Beijing

Consistently praised for serving the most balanced roast duck in the city, featuring exceptionally crispy skin and tender meat without excess grease.

Signature — Traditional Peking Roast Duck served with thin pancakes and sweet bean sauce.

Known for a refined, modern approach to roast duck, utilizing a specialized roasting technique that results in a leaner, crispier skin.

Signature — Super-lean Roast Duck paired with sugar for dipping the crispy skin.

Offers a gritty, atmospheric dining experience inside a run-down, authentic courtyard house where ducks are roasted over open fruitwood fires.

Signature — Stone-oven Roasted Peking Duck.

Specializes in Manchu imperial cuisine served in an opulent, antique-filled dining room that evokes the Qing dynasty.

Signature — Eight Banner Tofu and slow-cooked imperial venison.

Housed inside the official Sichuan provincial government office, this legendary spot serves uncompromisingly authentic, fiery Sichuan dishes.

Signature — Mouthwatering Chicken in chili oil and Mapo Tofu.

Famous for its vibrant, naturally dyed dumpling wrappers and an extensive menu of creative fillings ranging from classic pork to spicy purple cabbage.

Signature — Colorful boiled dumplings with pork, shrimp, and chives.

Combines minimalist Scandinavian design and culinary techniques with a historic, glass-roofed courtyard setting along a quiet canal.

Signature — Multi-course seasonal tasting menu featuring cured seafood and artisanal broths.

Offers impeccable contemporary European fine dining set within a beautifully restored 350-year-old Tibetan Buddhist temple complex.

Signature — Slow-roasted Australian Wagyu beef with seasonal truffles.

Renowned for elevating coastal Taizhou cuisine to the highest culinary standards, emphasizing pristine ingredients and precise execution.

Signature — Braised wild yellow croaker in a rich, golden broth.

Elevates the traditional roast duck experience with sophisticated wine pairings curated by professional sommeliers in an elegant, dim-lit space.

Signature — Roast Duck topped with fresh caviar.

Delivers refined, authentic Italian cuisine utilizing premium imported ingredients, set within a striking, art-filled modern atrium.

Signature — Handmade tagliolini with fresh white truffles and artisanal butter.

Celebrates the delicate, knife-skill-intensive traditions of Huaiyang cuisine in a grand, classically designed dining hall.

Signature — Shredded tofu skin in clear chicken broth and braised pork belly.

Located inside the Peninsula Hotel, this refined venue blends French culinary artistry with premium Asian seafood in a sleek, modern setting.

Signature — Brittany lobster with heirloom tomatoes and verbena emulsion.

The undisputed king of Beijing's famous spicy food street, drawing massive late-night crowds for its fiery, numbing crawfish.

Signature — Spicy Sichuan Crawfish (Xiaolongxia) cooked with Sichuan peppercorns.

Famous for its massive, organic lake fish heads simmered in a rich, savory brown gravy, designed for communal sharing.

Signature — Signature Braised Fish Head served with crispy pancake strips to dip in the sauce.

Located in the Rosewood Hotel, this stylish venue features an open kitchen with wood-burning ovens, serving rustic, high-quality northern grills.

Signature — Wood-fired roasted pork belly with garlic and sweet soy.

A sleek, modern steakhouse offering premium cuts of Australian beef alongside panoramic views of the Sanlitun skyline.

Signature — Tomahawk steak seasoned with artisanal volcanic salts.

A classic, sophisticated hotel steakhouse known for its extensive wine list and meticulously dry-aged beef.

Signature — Dry-aged Ribeye steak cooked over charcoal.

A bustling, cheerful local chain famous for its incredibly cheap, freshly wrapped dumplings filled with traditional ingredients.

Signature — Pork, leek, and shrimp dumplings served boiled or pan-fried.

A historic, basic eatery located near the Drum Tower, famous for serving traditional, gelatinous Beijing-style breakfast stews.

Signature — Chaogan (thick pork liver and intestine stew heavily seasoned with garlic).

A tiny, legendary hole-in-the-wall that draws long lines for its incredibly cheap, intensely spicy home-style Sichuan dishes.

Signature — Zhang Mama Xiangguo (spicy dry pot with mixed meats and vegetables).

An ultra-luxury, multi-Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant set in a mist-filled courtyard, serving highly artistic, seasonal plant-based dishes.

Signature — Sweet and sour organic mushrooms styled to resemble traditional pork ribs.

A relaxed, Western-style vegan cafe offering hearty Mediterranean-inspired dishes, organic beers, and vegan desserts in a cozy alleyway setting.

Signature — Vegan falafel wraps and dairy-free pesto pasta.

A peaceful, Buddhist-run restaurant popular with students, known for its creative and highly realistic vegetarian mock meats.

Signature — Vegetarian 'roast duck' made from seasoned tofu skin.

Mutianyu Great Wall

A beautifully restored section of the wall surrounded by dense pine forests, featuring a cable car up and an exhilarating toboggan ride down.

Getting there — Located seventy kilometers northeast of the city; best reached via a direct tourist bus from Dongzhimen or by hiring a private driver.

Cuandixia Ancient Village

A perfectly preserved Ming and Qing-dynasty stone village tucked into a mountain valley, offering a glimpse of rural northern life frozen in time.

Getting there — Located ninety kilometers west of the city; requires a combination of subway Line 1 to Pingguoyuan, followed by a local bus or private taxi.