Olympic Village-奥运村地区

This airy, well-designed restaurant specializes in both Guizhou and Yunnan cuisine. The mushrooms, pineapple rice and guoqiao mixian (crossing bridge noodles) are all recommended.

This chain is known for its gan guo (dishes that are served simmering in small cast iron pots). They also serve suan tang yu (spicy soup fish).

Slighly pricier than most jiaozi places, but the selection (including vegetables and fish) and freshness of the dumplings at this chain make it worth it. The Lido branch has a bilingual menu and uncooked dumplings for takeaway.

Café O2 is the buffet dining restaurant in the InterContinental Beijing Beichen. It features a large selection of appetizers, salads, healthy options, traditional starters, soups, rice dishes, curries and other dishes with authentic Oriental and Asian flavors. The atmosphere promises to evoke feelings of familiarity, warmth and cosiness, and wine connoisseurs will appreciate a great selection of international bottles, available by the glass.

If you’re a lover of Hunan (Xiang, 湘) cuisine or an unflinching Maoist, Mao Jia ought to please. The “Mao-style” hongshao rou (毛式红烧肉), so named because the stewed pork dish was famously Chairman Mao’s favorite feed, is a must-try. Alternatively, order the jiangshan yipianhong (steamed fish head with salted chilli) – a Hunan classic, though not always palatable to laowai tastes. The Mao busts and other decorative touches do their bit to maintain the revolutionary theme. Expect to spend a minimum of around RMB 100 per person for a decent meal.

The InterContinental Beichen didn’t get overly creative with The Bar – name or otherwise. It’s a convenient drop-in if you live in the area or happen to be a guest in the hotel. Singers and musicians perform nightly to the handful of suits lounging around the circular venue. There are standard cocktails and signature drinks themed after nearby Olympic venues. The “Water Cube” is a charming concoction of lychee and Blue Curacao, while the “Bird’s Nest” is vodka, watermelon juice and Red Bull. You can try both at The Bar’s daily 5-9pm happy hour.

Next door to the Bird’s Nest, and affectionately
referred to as the “Water Cube”, this USD 200 million Australian-designed structure is regarded as the perfect yin to the Bird’s Nest’s yang – a comforting "curvy" contrast to the rigidity of the stadium. Drawing inspiration
from nature, the bubble-wrapped exterior answers an old physics problem about how to fill space most efficiently (the answer: two bubbles of equal volume but different shape). Bubbles also make for sleek earthquake-proof
construction, without the need for obtrusive concrete or structural beams.

Some might say that lounging at a bar in the city's only seven-star hotel is a bit gauche in the current economic climate. Austerity might be the worldwide watchword but that's not to say you don't deserve a treat. That's exactly what the Happiness Lounge offers. The marble is decadent, the furniture is sumptuous and the Chinese touches add local flavor. From the main room, reminiscent of a ballroom, two winding staircases lead up to private rooms with cozy fires and comfy couches. Summer can be spent enjoying your gin (RMB 68) on one of two roof terraces. So far, so what?

With an emphasis on its elegant setting to world-class cuisine, Di also offers six private rooms for a more intimate experience.

Cheerful colors contrast with dark tones in this Italian eatery. Featuring all the staples of Italian cooking with a large variety of regional Italian wines.