Price Key

$ Entrées less than ¥100

$$ Entrées ¥100-500

$$$ Entrées more than ¥500

Best Atmosphere: At the end of a quiet, winding alley, Dali Courtyard ($$) serves food from China’s southern Yunnan province in an open courtyard under the stars.

Best Café: Houhai’s Gulou Avenue is home to plenty of hip cafés, but Alba ($) is the coolest of them all, with its kitschy interior, cute roof terrace, and great coffee.

Best Beijing Duck: With so many great duck restaurants, it’s a difficult task to pick a winner, but the unpretentious vibe and family recipe at Li Qun ($$) put it over the top.

Best Splurge: Maison Boulud ($$$) has all the fixings for a memorable splurge: a French celebrity chef, chic decor, immaculate service, and, of course, incredible gourmet food.

Best Hot Pot: It’s worth the line at Hai Di Lao ($). The hot pot here is widely held to be the best in Beijing thanks to its flavorful broth and quality ingredients. A bonus: women can get manicures while they wait.

Best For Something Different: Try a Chinese cuisine that’s not so well known at Three Guizhou Men ($$), where the tangy pickles of southwestern China add a distinctive flavor to the dishes.

Best Casual Fine Dining: Enjoy top-quality brunch favorites like steak, huevos rancheros, and pancakes at chef Billy Bolton’s innovative and homey Chef Too ($$).

Best Sandwiches: Grab a Serbian sausage baguette and chill on the terrace at Kiosk ($), one of Sanlitun’s most enduringly popular eateries due to its speedy Western fare and striking pink exterior.

Most Authentic Indian: Residents of Beijing’s University District know that the best and most authentic Indian food can be found at Ganges ($$).

Best Comfort Food: The Kro’s Nest ($$) serves up some of the tastiest Western food in town, so if you’re craving the flavors of home, drop in and see how they measure up when it comes to pizza and classic American desserts like funnel cake.