Enjoy the Blue Sky: Your Complete Guide to Outdoor Restaurants and Bars in Beijing

That's right, Beijing. With all the blue sky we've been having lately it’s time to think about the important things in life, such as: where can I make the most of the weather? Well, roll up your sleeves and grab that sunscreen because this is our complete guide to Beijing's outdoor dining (and drinking) locations. 

Somewhere we've missed? Leave a suggestion in the comments. We'll be updating the list throughout the summer as we discover new places.

Gulou/Beixinqiao

EAT Cafe de Sofa This cute, three-storey cafe tucked in a back alley of Houhai serves up a variety of Taiwanese-inspired drinks and snacks.

DRINK Cheers The second-floor terrace at Cheers' Gulou location overlooks busy Gulou Dongdajie. Late night partiers will want to keep the noise down.

EAT Dali Courtyard The quintessential hutong dining experience for many, Dali Courtyard's Yunnan fare has remained reliable after many years in business. 

EAT Eatalia (Di'anmen location) Young and funky Italian mini-chain Eatalia boasts a nice terrace at their Di'anmen location.

DRINK El Nido Gulou's original bottle bar is still going strong on Fangjia Hutong. Go early to grab a bench seat when the weather is fine. 

DRINK Great Leap No. 6 Doujiao Hutong The original and the best, Great Leap's iconic hutong location sticks to what they know best - beer. 

EAT Hua's Restaurant Excellent Peking duck and creative Chinese dishes in a restored courtyard setting at their original branch on Guijie .

EAT Hutong No. 44 Kitchen Classic Guizhou dishes in a classic hutong setting. Be sure to reserve in advance as it gets packed on weekends and holidays.

EAT Katchup This spot from one of the original creators of Burger Counter has a surprisingly nice rooftop on which to consume their huge (and delicious) burgers.

EAT King's Joy Creative vegetarian cuisine in a refined courtyard setting. Bring your Amex for this one. (Expensive)

EAT Le Little Saigon Very hot with Dianping users, Le Little Saigon serves Vietnamese/French fusion food with a leafy terrace on the roof. 

DRINK Más The terrace at Mas may be tiny but like all hutong places it frequently spills over into the street. Go for the Tiki drinks, stay for the carnitas. 

DRINK The Orchid Experience The Orchid's exceptional hospitality without booking a room by calling by for a glass of excellent wine on one of their several terraces. 

DRINK The Other Place This slightly scruffy courtyard is a quiet haven from the surrounding hutong clamour. Good beer and cocktail selection, plus coffee. 

DRINK Penghao Theatre Cafe A great hidden spot just off hectic Nanluogu Xiang, Penghao Theatre Cafe serves coffee and simple drinks on its rustic rooftop. 

DRINK Post Mountain Art Space Courtyard space in arty surroundings at this cafe/gllaery/events space in Dangdai MOMA. 

EAT Ramo Evening outside seating perfect for hutong people watching accompanied by good food and drinks.

EAT Saffron Chef Yao Yang's modern Mediterranean cuisine has been drawing punters to Wudaoying for years, as does the secluded courtyard set back off the ever-busier hutong.

EAT Sand Pebbles Lounge Hidden from the street, Sand Pebbles' terrace is small but perfectly formed. What could be better than drinking a margarita in the sun? 

EAT Shining City Skip the poor imitations of Western food at this rooftop restaurant and go straight for the tasty southeast Asian dishes while taking in the Wudaoying view. 

EAT Susu Susu is like the courtyard home we wish we had. The trel down Qianliang Hutong to find it only makes the excellent Vietnamese cuisine that much better. 

EAT/DRINK Zarah A sheltered courtyard and recently expanded wine menu make Zarah a good choice for more than just coffee and lunch. 
 

Qianmen/Dashilar

EAT/DRINK Capital M What is left to be said about Capital M? For brunch, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, it's Qianmen views are one of a kind. 

DRINK Shang @ The Emperor Qianmen Shang's rooftop pool and bar is surely one of Beijing's most underrated summer hangouts. Non-residents will need to pay a small fee to use the pool.

EAT Spoonful of Sugar Enjoy local and seasonal-inspired food on Spoonful of Sugar's terrace, surrounded by their aquaponic garden. 

DRINK Yin on 12 You'll be glad you made the trek to Chongwenmen when you see the stylish terrace (and stylish people) at Yin on 12. 
 

Sanlitun

DRINK Aperitivo You'll be right in the thick of it on Sanlitun Houjie on Aperitivo's shrub-lined terrace. Be sure to try their signature aperol spritz.

EAT Blue Frog Although they lost their original huge terrace to Pizza Express, Blue Frog has still managed to retain a few outside tables for you to chow down on your burger.

EAT Cantina Agave A large terrace makes up for passable food at this Taikoo Li Mexican. Half price Margaritas from 7pm on Mondays.

