Beijing Restaurant Review: Arrow Factory's New Taproom

By Noelle Mateer

Summer in Beijing’s food-and-drink scene revolves around two things. The first is beer. The second is brunch. Arrow Factory’s New Taproom on the Liangma River marries the two.

For the record, we’re not sure why winter doesn’t also revolve around these things – what is it about the cold that keeps Beijingers from brunching? Surely January is when we need boozy Saturday afternoons most? We only know that spring and summer are undoubtedly brunch seasons. And the new Arrow Factory Taproom has opened just in time.

Granted, the pub’s Anglo-Saxon fare is good for after work. Its dishes are hearty enough for dinner. And they’re high-quality enough for get-togethers and casual dates. But it’s brunch we think this space is made for. The pub offers a full English breakfast for you Brits, huevos rancheros for you North Americans (RMB90 and RMB80 respectively, including coffee) and Bloody Marys (RMB35 with your brunch) for anyone else.

Not that we’re ignoring the beer. This second location has the same brews as its first one, which, yes, is still operating out of its delightfully painted wooden shack in Gulou. The new taproom matches the first’s smarts for interior design, and to prove it, I am about to write a sentence I once never thought possible: It is industrial-chic with personality. That means exposed faux-distressed walls, yes, but also swaths of patterned tiles on the floor.  

Arrow Factory’s food is designed to soak up all that beer. We enjoyed the classic steak sandwich (RMB85). Even the non-English among us loved the traditionally English steak and ale pie (RMB85), accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and green peas.

The pulled-pork pita (RMB76) was refreshingly light – and the fact that we’re describing pulled pork as ‘light’ should give you an idea of the other dishes’ heft. One does not munch on these gently. One gobbles. One wolves.

And then one gulps. We’re partial to Arrow Factory’s syrupy-yet-sessionable Belgian Bruin, but the Seeing Double IPA appears to be the reigning champ of the place.

The overall quality and consistency of the brews doesn’t yet match that of the trifecta of big dawgs Great Leap, Slow Boat and Jing-A. But they’re certainly excellent, and as beer drinkers, we’re more than happy to add this place to our after-work rotation. Or our workday-lunch rotation. Or our cancel-your-plans-for-the-rest-of-the-day rotation.

Sun, Tue-Thu 11.30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11.30am-2am; 1 Xindong Lu (at Liangmahe Nanlu) 朝阳区新东路1号 (亮马河南路) (8532 5335)

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