Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 19 Wudaoying Hutong, 11.30am-2pm & 5.30-9.30pm; ; Yonghegong-Lama Temple)
Běijīng's
first fully vegan restaurant not only does extremely healthy food, but is also environment-
ally sound. Not a drop of cooking oil is thrown away (instead, the leftover oil is turned in-
to soap!), napkins and the like are made from recycled paper and the food is largely or-
ganic (it actually has a separate, 100% organic menu, although much of the main menu is
organic too). The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and the whole restaurant is
nonsmoking. Don't come here if you're in a hurry, though. Service is notoriously slow.
CAFÉ DE LA POSTE$$
( Yúnyóu Yì; 58 Yonghegong Dajie, mains ¥60-80; 12.30-3pm & 6pm-midnight; Yonghegong-Lama Temple)
Just down the street from the Lama Temple, this is the closest that Běijīng gets to an au-
thentic French bistro. With its relaxed vibe and friendly service, it's a key meeting point
for French expats. A small bar area opens into an intimate, nicely lit dining space. The
food is unpretentious and hearty; the steaks (from ¥82) are impressive cuts of meat. But it
does a decent Salade Lyonnais (¥38), too, while the desserts include the renowned Death
by Chocolate (¥48). There's a three-course set lunch (¥78) during the week and brunch is
available at weekends (¥120). The wine list starts at ¥138 a bottle. The bar stays open late,
has clientele spilling out onto the pavement in the summer and is one of the cheapest
places to enjoy a drink (draft beer ¥10, pastis ¥8).
|FRENCH
VINEYARD CAFÉ$$
( Pútáo Yuànr;
www.vineyardcafe.cn
;
31 Wudaoying Hutong, mains ¥70-80; set lunches ¥55-60; lunch & dinner,
closed Mon; Yonghegong-Lama Temple)
A huge hit with expats, this cafe-restaurant was the
first place to open its doors on the now increasingly trendy lane, Wudaoying Hutong. It's
a particularly popular destination for brunch or lunch, and the British owner does an ex-
cellent full English breakfast. There's a nice conservatory, a nonsmoking area and lots of
sofas to sink into. In the evening, it becomes a restaurant that serves up Western standards
such as mussels in white wine (¥45), as well as being a laid-back spot to relax with a
drink.
|WESTERN
mains ¥70-80; 11.30am-11.30pm, closed Mon; Andingmen)
, which serves authentic English pub
grub in a rustic Chinese
píngfáng
(bungalow).
NOODLE IN$$
|PAN-ASIAN
