Beijing, China + Add a trip

In my opinion one of the best restaurants in Beijing. Great food from Guizhou province which, again in my humble opinion, is more flavourful and multifaceted than its more famous neighbour province Sichuan. Try the ribs – they are to die for! Good for large groups and small. Owned by a group of artists from all from Guizhou (originally 3 of them – hence the name) – all art is by the owners.

Mare, the excellent Spanish restaurant decided that the latest increase of rent by the landlord was too much and closed the restaurant on Xindong Lu. There is however a new Mare restaurant at Ground Floor, E-Tower, 12 Guanghua Lu, CBD/Guomao. You may also try the owners other restaurant Hola in San Li Tun The Village.

World fusion cuisine and an decent selection of wines, all at good prices. Friendly staff and service. Make sure to book your table in advance.

The Bookworm is an excellent meeting place. Draft beer, espresso, good sandwiches, and free wifi, as well as a used and new book store. A few pictures: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=bookworm&w=49295397%40N00

Very large rooms, nice design (mostly mauve colours, neither very modern, nor traditional but nice mix, if a bit dark in the lobby and elevators), great-looking bathrooms (though pressure is not great), very comfortable bed, friendly staff (though some minor challenges, they forgot my wake-up call and it took them 5 min to check that I hadn't used the mini bar), no gouging on extras (free WiFi, free local calls, incl. mobiles after I prepaid approx. C$180), the map on the website is too small for cabbies to read. My stay was too short to sample the neighbourhood other than a good Hunan restaurant almost next door. Overall a strong recommendation as a designy option that is not too expensive.

Lovely courtyard hotel in the hutong area near the centre of town. Awesome staff.

Beijing Gongti A.Hotel 中国 北京 工人体育场东门内 Inside East Gate of Workers' Stadium, Beijing, P.R.China 100027 Tel: 8610-6586 5858 or 13801250781 Book at: a-hotel@hotmail.com infor at: gongti@hotmail.com

This is an apart-hotel, excellent for a longer stay. They had a very high standard of service and the apartments are modern, nice decor, very clean and spacious. It's near Guomao metro station, easy to get to central Beijing, and a convenient location for many restaurants and shopping. Not a great walking area, but within walking distance, there was a surprising many things to do.

This is a great place for taking out of town visitors because you have to wander around Hou Hai (usually as the sun is setting) and then make your way back through the hutongs to find this hidden gem.

The food is fantastic, I love Yunnan food in general, so to find this place has been a pleasure. The prices aren't cheap, however for 2 people you'll spend about RMB150 - 200 if you order a few dishes and alcohol. Try the eggplant, crispy potato triangles, the lettuce wraps and the fried cheese. The skewers are very good as well.

The atmosphere also adds to the quality of the meal; the rooftop is lovely and perfect for summer dining. I love the trees and plants all over, it is colorful and cool and feels authentic in a touristy way (and I can only say that since I have yet to visit Yunnan Province).

It is a great choice for yummy food and a cool atmosphere.

Excerpt of real review from www.localnoodles.com

The restaurant has moved back close their old previous location on San Li Tun Lu. Their lemon ice cream is still as good as it used to be.

tradition meets with change!

this courtyard boutique hotel is great. in an authentic old beijing hutong, it's traditional with all the modern touches, highly recommend, the tel no. now is changed though when i was there:+86-10-65239598, +86-10-65237981 , web: www.hotelcotecourbj.com

if you're looking for some authentic malaysian, cafe sambal's the place to be. chilli crab tossed in peppers and crunchy dried shrimp is mouth watering yummminess..not to be forgotten curry chicken and the best mojitos in town..after dinner head over to bed, tapas + bar to chill..great venues in the hutongs..

Best Peking duck I've had, bar none. Simply fantastic.