plenty of bamboo, Frasca’s terrace feels like a beautiful, green bubble in the heart of the shopping district. Serving upmarket Italian cuisine, they have a whole range of classic pasta dishes, Pinsa Romana (aka Roman-style pizzas), mains, and side dishes. During the week they do a Set Lunch Menu (RMB 158) which includes a starter and main course, and on weekends a Set Brunch Menu (RMB 328) for four courses. As an accompaniment to your meal they, have a superb wine selection and, as you’d expect from any Italian restaurant, a great selection of spritzes. 

Frasca
1/F, The Opposite House, 11 Sanlitun Nan Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯街道11号三里屯太古里北区瑜舍酒店
Hours: 6.30-10.30am, noon-10pm
Phone: 010 6410 5210

El Barrio

Sitting on El Barrio’s terrace or rooftop in Nali Patio, surrounded by white stone walls, with bright yellow arches adorned with colorful paintings, 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 like Tacos (RMB 65-88), Fajitas (RMB 68-98), or Burritos (RMB 78), as well as some great Margaritas (RMB 70-115). 

El Barrio
2/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯北路81号那里花园2楼
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11-2am
Phone: 010 6416 1716

TiensTiens

French café TiensTiens 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. They have coffee, tea, pastries and sweet treats – think French classics like Macarons (RMB 18), Croissants (RMB 16), and light meals like sandwiches and salads. For those who enjoy their rooftop with a stronger concoction, they also have cocktails and other alcoholic beverages on the menu.

TiensTiens
Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District 
朝阳区工体北路4号院
Hours: 9am-11pm
Phone: 010 8587 8897

Bonus – Sanlitun Courtyard No.4

Now, seeing as we just mentioned TiensTiens’ rooftop, it’s also worth mentioning that a number of other restaurants located in Courtyard No. 4, although they don't have rooftops, do have some form of terrace or outdoor seating. So, if you’re looking for an area with plenty of outdoor seating options, it’s a pretty good bet with Taco Bar, Home Plate BBQ, La Platea, abboCCA, Q Mex and The Local all having an outdoor area. You can read more about them all in our Tour Around Courtyard No.4 Part One and Part Two. 

Sanlitun Courtyard No.4
Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District 
朝阳区工体北路4号院

READ: Events and Happenings in the ‘Jing This Weekend (Jun 9-11)

Images: Uni You, courtesy of the venues