2025 Year-in-Review: New Restaurants & Bars Pt. 3

It has been quite the year for Beijing! In our 2025 Year-in-Review, we're taking a look back at the happenings in the capital from this year that was.

Following on from our part one and part two, we now have our final roundup of some of the new restaurants and bars that opened up in 2025. We'll also have a post coming soon about spots that opened new branches, so keep a lookout for that!

Eli Falafel

During the summer, Shanghai-based Lebanese restaurant Eli Falafel opened its first Beijing branch in the Grand Summit near Liangmaqiao. Their Beijing branch is beautifully decorated in a chic Middle Eastern style and has the added bonus of a large outdoor terrace area, where you can enjoy the last of the warm weather. Foodwise, they pride themselves on serving authentic Lebanese and Mediterranean food, and they have a range of classics on the menu, including numerous wraps, meze dishes, platters, pastries, za'atar, hearty mains and more.

Eli Falafel
F108A, 1/F, Bldg 5, Grand Summit South Wing, 19 Dongfang Donglu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东方东路19号院5号楼官舍南区1层F108A
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-10.30pm; Sat-Sun, 11am-11pm
Phone: 010 8532 6166

Amaro Bistro

Another spot that opened up in summer was Italian eatery Amaro Bistro in Sanlitun. They specialize in Neapolitan-style pizzas and have an impressive 12 different options on the menu. They've also got pasta, as well as mains, tapas-style snacks, loads of cold cuts, starters, desserts and more.

Amaro Bistro
G/F, South Side of Shimao Gongsan, Bldg 1, 13 Gongti Beilu, Sanlitun Jiedao, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯街道工体北路13号院1号楼世茂工三南侧底商
Hours: 11.30am-1am
Phone: 010 8400 4044

Mac Mac

After opening their first Beijing branch last year, Lebanese restaurant Sumac opened up a new eatery, Mac Mac, in the CP Centre this year. Like Sumac, Mac Mac is all about authenticity, with their culinary team hailing from Lebanon and their spices being sourced from Lebanese farms. The dining concept at Mac Mac is more casual than Sumac, with a menu focusing on modern Lebanese street food. They've got a wide variety of wraps and sandwiches, along with meze dishes and main meals. 

Mac Mac by Sumac 
103,1/F, CP Centre North Tower, Chaoyang District
朝阳区正大中心北塔一层103号
Hours: 8.30am-7.30pm
Phone: 133 6683 0622

Cinnara

This year, Beijing gained its first Sri Lankan restaurant in the form of Cinnara, which opened up inside Chaowai SOHO. Here, you'll find authentic Sri Lankan dishes full of the distinctive flavors like cinnamon, coconut and chili. Some must-try dishes are their Crab Curries (red, black or yellow), Chicken Curry, Kottu, Coconut Roti and Hoppers.

Cinnara
03015, 3/F,  Bldg A, Chaowai SOHO, 6B Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
朝阳门外大街乙6号朝外SOHO-A座三层03015
Hours: 10.30am-11pm
Phone: 136 9113 7921

Mercante

Italian restaurant Mercante returned to Beijing this year with not one but two restaurants. One branch is located on Zhaofu Jie in Gulou and one on Xizhuang Hutong near Fayuan Temple. Both restaurants offer a range of their signature authentic Italian delights like fresh pasta, risotto, their famous Pesto Lasagna and different varieties of tiramisu. Along with food, they've got a range of specially crafted coffees, wines and other drinks.  

Mercante Fayuan Temple Branch
51 Xizhuang Hutong, Xicheng District
西城区西砖胡同51号
Hours: Tue-Sun, 10am-9pm (closed Mon)
Phone: 185 1922 9589

Mercante Gulou Branch
69 Zhaofu Jie, Dongcheng District
东城区赵府街69号
Hours: Tue-Sun, 11am-9.30pm (closed Mon)
Phone: 186 1039 5579

Carbo Bread Bar

Earlier this year, Carbo opened up its first branch inside the new Friendship Store complex, and then opened up another spot in Liangma Courtyard later in the year. While their first location is all about pasta, this location is all about bread and other baked goods, although they do still have a few pasta dishes on the menu here as well. Along with the numerous freshly baked goods such as croissants, sourdough, focaccia etc., they've got some great brunch options as well as tea, coffee, wine and other drinks. 

Carbo Bread Bar
105 Liangma Courtyard South Side, 48 Maizidian Jie, Chaoyang Distict
朝阳区麦子店街48号南侧亮马小院一层105室
Hours: 11am-9.30pm
Phone: 132 6939 6056

Mikkeller Bar

At the end of October, Danish brewery Mikeller opened its first Beijing branch right by Line 4's Xisi station. Located inside a Qing dynasty-style building, it's a massive venue spanning two floors and with plenty of outdoor seating, come the warmer months. They've got 20 beers on tap, plus some exclusive merch available.

Mikkeller Bar
225 Xisibei Dajie, Xicheng District
西城区西四北大街225号
Hours: 2pm-2am

Sandyq

In November, Beijing welcomed its first Kazakh restaurant Sandyq, which is located in a Kazakh cultural center. Here you'll find a range of unique Central Asian flavors with everything from refined lamb dishes to traditional horse meat and a fantastic handmade bread platter.

Sandyq
21 Century Tower, 40 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区亮马桥路甲40号二十一世纪大厦
Hours: 11am-10pm
Phone: 182 1029 0973

Nesto

In November, Mix Island's newest resident, Nesto, opened its doors, taking over the space formerly occupied by Mosto. It's run by the same team behind Bistro 108 and specializes in Mediterranean flavors with tapas dishes, salads, mains, handmade pasta dishes, Neapolitan-style pizza and more. They've also got a stellar wine collection with over 50 wines from around the world available. 

Nesto
1-103, Mix Island 9A Nongzhan Nanlu, Chaoyang district
朝阳区农展南路甲9号Mix岛•西西里村
Hours: Tue-Sun, 10am-midnight (closed Mon)
Phone: 132 6922 9076

Chili's

Chili's first Beijing store opened on Dec 12 at Zhongguancun Art Park, a five-minute walk from Haidian Huangzhuang Station on Lines 4 and 10. Here you can find a range of their signature dishes like burgers, fajitas, ribs and margaritas. The restaurant space itself boasts a large dining area decorated in Chili's signature Tex-Mex style with patterned wall tiles, warming hues and also has a lovely, heated terrace out front that is sure to be a hit during the warmer months. 

Chili's
02, 2/F, East Area, Zhongguancun Art Park, Haidian District
海淀区中关村大融城东区2层02室
Hours: Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-midnight
Phone: 135 2123 8823

Oror by Fine

Lastly, Shanghai-based Thai restaurant Oror by Fine recently opened in Sanlitun North. They offer up a range of super tasty and authentic Thai dishes such as tom yum soup, curries, pad kra pao and more. Be warned, though, it is quite a wanghong spot at the moment, especially on weekends, so you might need to wait to get a table.

Oror by Fine
2/F, N8, Taikoo Li North, Sanlitun, Choayang District
朝阳区三里屯太古里北区N8座2楼
Hours: 11am-9pm
Phone: 132 6918 8655

READ: 2025 Year-in-Review: New Restaurants & Bars Pt. 2

Images: the Beijingers, courtesy of the venues, Dianping