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Raj
With soothing sitar music on the stereo, comfy cushions, red drapes and an extensive menu of north Indian cuisine classics, the Raj satisfies curry fanatics looking for a taste of the subcontinent in Běijīng. They deliver and take credit cards too.
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Red Capital Club
With its 1950s Politburo-meeting props, this restored Qing-styled courtyard is high camp at its best. Dishes aren't so much listed on the menu as leisurely revealed in pages of coy, poem-sized prose. Reservations are required.
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Schindler's Tankstelle
Authentic German atmosphere and classics like pork rump and apple strudel make this a great choice when you're in the Ritan Park area. Small glasses of terrific draught beer start at around Y28 . English menu available.
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Sculpting in Time
An easy place to while away an afternoon, Sculpting in Time offers books and magazines to browse through, as well as sandwiches and pasta for when you get peckish.
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Sequoia Bakery and Café
Deservedly popular with diplomats from neighbouring embassies, this friendly café is a good place to pick up a caffeine fix if you're chasing visas in the area. There are decent pastries and deli-style sandwiches too. There's another branch in Sanlitun (Bldg 15, North Sanlitun Beijie, - ).
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Serve the People
It has been around a while, but Serve the People is still Běijīng's best Thai restaurant. You'll find all the classics here, red chicken curry, tom yum goong , as well as superb fish cakes with plum and chilli sauce. It's the warm atmosphere and central location that attracts the crowds though.
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Sichuan Restaurant
Rather worn in its old age, but the dishes are well worth your time here and portions are generous. Try the filling crispy tinfoil-wrapped mutton (纸包羊肉; zhǐbāo yángròu ) or sweat over a yuānyāng huǒguō (鸳鸯火锅; Mandarin duck hotpot) - the celebrated Sìchuān hotpot that is divided into hot (辣; là ) and not-hot (不辣; búlà ) sections. The countertop array of home fermented wines infused with various flora and fauna is around Y20 a shot.
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Sorabol
This dependably good Korean chain restaurant is the place to come for barbecue and banfan (rice, egg, meat, vegetables and hot pepper sauce), as well as paigu (roast spareribs). Another branch can be found at Landmark Towers (2/F, 8 Dongsanhuan Beilu) in Cháoyáng.
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Souk
If you get here early enough, you can kick off your shoes and eat in style in one of the curtained corner booths. As much a place for a drink as it is to eat, the jugs of sangria seem to disappear quickly here. The menu is standard middle eastern fare: kebabs, falafel, pitta bread and hummus. The cous cous is good value at around Y40 . There's a big outside terrace in summer.
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South Silk Road
Another addition to the growing army of stylish Yúnnán restaurants in Běijīng, this hip and busy restaurant offers a birds-eye view over Qianhai Lake. The dishes are authentic Yúnnán, from the baked beef in Yúnnán tea to the pot-roasted frog. There's a range of spicy barbecued fish dishes, a reasonable wine list and the beers start at around Y25 .
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Steak and Eggs
A home away from home for Americans pining for blueberry pie and grits in Běijīng, Steak and Eggs' diner format hits the spot with early risers and families at weekends, as well as revellers looking for late-night sustenance. The American-sized portions will satisfy all but the most ravenous. The breakfast specials are particularly good, but so are the sandwiches (from Y25 ) and the burgers (from Y35 ).
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Three Guizhou Men
Spicy ribs and sour-fish hotpot are two of this restaurant's star dishes from Guizhou province. The trendy decoration features local artwork and the service is excellent. To get here walk down the lane behind Bellagio until you see the hostess with the silver headdress. She'll stick you in an elevator and zip you up to the restaurant on the second floor.
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Tiāndì Yījiā
A civilised and refined traditional Chinese courtyard-style restaurant decked out with authentic furniture, water features and side rooms for snug hotpot dinners come winter. The expensive dishes - from Běijīng, Shāndōng, Zhèjiāng and beyond - include shark's fin and abalone. Snobbish waiting staff are a fly in the ointment.
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Traktirr Pushkin
The first foreign restaurants to appear in Běijīng were Russian. This is the best of them, perhaps because the chef is from Moscow. Fans of Russian food will be in seventh heaven tucking into hearty portions of borscht and cold herring, chicken Kiev and trout roll stuffed with mushrooms. The all-day breakfast's good, and there's a sterling selection of alcohol. A popular lunch spot for diplomats from the nearby Russian embassy.
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Vincent Café/Creperie
A cornucopia of crepes is available at this French-run café in the 798 Art District. The 'fisherman': shrimps, leeks and white wine, goes down a treat. Salads, pizzas, French onion soup, coffee and juices are also on the menu. Good chips and there's an outside area in the summer.
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Vineyard Café
A few minutes walk from the Lama Temple, this hip café/restaurant is an ideal spot for brunch or lunch. The British owner does an excellent full English breakfast, while the set lunch, a salad and pizza or quiche, is terrific value. There's a small outside area and lots of sofas to sink into. In the evening, it's a restaurant as well as a laidback spot for a drink.
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Waiting for Godot
Bizarre but charming café that takes it name from Samuel Beckett's most acclaimed play. It maintains the literary theme by housing a Chinese language-only bookshop. During the day, it's a coffee house. At night, it's a quiet place for a drink.
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Wangfujing Snack Street
This pedestrianised street just off Wangfujing Dajie is a jumble of atmosphere and flavour. Stalls are bursting with food from all over China, including flat bread, oodles of noodles and pancakes.
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Xiao Wang's Home Restaurant
Xiao Wang serves up some of the city's best comfort food including deep-fried spareribs and hot and spicy Xinjiang chicken wings. A long-time favourite with both locals and travellers. English menu available.
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Xinjiang Red Rose Restaurant
Eating here is like hanging out at a raucous party. Communal seating is at long canteen-style tables and when the Uighur music and dancers take to the floor between and nightly - look out! Choose from any of the menu's excellent mutton dishes.
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Yuelu Shanwu
With a marvellous view over the lake of Qianhai, this pretty, neat and civilised Húnán restaurant and bar - the name means 'house at the foot of the mountain' - serves a range of hot and mild dishes from the province renowned for its searing flavours. If you're feeling flush, the spicy snake is a snip at around Y320 . English menu.
