Panorama Brings Crepes Back to Sanlitun, Along with an Impressive First Floor View

French cuisine in Beijing has come a long way since Crepanini first opened its beloved window shop at Nali Patio, but since that counter closed in 2018 there’s been a crepe-shaped hole in the heart of the neighborhood. Now, Crepanini founder Jean-Baptiste has returned to fill that need with Panorama – but far from the humble roots of that previous venture, this new diner and bar has set itself up with an impressive space – and a menu that’s already attracting lunch crowds less than a week into its opening by virtue of foot traffic and word of mouth alone.

Located at the west entrance of Courtyard 4, Panorama enjoys a fine view of Intercontinental Hotel, and true to its name, its puts that view to good use with its enormous open-air windows that, this time of year, are letting in the beautiful spring weather.

The savory crepes at Panorama are not rolled but rather folded at four sides to form a square with an open face. Beyond allowing the diner to see the filling, it also allows the filling’s aroma to rise out of the crepe – on our visit, we tried the “Captain” crepe, and the whiff of the salmon was heavenly. Meanwhile, the egg and bacon crepe has proven popular so far with is yolk in the middle makes for a fine presentation, but most creative of all is the Thai curry crepe, topped with shrimp and veggies.

Naturally, there are sweet crepes – plain with a dab of powdered sugar or topped with chocolate sauce, caramel, and cream. For the opening period, they’re offering a free dessert crepe with any lunch item through May 21.

Crepes may be the main draw, but there are plenty of other lunching options including pastas, paninis, salads, the must-try slice of quiche, and an avocado burger they hope to make competitive for the 2021 Beijing Burger Cup. But there’s a whole other side planned for Panorama when it begins to open for evening hours.

“Soon we’ll begin serving natural wines by the glass at a reasonable price,” says Jean-Baptiste, who hopes to make the spot something of a neighborhood hangout. He's also stocked up on french cider, served by the bottle, and the beer on tap includes Tipa, an Italian IPA, as well as the bar's own lager. For a refreshing drink without the alcohol, you might consider the mint specialty that Jean-Baptiste concocted himself – a bright green beverage that's reminiscent of a mojito.

From the looks of things, his wish to create a neighborhood hangout may just come true. Not only is the location convenient for frequenters of Sanlitun, but it has also been decked out with imported furniture, retro lighting, and grayscale photography which all come together to give the bar a welcoming vibe. We're looking forward to spending a few evenings there ourselves when the hours extend.

READ: New in the Neighborhood: Latest Lunches in and Around the CBD

Images: Joey Knotts