Beijing area guide: CBD

Beijing's business district has more to offer than just banks and skyscrapers

The beating heart of Beijing's financial sector is home to some of the city's best restaurant's and cafés, especially if you're looking for an international flavour. Hit up the swanky hotel bars for high end cocktails with high up views — no better way to feel like baller than by sipping a martini at 80 floors above ground level.

CAFÉS

Moka Bros

Beijing's original homegrown café and casual dining brand offers plenty of well-lit space, a solid pastry selection and a full dinner menu suitable for both work and play.

Shop L139A, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang district

Basic Coffee

This café is lit. Not quite in the 'Turn down for what' party sense, but in the ambient stakes, Basic Coffee's swathing in natural straight-from-the-sun glow makes it one of the most pleasant perches in town – belying its location in the rather dilapidated Jianwai SOHO, just south of Guomao. Even better, it serves up some of the best brews in town, and is one of the few with a creamy, summery nitro – nitrogen-blasted cold brew – on tap (38RMB). Food is limited to a fair selection of cakes – opt for the king: the carrot (29RMB).

Third floor, Building 9, Jianwai SOHO East, Henghui Dong Lu, Chaoyang district

Central Perk

In the Insta-conscious world of 2018, it seems coffee is a drink best consumed with a Macbook and a side of exposed brick wall. Easy to forget, then, that it's actually best enjoyed with friends, or in the case of Central Perk, Friends, the seminal sitcom from which it takes its inspiration. A fairly faithful replica of the show's beloved coffee house, its lattés (32RMB) are alright, episodes play on the TV from opening to close, and despite being found in the soulless Chaowai SOHO, it's among the more cosier cafs in the city. Novelty, sure, but it's certainly doing something that no other in Beijing is.

Shop 0616, Building A, Chaowai SOHO, 6 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Da Xiao

In the days of yore, when an air of optimism used to flutter through the hutongs, Daxiao (or BigSmall Coffee) established a faithful following by providing what is, quite simply, the best value coffee in the city; a mere 22RMB for a top-notch flat white, and 25RMB a latte that good was value unheard of elsewhere, and a sad day it was when the bricks arrived at its doorstep. Fortunately, they sprung back post-bricking to continue the fine work at two new locations – a Jingshan Park-adjacent hutong space, and a compact counter in the CBD. The owner, Zhang Yipeng, is also an avid tea enthusiast, whose ground-tea chapuccino (25RMB) and chaffogato (35RMB) creations give this place another edge.

5Lmeet (formerly Trader's Hotel), 1 Jianguomenwai Daijie, Chaoyang district

RESTAURANTS

Bistrot B

'Bistrot B: a theatrical food experience' is the tagline on the menu at the Rosewood Hotel's French eatery – and they nailed it. The kitchen's front and centre, an open and welcoming sprawl in the middle of the room. Chefs stand over stovetops deglazing pans with red wine and studiously plating dishes moments before they are whisked off onto the floor. Service is warm, engaged and sporting inordinately fashionable uniforms. And when the butter comes showered in lush flakes of Maldon sea salt, you know it's going to be a meal par excellence.

First floor, Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang district

Xiao Susu

Like the rest of present-day Beijing, Susu's offshoot, Xiao Susu, is located in China World Mall. What the digs lack in hutong charm they make up for with tastefully modern decor, with a fantastic L-shaped bar – a pleasure to perch at – dominating a buzzing, east-facing room. The shimmering baguette of a classic meatball banh mi is a sight for sore eyes, a liberal outer glaze offering a chewy textural counterpoint to the softness of the mince. This thing is gorgeous, and the bread alone is enough to make us moan.

Fifth floor, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Migas Mercado

Like Xiao Susu, Migas Mercado is also located in China World Mall, offering the requisite awesome views of the surrounding urban vista. It is also something of a vista in itself, being totally freakin' huge – there's a sprawling terrace bar, and the restaurant itself seems to go on for miles of dimly lit, sensuous Spanish ambience. Certainly, if you're willing to spend a bit of money, you'll leave Mercado well-fed and luxuriously inebriated. But really what counts here is the atmosphere. You're here for a taste of Spain and a truckful of opulence, with a hearty meal to boot.

Seventh floor, China World Mall, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Pizza View

With its art galleries, fine dining restaurants and luxury watch shops, Parkview Green mall seemingly had it all – so long as you didn't want pizza. Mercifully, the days of wandering the halls of the mall in search of a slice came to an end a few years ago with the arrival of Pizza View, the latest project from the same people who brought the thrice-Michelin-starred cuisine of Umberto Bombana from Hong Kong to Beijing at the neighbouring Opera Bombana. And the results are very good indeed.

Second floor, Parkview Green, 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district

BARS

Mei Bar

Depending on how you enter, from the lobby elevator or the dedicated street-level entrance (with its red carpet and private elevator), Mei is either a sprawling cocktail lounge and bandstand or smart wine bar. And just to have all bases covered, there's also a plush whisky bar out back. The drink menus are exhaustive, as you'd expect from any hotel bar worth its salt, and a large outdoor terrace off the wine bar offers exceptional views of the CBD on a clear evening.

Fifth floor, Rosewood Beijing, Jing Guang Centre, Hujialou, Chaoyang district

China Bar

Beijing's original sky bar sits on the 65th floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel with views all the way to the northern Fifth Ring Road (assuming the smog is thin enough to allow you to see that far). China Bar's drinks menu offers an impressive selection of cocktails and wines: its connoisseur list contains enough rare bottles and vintages to delight deep-pocketed grape lovers, with many bottles fetching upwards of 30,000RMB.

65th floor, Park Hyatt Hotel, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Atmosphere

On a clear night, Atmosphere's view is hair-raising. Located on the 80th floor of China World Summit Wing Hotel, this is officially Beijing's highest bar. The  array of comfy couches, extensive drinks list and knowledgeable bartenders make this an excellent chill-out spot for those who can afford the prices.

80th floor, China World Summit Wing Hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, CBD,   Chaoyang district

THINGS TO DO

Parkview Green Fangcaodi

Primarily a commercial space (you’ll be able to pick up your share of Lululemon gear and dine at Element Fresh), Parkview Green Fangcaodi also offers some of the world's most famous artists in a contemporary setting.

9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district

For more places to eat and drink in the CBD, hit 'Read more'.

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