Beijing's great foodie walking tours: Dashilar

Hit the street to discover Beijing's best food

Take a stroll around Beijing's historic Dashilar neighbourhood, stopping off for dinner and drinks on the way. 

How to start 

3pm Afternoon coffee begins at Berry Beans, formerly a Qing Dynasty brothel and now a third-wave coffee roaster in a delightfully quaint courtyard. The rooftop is a stone’s throw from the nearby hubbub, but remains a peaceful spot to recharge before some serious eating ahead.

4pm Go for a stroll around Qianmen. Take in the restored architecture of the old front gate of the walled city and catch a glimpse of some of the best juxtapositions of new and old in Beijing.

5pm Grab a traditional Beijing pastry from one of the numerous snack stalls along Meishi Dajie, which will take you back towards dinner.

6pm Dinner is at Deyuan Roast Duck, the unpretentious and authentic kaoya joint that serves up thick slices of juicy breast at the popular lao Beijing price of 158RMB per bird. Be warned: they'll hurry you out before you've even finished your last pancake, but for the price and atmosphere, it's unbeatable.

7.30pm Catch a film at Beijing’s oldest cinema, just 150m away. Daguanlou has been screening pictures for over a century, and is awash with vintage charm. 

Films are usually in Mandarin, but its more about reclining on red silk, Ming dynasty-style couches and sipping Tsingtao at this classic film house (35-50RMB per ticket).

9pm Grab a jianbing.

Credit: Untour Food Tours.

After lounging on the sofa at Daguanlou, stroll along the main drag of Dashilar Dajie and grab a late night jianbing.

Credit: Untour Food Tours.

This quintessential Beijing street food, a thin egg pancake filled with meat and lettuce and brushed with spicy sauce, is the only way to end a night in 'old Peking' (5-8RMB each).

For full venue details, hit 'Read more'.

More from Time Out Beijing