June 2023 | Beijing Food, Drink, & Activity Recap

With its history, culture, modernity, nightlife, and neighborhood hutongs, China’s capital city is an extraordinary city to live in. As a Beijing expat of 5 years (and China expat of 8) I love rediscovering old favorites or exploring new finds here in the capital of China. Rachel’s Recap of June 2023 in Beijing I first visited Beijing in 2016 for a short trip, and eventually moved to China’s capital city in 2018. Once you start to soak in the enormous size of the city, you really start to feel the unique blend of ancient traditions and bustling modernity. Over the last 5 years it’s been amazing to visit the major sites like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven multiple times, but also explore the hidden gems, unique locations, and the cafes, restaurants, and mom-and-pop shops of Beijing. So I’ve decided to share some of what I’m up to in Beijing in a monthly recap. I hope to bring you some of my favorite, interesting, or unique eats, drinks, sites, and activities in Beijing, from the historical hutongs to the downtown Central Business District, and everything in between. HINT: Some of these locations may not accurately appear on Google Maps or other Western apps. I use Dianping, a Chinese app and mini-program, to find locations and accurately navigate to them. Rachel’s Recap of June 2023 in BeijingToast at the OrchidCJ LoungeUrban Green Coffee Dynasty Garden Swimming Pool in Shunyi, Beijing The Daily Bagel 串门儿 (Chaunmener)Sugar House Coffee 糖房咖啡ConfidentialBar Carolle Rachel’s Recap of June 2023 in Beijing Toast at the Orchid A lovely brunch spot inside the Orchid Hotel in the Bao Chao hutong, Toast has both a modern indoor seating and a rooftop on the third floor where you can enjoy a fusion of Mediterranean and Chinese style dishes. I personally like their frittata with Sichaun bacon, and their shashuka. Address: Toast at The Orchid 北京市东城区宝钞胡同65号 CJ Lounge A stunning Beijing rooftop bar with a view overlooking Beijing’s Worker’s Stadium! Address: CJ LOUNGE 工人体育场东路丙2号14层1401-1403号 Urban Green Coffee A bright green garden inside a Hutong coffee shop – what more could you want? This coffee shop surprised me, as it’s super close to my old Hutong neighborhood. It’s crazy to see how these Hutongs grow and change over time. Address: URBAN GREEN 前永康胡同11号东雍文化园1层11号 Dynasty Garden Swimming Pool in Shunyi, Beijing An expat favorite, this swimming pool in Beijing is in a community in Shunyi. It has a bar with wine, beer, and drinks, as well as a restaurant where you can order pizza and other snacks while you cool off. Address: 丽斯花园(北京市顺义区开发街16号) The Daily Bagel This shop isn’t new, but it’s a favorite of mine to visit by Liangma River, especially since I started F45 in Beijing and can *conveniently* walk by it after my workout classes for a well deserved Bacon, Egg, and Cheese bagel. Address: The Daily Bagel 北京市朝阳区麦子店西街39号部落方舟一层Y107 串门儿 (Chaunmener) Summertime in Beijing means BBQ and beer – and the best place to enjoy those is at a BBQ rooftop. We have a usually favorite nearby Gongti, but I was recommended this place in Wudaoying Hutong and think it might just be a new favorite spot. Chuanmener has great beer selections and lots and lots of BBQ and other dishes. I was too busy enjoying the food and company here to take great pics, but I’m sure I’ll be back again to do it better justice! Address: 串门儿·精酿小酒馆(安定门内大街店) 北二环五道营胡同73号院后 Sugar House Coffee 糖房咖啡 This place has been a favorite of mine for about a year and is a place I like to recommend to newbies to Beijing especially on a tourist day out by Houhai Lake and the Drum Tower. It’s usually quite busy now with tourists, but on a slow week day you can get a spot to yourself to enjoy the rooftop view. Address: 糖房咖啡(什刹海店) 北京市西城区前海东沿22号(庆云楼饭庄3层4层,银锭桥旁) Confidential Confidential brings a 1920s speakeasy vibe to Beijing with a bar hidden behind a barber shop! Just find the right button to press to open the door and enter. (These photos are from Dianping, as I didn’t take many good ones on this night, but you can see my video below!) Address: CONFIDENTIAL(苹果社区北区2号楼C座店) 北京市朝阳区百子湾路苹果社区北区二号楼C座2-72 Bar Carolle And to round out the list, one last rooftop I discovered this month that I feel offers a lovely location and unique vibe in Beijing’s Liangma River area: Bar Carolle. Address: Barcarolle 北京市朝阳区燕莎亮马港湾大厦南楼三层