New agenda out now!

Following the excesses of Christmas, and with financial prudence the mantra of the moment, many of our budgets are tighter than the waistlines on our pants. With that in mind, we sought refuge by seeking out Beijing’s best happy hours for this issue’s cover feature. For The Lists, we journey out to the suburbs for a roundup of Shunyi’s best restaurants, boil up the best restaurants for having hot pot Beijing-style and take a peek at the arty offerings inside a selection of Beijing art galleries.

In Spotlights, we talk wining and dining with Will Yorke, the main man at The Vineyard Cafe; co-owner of Salud, Nicolas Pellissier, tells us about his plans for his new bar, Ginkgo; and Inspired’s Jasmine Keel gives us her tips for getting ahead in 2009.

In Try These, we enjoy fine Cantonese cuisine at Yu, give the thumbs up to W Dine & Wine’s new “cocotte” concept, and save some cash for the weekend by snacking on Xian Bai Wei’s delicious RMB 3.5 roujiamo!

January is a relatively quiet month in Beijing, but as ever, you can always rely on agenda to keep your diary packed, with full and detailed Day-by-Day event listings for the best happenings in the city!

Let us know what you think! Get in touch with your comments and suggestions by e-mailing iainshaw@agendabeijing.com

agenda is on the lookout for enthusiastic and wildly talented intern writers and photographers to contribute to the magazine. As well as being skilled writers or photographers, ideal candidates will be motivated individuals who enjoy getting out and exploring Beijing’s dining and nightlife scenes, as well as the city’s culture and history. An encyclopedic knowledge of Beijing is desirable, but we'll settle for inquisitive individuals who can take initiative and work independently. Both native and non-native English speakers welcomed. Send your resume with samples of your work to iainshaw@agendabeijing.com