Domus $$$

115 Nanchizi Dajie, near Dongchang’an Jie
10/8511-8015

HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 6 p.m.-1 a.m.

COST: Entrées more than ¥500

METRO: Tian’anmen East (Line 1)

Just next door to the Forbidden City [1], this classy Euro restaurant and lounge is a 60-seat, casual fine-dining venue with a great reputation and central location.

The ground floor is a bar and café, serving fresh oysters and gourmet burgers, while the lower level contains the main restaurant area. The decor consists of bare slate walls, painted white eaves, Minotti furniture, and soft, cream-colored furnishings inside a renovated historical building.

The menu focuses on home-cooked European staples like bouillabaisse, risotto, goat cheese, and pan-fried meats. The wine list is comprehensive. A meal at Domus won’t be cheap, but the quality and atmosphere are top notch.