Don't know the difference between Sichuan, Cantonese and Shanghai cuisine? Ever wondered where to find the best duck in Beijing?
Check out our "Ask the Locals" travel guide to Beijing, China, where local ex-pats fill us in on everything from favorite restaurants to bars with the best views to live music joints that you don't want to miss.
Plus, tune into
Peter's radio show this weekend, broadcasting from the Beijing International Hotel, where he talks to Beijing locals as well as some of the top names in the travel industry from the World Travel & Tourism Council's annual summit.
Guoyao Xiaoju is a family-run restaurant offering ridiculously inexpensive dishes as well as an exceptional experience sampling Tan Family Cuisine, a little-known and unique Chinese culinary genre that dates back to the late Qing dynasty. The small restaurant is in a courtyard setting tucked away in one of Beijing's hutongs, or old alleyways. 58 Bei Santiao, Jiaodao Kou, Andingmennei Dajie, Dongcheng District
Jun Qin Hua is small and unassuming restaurant serves the exotic minority cuisine of Guizhou province. One of the most popular dishes is
lazi ji, bite-sized pieces of chicken smothered in cloves of garlic and crushed chilies. Another favorite is the sour fish soup, the specialty of the ethnic Miao minority, which is prepared with the most tender live Black River fish. 88 Meishuguan Houjie, Dongcheng District
Set in a laid-back courtyard house,
Dali serves the exotic minority dishes of Yunnan province, from ox liver mushrooms to jasmine bloom and haloumi-like grilled cheese. 67 Xiaojingchang Hutong, Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
Get more tips on eating in China with Guide to Eating in Beijing.
The foods of the far-flung city of
Kashgar is transported to Beijing, offering a gamut of Uighur dishes, which are mainly associated with mutton and lamb. Specialties include
samsa--meat-filled bread, hand-pulled noodles, pilaf and kebabs--seasoned with fragrant cumin and spiced with ground chillies. This restaurant, which is run by the Kashgar City Government, brings in fresh ingredients each day from Xijjiang, in China's far northwest. 60 Pen'er Hutong, Xuanwu District
Madam Zhu's Kitchen is MSG-free and is a great restaurant for savoring delicate Cantonese and Shanghai dishes as well as lip-tingling Sichuan fare, all three with a modern twist, without losing any authentic flavor. B1/F, Bldg D, Vantone Center, 6A Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Don't miss Noodling Around Asia: Culinary Vacations in the East
The duck at
Duck de Chine is as good as it gets. The bird is roasted to a molasses-like color, and is served with an excellent homemade sauce for coating the perfectly done pancakes. The restaurant also serves traditional Cantonese favorites, such as sweet and sour pork and short ribs with scallion. The location has a wonderful design in what was once a factory complex. Chaoyang Hidden City 1949 Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu
Just a stone's throw from the east gate of Jingshan Park and the Forbidden City, the
Shudu Bingguan is run by the Chengdu city government and so offers some of the most authentic spicy Sichuan cuisine in Beijing. Chengdu Municipal Office, 30 Shatan Hou Jie, Dongcheng District
At
Blu Lobster, Chef Jordi Villegas Serra's cooking style is distinctively simple, yet the taste of each ingredient is assertive and complementary. You can expect influences from France, Italy, the Middle-East, and Asia, mixed with his own Spanish culinary roots. 29 Zizhuyuan Lu, Shangri-la Hotel, Haidian District
Find more great restaurants in our Culinary Travel section.
Café de la Poste is a small French bistro near the Lama Temple that became an immediate hit among the local French community when it opened in 2006, and it's still going strong. The steaks are easy on the pocket and a decent house wine is offered by the glass. 58 Yonghegong Dajie, Dongcheng District
Capital M is making a splash and posing a challenge to the high-end restaurants in the city, offering an incredibly extensive menu with a diverse international cuisine, including Kashgar-inspired chicken. Wonderful interior design and magnificent al fresco dining views of two of the city's few remaining city gates in the near distance. 3/F, No. 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street, Chongwen District
At
Cepe, many of the Italian dishes here revolve around
boletus, the Italian word for mushrooms. Contemporary in style and spectacular in taste. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1 Jinchengfang Dong Jie, Xicheng District
Learn how China is changing: Symbol of 21st Century China Travel: Demolish
It's best to park yourself at the sushi counter of
Yotsuba, where sushi master does his art right in front of you. Fresh fish is flown in daily from Tokyo. 2 Xinzhong Jie Xili, Chaoyang District
For locals,
Wudaoying Hutong, a small alleyway near the Lama Temple, has become the new Nanluoguxiang (aka NLGX, or the trendy hutong lined with cafes, boutique shop and bars). Recent additions on Wudaoying include a rocker bar and a new gig venue, as well as a clothing studio from Chinese designer, Dong Liang.
Ichikura is a whiskey bar located on the side of acrobatic theater, Chaoyang. It's not easy to find on your own, but once you get there, you'll discover more than 100 different malts in this intimate little bar. 36 Dongsanhuan Bei Lu
For more great places, see our Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Beijing, China
Looking to catch the latest up and coming bands in Asia? Check out
D22, a live venue located out in the international student neighborhood of Wudaokou. 242 Chengfu Lu
For a roof with a view, head to
China Bar in the Park Hyatt, the highest bar in the city, or
Yin Bar on top of Emperor Hotel for beautiful views of the sun setting over the Forbidden City.
The artsy Dashanzi art district is home to
798 Space, a sprawling exhibition space that is aways worth a look. However, the REAL art stuff happens up in
Caochangdi, a dusty art village further out of town which is under threat of demolition. Ceramic 3 St. 798 Road, 798 Art District, 4. Jiuxianqiao Road/Chaoyang District
If you want to experience karaoke in Beijing,
Wain Wain is the one to go to. It's hidden away on the 35th floor of the Xiandai SOHO building complex. It has exceptional views and is so tucked away you could almost be in someone's apartment. Rm.3512, Bldg A, SOHO New Town, 88 Jianguo Lu,
My personal favorite place to go to get away from the urban grind is
Dongyuemiao, a Daoist temple on Chaowai. It's not particularly beautiful or important, but it is often empty, which a lot of the more famous temples/spots here are not. You can simply just go there to take a break from the madness.
Edited by Sarika Chawla for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related links on PeterGreenberg.com:
Call The Show at 888-88-PETER