DRINK Cheers In addition to cheap bottled wine, the Sanlitun branch of cheers has a street-side wine garden where you can enjoy wines by the glass.

EAT Element Fresh The terrace at the Sanlitun branch of Element Fresh is one of Beijing's best places to grab a salad in the summer.

DRINK Enoterra This Shanghai transplant has made a stable home in Beijing with a Nali Patio location that combines two of our favorite things - wine and drinking outside. 

DRINK Fez We love Fez almost as much as we love sister restaurant Agua downstairs. A recent renovation has given the chic hangout a new lease of life.

DRINK First Floor The phrase it takes all sorts certainly applies to the street-level terrace at First Floor, which attracts everyone from cash-strapped students to wealthy expats.

EAT Flamme The row of tables outside Flamme offer a pleasant locale to tuck into your reasonably priced steaks. Don't forget their daily happy hour, with 50% off drinks.

EAT/DRINK Great Leap Brewing No. 45 Brewpub The newest location of Great Leap in Xinyuanli comes complete with a huge rooftop terrace shaded by leafy trees.

DRINK Heaven Supermarket Like drinking in the liquor aisle of your local supermarket, Heaven offers an incomparable experience. The outside tables fill up quickly in the summer months.

EAT/DRINK Jing A Taproom Jing A recently added a large number of outside seats. Grab a beer and some of their excellent bar food (fish and chips!). 

DRINK Kokomo Hot summer nights at this Sanlitun staple, which attracts a young crowd looking to dance the night away to a DJ playing Top 40 hits.

EAT/DRINK Luga's Villa This second, larger Luga's has a big (if tightly packed) terrace and cheap drinks to go with it, at least during their daily 11am-9pm happy hour. 

DRINK Mesh People watching, excellent cocktails and a 5-8pm happy hour on weekdays make this a prime Sanlitun spot.

DRINK Migas Beijing's alfresco nightlife scene reaches its apotheosis on Migas' rooftop terrace. Everyone must see the sunrise here at last once.

EAT MODO Urban Deli MODO's terrace doesn't get much sun, but that makes it a pleasant place to hang out and try one of their excellent salads on a steamy summer's day. 

EAT MOKA Bros You'll have to be quick to get a seat on MOKA's south-facing terrace - it tends to be full from breakfast to sunset cocktails.

EAT Pinotage Sample Pinotage's all new South African Braai (barbecue) on the roadside terrace at their Sanlitun branch.

EAT Pizza Express Taking over the former Blue Frog space, Pizza Express' terrace is classily decorated in their signature black and white color scheme.

EAT Rumi The terrace at Rumi is our favorite among the Middle Eastern restaurants lining Gongti Beilu near Tuanjiehu. They don't serve alcohol, but you can bring your own for a small charge.

EAT Sureno Sureno's sunken terrace is equally suited to a business lunch or a romantic tete-a-tete over some excellent pan-Mediterranean food.

EAT/DRINK Taco Bar We love Taco Bar in any case, but the addition of a new terrace outside has cemented their place in our Margarita-soaked hearts.

EAT Tavalin Bagels The reincarnation of Tavalin Bagels has a substantial outdoor seated area on which to enjoy their substantial bagels.

EAT Village Cafe All of the Opposite House's venues have great outside spaces, but Village Cafe's is our favorite, with its long bench seating and ample sunshine.

EAT Vineyard Cafe by the River The second branch of popular Wudaoying cafe the Vineyard improves on the original with a rooftop terrace, but keeps the excellent fry-up.
 

Gongti/Xingfucun/Chunxiu Lu

EAT/DRINK Big Smoke Bistro Sharing portions of classic-with-a-twist Americana dishes, Jing A beers, and a substantial street-side terrace (gets the most sun in the afternoon), make this a favorite.

DRINK Bob's Wine Grab a bottle and take it to one of their small tables at one of this area's cheapest drinking destinations.

EAT Da Dong The Gongti branch of Da Dong has a surprisingly substantial deck on which you can partake of some of the best roast duck in town.

DRINK Drei Kronen 1308 One of Beijing's original brauhauses has extensive outdoor seating and an authentic beer hall feel.

EAT El Gran Bocado Reliable interpretations of Tex-Mex classics at El Gran Bocado's Xingfucun Zhonglu location. The margaritas are lethal.

DRINK Frost The nail bar may be gone, but Frost remains one of the most popular places to grab a drink and a bite on the burgeoning Xingfucun strip.

EAT Gung Ho! Pizza Beer cocktails and gourmet pizzas go together with the small terrace at this sit-down incarnation of Beijing's most visible pizza delivery chain.

EAT/DRINK Hacker-Pschorr Brauhaus Size matters at Hacker-Pschorr, with big beers, big portions and a big sunken terrace on Xindong Lu.

EAT In & Out The (relatively) new branch of In & Out at the Tunsanli Mall has a small street-level terrace on which to enjoy their delicious authentic Yunnan dishes.

