Nothing works up an appetite like a hike through the world’s largest palace complex. But finding somewhere to eat and drink afterwards isn’t easy. The Forbidden City is hemmed in by state buildings, touristy shops, exclusive residential compounds, and Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest (restaurant-free) concrete space. But never fear, Bespoke is here to help!
Slap Up Lunch: Temple Restaurant Beijing
Beijing’s best western restaurant is a 10-15 minute walk from the north gate of the Forbidden City. Best of all, TRB’s set lunch deal is one of Beijing’s foodie bargains: three courses of European-inspired fine dining with lots of tasty extras like their divine cheese puffs and homemade marshmallows, for 135 RMB+15% (4 courses for 188 RMB). Weary legs? Ask the waiter to arrange for the restaurant’s private car to take you back to your hotel, at a fraction over local taxi prices!
23 Shatan Beilu, in the hutongs northeast of the Forbidden City’s north gate, +86 10 8400 2232
Old Beijing Eats: Huang Jia Bing Jiao
You might get a frosty reception here, but that’s because this hutong eatery was once an Imperial ice-storage house – ask for a tour of the basement to see the cave-like Qing-era architecture. The old Beijing-style food is cheap and delicious; try the xiabing – griddled pies with various savoury fillings. To get here from the north exit of the Forbidden City, it’s a bit of a walk through or around the west side of Jingshan Park and north into Gongjian Hutong.
5 Gongjian Hutong, +86 5166 3328
Classic Peking Duck: Lao Zhai Yuan
This ultra local eatery does a fine rendition of the capital’s signature quacker (two price points are available; we found the cheaper duck to be fine), with brittle bronze skin and succulent meat. Rustic, Beijing-inspired supporting dishes are good, too. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk northeast from the north exit of the Forbidden City.
4 Liangguochang Hutong, off Donghuangchengmne Bei Jie, +86 10 6406 1843
Classy Dinner: Brian McKenna @ The Courtyard
Just outside the Forbidden City’s east gate (through which you can exit), this glam eatery is open for lunch (11.30-2pm, arrive by 1.30pm) and dinner (from 6pm). With no lunch deal, the five course international set menu here isn’t cheap at 588 RMB+15%, but it’s certainly memorable, employing culinary tricks inspired by El Bulli and the Fat Duck. If all this seems too fancy, there’s a Subway sandwich joint a couple of hundred metres east, opposite Hotel Kapok.
95 Donghuamen Dajie, +86 10 6526 8883
Beers and Punk Rock – What Bar
This friendly little joint is run by the drummer of a Beijing ska band together with his Scandinavian wife. The house band bashes out the tunes regularly to patrons on threadbare sofas sipping bottled beers. A genuinely hip spot, the fact that this bar is slap-bang in the heart of old Imperial China makes it even more fun.
72 Beichang Jie (just north of the west gate of the Forbidden City), +86 133 4112 2757
Cocktails with a View: Emperor Hotel
From the North Gate it’s a scenic walk around the corner of the Forbidden City and south along Beichizi Jie to the Emperor Hotel, where you’ll be rewarded with one of the city’s nicest open air terrace bars, complete with views of the Forbidden City rooftops. Plus a hot-tub, if you’re game.
33 Qihelou Jie (off Beichizi Jie), +86 10 6526 5566
Bespoke’s Itinerary Design services help you spend more time enjoying the very best of this city and less time scratching your heads! To find out about the many ways we can help enhance and streamline your Beijing experience, contact us at [email protected].
About the author: Tom O’Malley is Propaganda Secretary at Bespoke Beijing. A lifestyle journalist, guidebook author, glutton and bon vivant, Tom is a tireless crusader for fine food, hospitality and tourist experiences in China’s capital.