In all the hullabaloo of Halloween and other big things happening in Beijing right now, the start of this year’s autumnal edition of Restaurant Week might have slipped under your radar. But that’s what we’re here for – to remind you to take advantage of the next 39 days to dine at some of Beijing’s finest restaurants at a fraction of their usual price.

This time around, 105 venues await your choosing – so whether you are looking for fine or casual dining, Japanese or French cuisine, steak or hot pot, there’s definitely something for everyone. On top of the usual categories of restaurants from Award-Winning to Best Value, there’s a new category:  Bordeaux. This is specially reserved with restaurants that have designed a menu to pair with carefully chosen Bordeaux wines, and there are just six restaurants under this category – all of them highly-rated.

If you’re unsure where to start with so many choices, let us help! A great recommendation for the whole family is Vesta by Rolling Stone – located inside Joy City Chaoyang next to the U2 by UCCA museum, which offers kid-friendly exhibitions like the current Alice Curiouser & Curiouser. For Restaurant Week Vesta is offering a lunch set at RMB 78 and a dinner set at RMB 118 – both include their popular Beer-Marinated Roasted Half Chicken. The newly-opened Peach Houhai is also joining Restaurant Week in this edition, and will be great for our friends in Xicheng District who have a craving for Peach’s signature menu items, such as their Chicken Panini (available in their RMB 118 lunch set) and Mamacita Bowl (available in their RMB 198 dinner set).

Beijing’s resident expat foodie queen Ana Lourenco recommends CHAR Bar & Grill at the Intercontinental Sanlitun, which is categorized under Dining with a View for its view of Taikooli that is colorfully lit at night. As you’d expect from a Michelin-awarded & Black Pearl one diamond recipient, CHAR’s Lunch Elite menu starts from RMB 278 per person and their Dinner Elite is priced at RMB 378.

Scan the QR code to make your Restaurant Week reservation now!

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Images: Pexels

Spring heralds warmth, flowers, and happy full bellies as Restaurant Week takes over the capital city from Mar 10-Apr 3. The biannual food festival sees some of Beijing’s best dining experiences offering lower prices, while also providing the prime opportunity to try that Michelin-starred restaurant you’ve had your eye on for a while now.

During last year’s second edition of Restaurant Week, my husband and I made a date night of our pick – Brasserie 1893 at the Waldorf Astoria. It was a lovely night to remember. So now we’re taking advantage of every edition of Restaurant Week to try a new dining spot since the capital is rife with them!

Among the new additions to 2022’s first installment of Restaurant Week are Japanese yakiniku restaurant ootoku, rated 10 for its spectacular interior, alongside steak specialist L’OX by FLO, and french bistro Cours et Pavillons tucked in the Weijia hutongs in the heart of Beijing.

I myself am eager to sample the elite offerings at ootoku with its Wagyu beef, foie gras nigiri sushi, and sashimi platter, which are available as lunch for RMB 375 and dinner at RMB 1,280. While that’s slightly higher than my average meal budget, these prices are a fraction of what dining at this quality establishment would otherwise cost outside of Restaurant Week.

It’s worth mentioning that categories and booking your seats on the Dining City app have changed just a tad. This year, you can search restaurants under “Best Value,” “Dining With a View,” and “Classic,” as well as the usual “Amex Privileges” listings and “Award Winner” categories.

With more than 90 restaurants taking part in Restaurant Week this time around, it might seem daunting to narrow your choices. ChiFanForCharity President and Beijing’s widely-acknowledged “Foodie Emperor” Preston Thomas suggests Rive Gauche and Opera Bombana for some fine dining, while the Tapas Bar at InterContinental is “Foodie Queen” Ana Lourenco’s recommendation.

Well, what are you waiting for? Scan the QR code or search “DiningCity” under Mini-Programs in WeChat to book your spots now!

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Images: Pexels, DiningCity, Vivienne-Tseng Rush

Although the first official day of autumn may have slipped by right under our noses last Sunday, we sure as heck aren’t about to let the upcoming Restaurant Week Autumn 2021 do the same. For the uninitiated, Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to dine at some of Beijing’s best culinary sites for a much lower-than-usual price! So without further ado, we’re pleased to announce that Restaurant Week Autumn 2021 is open for reservations beginning today, Aug 10!

This time around, Restaurant Week brings us 25 days of culinary ecstasy, Aug 12 to Sep 5. This is your chance to experience a three-course meal at top restaurants in the capital, such as Wolfgang’s, JingYaaTang, Rive Gauche, and more! Prices start from just RMB 78 for lunch sets and RMB 298 for dinner set menus, all the way to the Elite offerings for those willing to splurge. You’ve just got to move fast and book your date at the restaurant you desire because those seats get snapped up fast! American Express cardholders enjoyed priority booking beginning Aug 5, and will also enjoy 25 percent off selected house drinks at participating restaurants. Likewise, if you’re a BMW member, you’ll also be thrilled to know that you are eligible for exclusive privileges at select Michelin-starred and Black Pearl restaurants during Restaurant Week.

When booking your seats on the Dining City app, restaurants are conveniently categorized to help whittle down your search for the most suitable restaurant according to your needs. Take a look under the Kid-Friendly section to find restaurants such as Madam Goose (the only Michelin-starred restaurant in China specializing in roast goose), Restaurant Week newcomer April Puffer (which specializes in you, guessed it, pufferfish delicacies), and Meilu Hot Pot. These restaurants are all equipped with high chairs for little ones to join in the dining fun.

2021’s second edition of Restaurant Week is also vegetarian and vegan-friendly, with the inclusion of previous Restaurant Week award winner Vege Wonder and Miao Veggie Space. As a personal recommendation, and in honor of my home nation Singapore celebrating its National Day on Aug 9, I would definitely take the chance to try Jumbo Seafood and taste their famous Singaporean chili crab.

Scan the QR code below and let the feasting begin!

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Images: Unsplash

Hey, fellow Beijing foodies! The next restaurant week has been announced and this year they’ve extended it to three whole weeks instead of just one.

Every year, restaurant week finds Beijing’s top restaurants and asks them to create set lunch and dinner menus that showcase the restaurant’s signature dishes at a special price. Basically, it’s a week (or in this case, three weeks) of dining at a discount. Yum!

Chef Ivan Miguez at Rive Gauche

Take Rive Gauche at The PuXuan Hotel for example. The restaurant has one Michelin plate and Chef Ivan Miguez and his interpretation of French classics have made this bohemian Parisian restaurant a favorite amongst Beijing’s foodies. An average meal at Rive Gauche isn’t without delightful culinary surprises from the kitchen as they share their latest mind-blowing creations, and a meal at Rive Gauche usually costs you around RMB 500 per person. During Restaurant Week, however, Chef Miguez’s 3-course lunch menu is RMB 138 and the dinner menu is RMB 288.
*Rive Gauche is currently closed. Their Restaurant Week menu will be available for booking soon.

Scan the QR code below to see the list of restaurants that have already been announced and the menu that they’ve created just for Restaurant Week. Over the course of the next few weeks, more and more restaurants will be added to the list.

I love a good dining deal and as a Restaurant Week veteran for the past eight years, I recommend that you start skimming through the menus before booking opens so you know which ones to go for as soon as the countdown reaches zero. Restaurant Week seating is limited at each restaurant, so you can bet that seats at the city’s most expensive restaurants are going to get snagged up within minutes.

This year’s Restaurant Week is from Apr 30 to May 24, which means if you plan your foodie adventures well, you can spend five blissful days of May Holiday dining in style for a fraction of the price.

Photos: Dining City, PuXuan Hotel