Best for groups

Najia Xiaoguan

Opened by a Beijinger who inherited his Manchu family's cooking traditions. Huangtanzi, or "royal jar of chicken broth", is a signature dish.

11am-9:30pm. To the west of 119 High School, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District. 6568-6553.

Banana Leaf's Zhongguancun branch

Restaurant staff perform Southeast Asian dances and songs every evening as their colleagues serve up mouth-watering Thai and Southeast Asian style meal.

11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11:30pm. 1st & 2nd floor, to the south of B area, Zhongguancun Shopping Square, Haidian District. 5986-3666.

Best for a feast

Crystal Jade

A decent place to eat an elaborate Cantonese meal.

11am-2:30pm, 5-10pm. BB82 Subway Level, Oriental Square, 1 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District. 8515-0238.

Lulu Restaurant

A Shanghai restaurant that has adapted its style to the taste of the North Chinese, with dishes that are less oily and sweet. A good place to eat big hairy crabs.

11am-2:30pm, 5-10pm. A 1 Ciyunsi Lu, Chaoyang District. 6508-0101.

Best place for a date

Xin Ji Shi

The restaurant offers Shanghai classical and new style dishes that focus on fresh ingredients, moderate and original tastes.

10:30am-2pm, 5-9pm. 1-1 Beifengwo Lu, Haidian District. 5184-9999.

Mei Mansion

Set in a courtyard house, the food and decor here is reminiscent of Mei Lanfang, Chinese Peking Opera master of the 1930s. You don't have to order as meals are arranged by the chefs according to different seasons.

11:30am-2pm, 5:30-10pm. 24 Daxiangfeng Hutong, Xicheng District. 6612-6847/4524

Best views

The Peninsula Restaurant

A restaurant set on the site of a Qing Dynasty royal, high official's residence, with top quality Cantonese dishes.

10:30am-10:30pm. To the east of south gate, Chaoyang Park, 19 Chaoyang Gongyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District. 6507-7888.

Xiao Wang Home Restaurant Ritan branch

This restaurant inside Ritan Park offers a cuisine of its own, that is, whatever is good Chinese food, served in a foreign expat friendly manner.

11am-10pm. Inside Ritan Park. 8561-7859.

Best design

Garden of Delights

This restaurant is a surprise in the noisy Donghuamen area near Wangfujing. The eatery is one of the most spacious and has the highest roof in town. Foods are modern adaptations of traditional Latin American cuisine.

Noon-2:30pm, 6-11:30pm. 53 Dong'anmen Dajie, Dongcheng District. 5138-5688.

Mystery Eight

Bamboo carvings are symbolic of this restaurant. The food is a fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Western styles.

5:30-11pm. Bldg 2, 18 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. 6515-8585.

Best chefs

Morel's Beijing

Belgian restaurant with the best Belgian beers and food in Beijing.

11am-10:30pm, 2:30-6pm. Tuesday-Sunday. 1/F eastern block, 27 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. 6437-3939.

(China Daily 01/24/2007 page5)