Luxe Good: Deli de Luxe Offers Organic and Seasonal Foods

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” said Ben Franklin. That old chestnut may well be the exact opposite of how a career in Beijing’s media works, so it’s with no little sense of irony that we’re about to extol the virtues of the most important meal of the day.

Deli de Luxe does breakfast that’s worth getting up for (or better yet, sending someone out to get while you stay in bed). Freshly baked buttery croissants and pain au chocolat (both RMB 12) fill the morning air in this cozy cafe, and they’ll soon be filling your belly. If you live at the west gate of Chaoyang Park, you’ll want to acquaint yourself with their morning offerings, which include a hearty toasted ham and egg Florentine ciabatta (RMB 30). If you don’t live in the area, then you should move there – OK, not really, but now you’ve got reason to travel.

Fresh, homemade, seasonal and organic are the recurring themes of their menu, which ranges from daily specials (soups, hot bakes, salads and cakes) to ciabattas and quiches. Local offerings include savory pastries from Two Guys and a Pie, Rickshaw Roasters coffee and Tranquil Tuesdays tea. Add in the proper cork noticeboard and you’ve got the feel of a community hub in the making. With Deli de Luxe’s plans to expand their delivery area and open on Sundays after Spring Festival, that community’s set to spread.

Also try: Wagas, The Sweet Spot

Note: Deli de Luxe will be closed from Dec 22-Jan 15.

Deli de Luxe Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 8am-3pm. Parkview Tower, 1 Jingyuan Xiaojie, Chaoyang Gongyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District (6538 6278) 朝阳区朝阳公园西路景园小街1号景园大厦

By subway: 1.4km northwest of Tuanjiehu station (Line 10)

Photo: Sui