2024 Year-in-Review: Places We Bid Goodbye To
It has been quite the year for Beijing! In our 2024 Year-in-Review, we're taking a look back at the happenings in the capital from this year that was.
2024 is almost out the door, and it’s been quite the rollercoaster of a year, especially for Beijing’s F&B scene. In this post, we look back on all the places we’ve unfortunately had to say goodbye to this year.
The Opposite House & Attached Restaurants
One of the first closures for the year – or at least announcements of coming closures – came from 16-year-old Sanlitun hotel The Opposite House.
After months of rumors and speculation, the hotel announced on their official WeChat account that they would be shuttering the hotel, along with all the attached bars and restaurants, as of June 2024, with a new shopping center to be put in its place. The doors shuttered after one massive party the night before.
Opera BOMBANA
Right on the heels of The Opposite House’s announcement came one from Michelin-starred restaurant Opera BOMBANA, with its closure effective as of Apr 14, 2024. The restaurant was known for serving impeccable Italian dishes – and some great panettone to boot – out of its beautiful location in Parkview Green Mall. In their closure announcement, Opera BOMBANA thanked diners for 11 years of patronage.
Joe’s Pizza
Another closure that lived up to rumors early on in the year was that of Joe’s Pizza. The New York-born venue, which also has branches in Shanghai, opened to much fanfare in September 2022, rocketing to being named Best Pizza in our 2023 Cheesy Pizza Cup. The restaurant lives on in Beijing in the form of Big Joe’s, which is situated just across the road from Joe’s former digs.
BBB
Also known as Baby Boom Bar, BBB shook up the city’s nightlife for the few years it saw life from its home in Fangjia Hutong, hosting massive events and regular collabs with nearby bars and other underground clubs. Sadly, the weight of constant Covid restrictions – especially for bars and restaurants – seems to have done them in. Although BBB has “reopened” in the form of a bistro in Langyuan Station, word on the street is it’s not the original owners running the place.
TacoGo
Shaking up Beijing’s taco scene when it first opened in 2021 on the top floor of 3.3 Shopping Center in Sanlitun, TacoGo turned heads with their taco truck-inspired restaurant design and grilled meats inside grill-blackened tacos filled with melted cheese. As the first Mexican joint in the city to champion quesabirria, TacoGo kept it simple to the max. Sadly, despite a seemingly successful expansion, they quietly disappeared from delivery apps and Dianping as of March 2024, with no word on where they went or if they’ll return.
3 Little Pigs by Andy’s Craft Sausages
Opened by American expat Andy Horowitz in 2013, 3 Little Pigs was a hidden hutong gem of a burger joint, with their Reubens, pulled pork sandwiches, and double bacon cheeseburgers winning wide acclaim amongst their expat customers.
Following a split with the restaurant's Chinese business partner, who went on to open a “second branch” of the restaurant, the original spot shut for good. You’ll still find 3 Little Pigs on Meituan and other delivery apps, but it's under new ownership and not the same without Horowitz’s touch.
Tiago & Keaami by Tiago
When Tiago first opened their doors in Indigo Mall back in 2015, the first thing that caught our editor’s eye was the fact they showcased all the ingredients they used on their walls for all to see. This, coupled with excellently prepared Italian fare and espresso that had customers swearing off Starbucks, ensured their rising popularity.
A few years – and a few expansions – later, and Tiago disappeared almost overnight in March. They were joined in closing by an offshoot brand, Keaami by Tiago, which specialized in Thai cuisine.
Nina
Italian hutong aperitivo bar Nina announced their sudden closure this August, following economic and landlord issues. The bar was a favorite of Italian expats, and their menu of ten different Negronis really set them apart. The bar lives on in the form of weekly pop-ups every Friday at Voyage by HUI, where you can still taste all the drinks on their original menu.
Voyage at Temple
23 Songzhuyuan, Shatan Beijie, Dongcheng District
东城区沙滩北街嵩祝院23号
Hours: Wed-Sun, 6pm-1am
Phone: 185 0196 9485
Q MEX Taqueria
More closures came at the end of summer, when Q MEX Taqueria, an offshoot of Cali-Mex chain Q MEX with a focus on tacos and a good selection of tequilas and mezcals, announced it would be closing on Sep 27. Although the sudden closure followed the announcement of a brand-new menu, a few of these new menu items – like their revamped tacos and wet burritos – made their way to Q MEX menus around town.
Din Tai Fung
It was a sad day for lovers of famous soup dumplings on Oct 31, when Din Tai Fung shuttered 14 of its Beijing branches, as well as branches in other parts of China. The decision to close was announced this August due to the expiration of a business license and a failure by their board to reach a consensus on renewal.
La Platea CBD
Mediterranean restaurant La Platea closed the doors of its CBD branch, right outside The Place, on Oct 30. The restaurant is survived by its Sanlitun branch in Courtyard No. 4, so lovers of their tapas, drinks deals, and excellent weekend DJ sessions need not worry too much.
La Platea 兰蒂地中海餐吧 (Sanlitun branch)
11, Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工人体育场北路4号院11号楼
Hours: Mon-Sun, 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 11am-1am
Contact: 186 1037 6761
Apollo
Yet all wasn’t peachy down in Sanlitun, with the long-rumored closure of American diner and music listening restaurant Apollo coming on the weekend of Nov 10. The restaurant became a hotspot for lovers of their burgers, pastrami, and fantastic classic cocktails. A few of their more popular menu items moved to the menu of Eastend, the deli concept next door, which is good news for lovers of Apollo's pastrami and burgers.
Eastend Grocery
1/F, Pacific Century Place (outside West Gate, north of Apollo), A2 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工人体育场北路甲2号盈科中心1层
Hours: Daily, 8am-9.30pm
Contact: 010 8599 9116
Larry the Bird
The same can’t be said for lovers of Larry the Bird. The roast chicken and chicken sandwich experts inspired by ‘70s vibes closed up shop following a weekend-long party on the same weekend. Although no details were given on whether or not the shop will relocate, we have high hopes that, someday, Larry the Bird will be back better than ever at a new location, with the restaurant signing off per their WeChat announcement “Until next season – whenever that is.”
Malo’s
This catering and delivery-focused establishment, opened by Australian chef and longtime Beijing expat Simone Thompson, closed at the end of November following Thompson’s decision to return to her home country. In an interview with the Beijinger, Thompson cited being away for so long and an uphill battle in regards to an apathy for creative F&B concepts in Beijing as the reason for the decision.
Kitty & Daniel CBD
Following our announcement of closures for Apollo, Larry the Bird, and others, we got word that the CBD branch of Kitty & Daniel, a sort of mishmash of American dining and Americana style, was down and out. The restaurant, which attended numerous Beijinger events over the years, is survived by its other branches and offshoot Mexican restaurant in Solana Mall.
BigEats & Poke Donuts
In another blow to some of our favorite Beijing eateries, we discovered upon a recent visit to 798 Arts District that corned beef sandwich purveyors BigEats and their sister shop Poke Donuts were long gone. Any sign of their existence had also disappeared from Dianping, with no word on if they’d be coming back at all.
Sherpa’s
Finally, in the realm of food delivery apps, English-language food delivery service Sherpa’s announced on Nov 25 that they would be ending their services in Beijing. This was followed by their withdrawal from China altogether this month.
Which of these places are you going to miss the most? Any spots we missed that are worth pouring one out for? Let us know in the comments!
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Images: courtesy of the venues, theBeijingers, Uni You, Dianping
