Ahava's New 798 Location Gives You a Reason to Eat in Beijing's Art District

Ahava Bistro and Cafe, a long-time favorite with the UIBE crowd, opened up a second branch not long ago inside the U-Hotel in the northern part of 798. Having visited, I can now say that this branch is the only place in 798 that I will look forward to eating at. Finally! No longer will we stroll through the streets of 798 attempting to admire art while ignoring hunger pangs.
 

Tricked into believing that it was actually already Spring, we arrived at the cafe frozen to the bone. Soup to the rescue: we went with the creamy tomato and basil soup (RMB 28 for a big bowl, RMB 22 for a small bowl), which was both warming and filling, with a dash of cream on top.
 

If you're looking for something more substantial, their Cuban panini (RMB 42) came recommended, and rightly so. The panini itself was toasted to give it a slight crunch, while the warm pulled pork blended into the thin layer of mustard on either side. Pickles and swiss cheese added a finishing bite. I would be happy to have this for lunch every day.
 

If you're not sure that'll fill you up, there's always the burgers. The Ahava classic burger (RMB 75 for two patties, RMB 55 for one patty) comes doused in a secret burger sauce consisting of mayonnaise, mustard, garlic powder, chili, tiny pieces of pickles, and other ingredients we weren't privy to. Piled on top are two slices of cheddar, pickles, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and onion, with a side of sweet potato fries. A potential strong contender for our next Burger Cup!
 

If you haven't just eaten all of the above then you should still have space for dessert, which is good because this cinnamon bun, for example, was genuinely worth the trip to 798 (or UIBE) alone.

Ahava Bistro and Cafe
Daily 8am-10pm. 6A Caihong Lu, U-Hotel, Da Shanzi, Chaoyang District (6184 1727)
朝阳区大山子彩虹路甲6号金枫酒店底墒底商

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Photos: Margaux Schreurs