Daphne Onglo and Franco Io are from Malaysia and the US, respectively. They live in Beijing with their 4-year-old daughter, Sara Abigail Ziqi Io and their niece, Connie Chai (age 16), who currently attends the British School of Beijing to gain exposure to an international environment. Io works in hospitality, while Onglo is a housewife. The family initially lived in Beijing from 2007 to 2009, then returned in 2011.
Favorite Family
Restaurant Lime Cafe at Central Park
Date Night
Morton’s Steakhouse for their great martinis
New Discoveries
We recently discovered Wild Honey at Fortune Mall. It’s a cute little cafe with pancakes and good breakfast selections.
Rainy Day Activities
We go out and jump into puddles! If it’s raining heavily, we stay home and do arts and crafts together or play board games like Zingo, Bingo, children’s Monopoly, and Chutes and Ladders.
Favorite Neighborhood
Central Park, because it’s big enough for the girls to play in without worrying about passing vehicles. It has everything: cafes, bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, banks, and more.
Weekend Activities
Both girls take private dance lessons in Wangjing; Sara does ballet while Connie does Korean pop. We also do things as a family, like walking in Chaoyang Park, cycling, and rollerblading.
Favorite Snack
Frozen yogurt from Symphony Bakery in Central Park. They have Japanese soft ice cream year-round!
Favorite Places to Shop
Hongqiao Market for knick knacks and stationary; H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo for clothes.
Best Place for a Special Occasion
Fat Duck at Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel for the best Peking duck and Cantonese food in town.
photo by SUI