EAT/DRINK La Na Thai/Face Bar This complex of bar, hotel, Thai restaurant and Indian restaurant boasts a beautiful southeast Asian-inspired outside seating area. Drinks are pricey.

EAT O'Steak You'll feel like you're at Parisian street-side brasserie when they serve you your alfresco steak at O'Steak. Just try to ignore the taxis honking as they go by.
 

Liangmaqiao/Lido

EAT Brasserie FLO It may seem a bit out of the way, but their choice of location becomes clear when you see FLO's extensive outside terrace.

EAT Element Fresh The Lido branch of Element Fresh has first and second floor terraces on a quiet, leafy street.

EAT/DRINK Eudora Station Several terraces and a shady beer garden make Eudora Station an excellent choice in the area. America food and a good selection of beers and cocktails.

EAT Florentina Smart Italian restaurant with a large outside terrace, shared with 27 Cafe next door.

DRINK Melo Lounge Cocktails and bottle service at this ritzy lounge, with lots and nooks and crannies for outdoor seating.

EAT MOKA Bro's The Solana branch of MOKA Bro's opened last summer and you can be sure we will be back again this year to grab a spot on their sun-drenched south facing terrace.

EAT/DRINK Opus Lounge, Four Seasons Beijing Tucked down the side of the Four Seasons Beijing, Opus' terrace is great for discreet business meetings. 

DRINK Paulaner Brauhaus Old-school favorite Paulaner has just opened its terrace for summer and introduced a tasty 50 percent off happy hour from 3-5pm, Monday to Friday.

EAT Tube Station The roof deck at the Tube Station branch of Lidu makes for an excellent location to chow down on one of their signature huge pizzas.
 

798

EAT Feast "Simple things, done well" is the motto at Feast. They already serve one of our choice brunches, and the recently renovated outside deck only makes it better.

EAT Laker's You know what you're getting at Laker's, with reliable Western options served up on a nice terrace at the 798 location.

DRINK Timezone 8 Still our favorite bar haunt in the 798 area, 

DRINK XIAN The sprawling terrace at EAST Hotel Beijing's very un-hotel like bar features discreet lighting, sunken seating and some of the best pizzas in town (in our opinion).

EAT Yi House Once one of Beijing's most popular brunch destinations, Yi House has fallen off the radar in recent years but the courtyard seating still makes for a pleasant alfresco brunch.
 

CBD

EAT Aria Enjoy chef Phillip Taylor's delicate, modern food on Aria's small but perfectly formed terrace. The set lunch menu is a bargain.

EAT/DRINK Caravan The arrival of Caravan and its spacious street-side seating area has livened up this otherwise quiet corner of Guanghua Lu.

DRINK Centro A few tables outside at this popular hotel venue. Their daily happy hour (5-8pm) is an absolute steal.

EAT Swiss Taste Newly opened Swiss restaurant and cultural hub Swiss Taste has a substantial outdoor seating area for Central Park residents to enjoy a glass of one of their more than 30 Swiss wines.

EAT Pak Pak The newly-added street-level terrace at Pak Pak has essentially doubled their seating, which for a restaurant this popular can only be a good thing.

EAT Pekotan Good for CBD office dwellers who want to escape for their lunch break, Pekotan provides reasonably priced sandwiches and salads, and nice outside seating.

EAT Obentos We love Obentos' healthy take on Japanese cuisine, and there is nothing better than grabbing one of their outside tables and tucking into a fresh salad on a hot day.

DRINK Xiu Want to party with Beijing's beautiful people? Then Xiu is your best bet. Expect expensive drinks and on this 6th floor terrace attached to the Park Hyatt.

DRINK Vivid Set on the fifth floor of the Conrad, Vivid offers views over Beijing's CBD from its garden lounge terrace. Good cocktails and mixed drinks.
 

Shuangjing

DRINK The Brick Shuangjing favorite attracts crowds with cocktails and imported beers. Limited seating on the pavement outside in the summer.

EAT/DRINK Plan B Neighborhood sports bar with sunny outside seating in Pingod. They do a mean line of burgers too, which are two-for-one on Mondays. 
 

Other 

EAT The Rug (Chaoyang Park) Set in a quiet residential compound, The Rug's Lishui Jiayuan location is one of our favorite places for Weekend brunch.

EAT/DRINK The Bridge (Wudaokou) Student staple the bridge has a roof top terrace that makes for a pleasant drinking or studying destination.

EAT Baijia Dayuan (Suzhou Jie) Sample modern imperial cuisine in a courtyard set around a large pond.

EAT Wangjing Yihao (Wangjing) Enjoy pungent Sichuan dishes in a flowery courtyard.

EAT Windy City Ballroom (Olympic Village) The terrace at Windy City Ballroom overlooks a large pond. A bit of a trek, but worth it for the excellent renditions of classic Americana dishes.
 

More stories by this author here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Ken, courtesy of JW Marriott, courtesy of EAST