French restaurants in Běijīng
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A
La Marée
Hard to find (it’s inside CBD International Mansions, down a road off Jianguomenwai Dajie very close to exit C of Yonganli Station), this southern-French seafood restaurant is one of the nicest international restaurants in town. The dining room is decorated in maritime blue, with fishing nets strung across the ceiling, while the French chef gives a modern spin to traditional seafood dishes using both local and imported ingredients (there are also meat dishes that use beef from Australia). The splendid seafood platter for two (Y498) is a good introduction. Otherwise, mains start at Y125. Thankfully, it also does a more affordable lunch deal, where you pay Y48 for a soup an…
reviewed
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B
Domus
Directly opposite Tiāndì Yījiā, and owned by the same people, this new restaurant couldn’t be more different, in everything from the food, contemporary Italian and French, to the gorgeous design – think Minotti furniture, grey-brick walls, a huge, open kitchen and a lovely, central bar in which to lounge around – and the pleasant service. Upstairs, you can sip a martini (Y70) and try the Italian antipasti menu, or proper bar snacks such as oysters. Downstairs is the restaurant (dinner only, closed Sundays), which riffs on a French theme with dishes such as pigeon roasted in tobacco leaves (Y168). The wine list is substantial and pricey (from Y450 a bottle).
reviewed
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C
Café de la Poste
Just down the street from the Lama Temple, this is the closest Běijīng gets to an authentic French bistro. With its relaxed vibe and friendly service, it’s a key meeting point for French expats. A small bar area where you can sip a glass of wine or a pastis opens into an intimate, nicely lit dining area. The food is unpretentious and hearty; the steaks (from Y82) are impressive cuts of meat. But it does a decent Salade Lyonnais (Y38), too, while the desserts include the renowned Death by Chocolate (Y48). There’s a three-course set lunch (Y78) during the week and brunch at weekends (Y120). The wine list starts at Y138 a bottle.
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D
Le Petit Gourmand
Located off Sanlitun Lu, this is an excellent place to while away a few hours, either on the laptop (there’s wi-fi), immersed in one of the 9000-odd books in the library, or over a coffee or crêpe (from Y22), there’s also a spacious, enclosed terrace. The menu offers a selection of traditional French classics, including good salads and couscous, but the crêpes are the real draw here: try the banana and chocolate (Y30) or the apple and calvados (Y40). There’s also a set lunch deal (Y65). The books, which include a reasonable selection of French-language tomes as well as a kid’s section, are available for loan to members (Y300 a year).
reviewed
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E
Maison Boulud
Located in a section of newly restored Legation Quarter buildings, the Beijing outpost of chef Daniel Boulud’s empire is rated as one of the best 100 restaurants in the world. The menu and ingredients change with the seasons, the wine list is long and the service is as good as it gets in Beijing. The set lunch is a more affordable way to try the delights of this place.
reviewed
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F
Le Bistrot Parisien
This restaurant has traditional French bistrot décor and an able French chef who flawlessly weaves local flavours into classic French dishes from the entrees down to desserts like pineapple crème brûlée. English menu available.
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