Sanlitun and Gongti’s Best Rooftops and Terraces
Summer is in full swing in the capital and if you’re looking for a spot of al fresco dining or drinking, there is no shortage of stunning rooftops and terraces here in Beijing. To kick off this series we’re going to take a look at the rooftops and terraces situated around the Sanlitun and Gongti area, so grab your sunglasses and go enjoy the beautiful weather!
Luxe Lounge
Located on the east side of the 3rd Ring Road, Luxe Lounge has a tropical feel with its numerous palm trees, palm plants and colorful patterned tiles. The rooftop spans a large space with lots of seating options and an impressive canopy covered bar that you can sit at too. On the food front, they’ve got a Western menu with everything from pasta to pizza to steak and more. For drinks, as you’d expect they’ve got a great cocktail menu with classics ranging from the Tequila Sunrise (RMB 78) to refreshing Gin and Tonics (RMB 78), along with wine, beer and soft drinks.
Luxe Lounge
13F, Bldg B, Hengan Tower, Donghuan Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东三环北路17号（恒安大厦B座13层）
Hours: 5.30pm-4.30am
Phone: 010 5107 7359
CJ Lounge
This super chic rooftop lounge opened up on the east side of the Workers’ Stadium last year. With its sandy colored walls and tiled floors, CJ Lounge gives off Mediterranean vibes similar to those exuded at the now-closed Nali Patio. Beautiful decor aside, the other big thing this venue has going for it is its stunning view of the Workers’ Stadium, which you can enjoy in all of its refurbished glory.
They've got a range of snacks to nibble on while enjoying the view, like Chicken Wings (RMB 78) and Truffle Cheese Fries (RMB 78) as well as bigger dishes such as the Secret Roast Spring Chicken (RMB 128) or German Sausage Platter (RMB 138). Drinkswise they’ve got classic cocktails including good New York Sours (RMB 88) and Negronis (RMB 88) as well as mocktails, wine, beer and other soft drinks.
CJ Lounge
1401-1403, 14F, 2 Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体东路丙2号14层1401-1403号
Hours: 6pm-2am
Phone: 186 1136 5468
UBar/Cafe Muse
Originally just home to UBar, Cafe Muse has been sharing this rooftop since April last year. As well as bringing an excellent coffee menu into the mix – we recommend trying their Coconut Latte (RMB 48) – Cafe Muse also injected some art into the space, with it now being home to a mini gallery of sorts that regularly hosts exhibitions. The rooftop itself has numerous plants and vines scattered around and red awning covering much of the space gives some much needed shade for Beijing’s warmest months. UBar has a range of both classic and signature cocktails, plus bottled beer and soft drinks and a menu with both Chinese and Western dishes.
UBar/Cafe Muse
2F, 2 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体西路2号2层
Hours: 9am-11.30pm (Cafe Muse), 11am-2am (UBar)
Phone: 010 6551 2921 (Cafe Muse) 1 851 540 6431 (UBar)
V Park Whisky Cocktail Lounge
Boasting a large space dotted with greenery and stunning views of Guomao in the distance, V Park’s rooftop is a great chill out spot, especially come nighttime when all the skyscrapers are lit up. Foodwise they’ve got a Western menu of mains and snacks with things like salads, pizza, tacos, platters etc. To sip on they have numerous classic and signature cocktails as well as soft drinks like healthy juices and wine and beer. If you’re coming with a large group of friends they also have spirit and mixer packages available too.
V Park Whisky Cocktail Lounge
2005, 20F, Ruichen International Center, 13 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区农展馆南路13号瑞辰国际中心20层2005室
Hours: 6pm-3am
Phone: 185 1917 4091
Spring Patio
Situated 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 dishes like Truffle Sauce Rice Noodles (RMB 48) and Braised Beef Rib (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
Channelling 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, Mexican and Japanese 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: 5pm-5am
Phone: 010 5368 8761
COMMUNE·X
Undergoing a complete revamp back in 2022, 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 68) or Oxtail Grilled Cheese Sandwich (RMB 88).
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
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
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
Mix Island
Another area near Sanlitun that has plenty of outdoor seating options is Mix Island. With an eclectic range of eateries, bars and other foodie establishments all housed around its large outdoor camping style seating area it’s an ideal spot for some al fresco fun. From Mediterranean to yakitori to Yunnan cuisine there is a great mix – you see what we did there – of flavors to enjoy. You can read more about all the venues situated there in this article.
Mix Island Mix岛•西西里村
Inside Dongfeng Intl. Sports Park (South Gate), A9 Nongzhan Nanlu
朝阳区农展南路甲9号东枫国际体育园内
READ: Mix Island: The Perfect Summer Hang Out Spot
Images: Uni You, courtesy of the venues
