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.