Day & Night Around Beiluoguxiang

Sitting across from the north entrance of Nanluoguxiang along Gulou Dongdajie, Beiluoguxiang might be considered the far quieter version of its southern counterpart. 

Day and night along the lane offer differing experiences in Beijing wining and dining, so we’ve put together this guide for a few spots worth visiting along Beiluo, be it night or day.

Wake Up & Coffee

Wake Up has called Beiluo home for a little over four years now. This self-roaster of single origin coffee, as they proclaim on their menu, asks that you first choose from a selection of five single origin beans – two from Ethiopia and others from Kenya, Colombia and Honduras – before placing your order. You can also opt for trying the coffee plain to experience the full flavor.

Wake Up & Coffee
93 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷93号
Hours: Daily, 9am-6.30pm
Contact: 186 1403 2336

JM Café & French Shop Plus

Be it coffee, beer, or something stronger, your best bet is a little nook along the alley in which lies JM Café and the former Boucherie Francaise, which now goes by the name French Shop Plus (法国小超市plus) 

Drinks of choice: classic or pour-over coffee at JM – with a nice selection of single origin beans –or your choice of imported beer – from simple Beerlao to craft beer of all kinds and ABV levels – at the grocery store. The shop has a seating area where you can enjoy your tipple and any snacks you’ve decided to munch on, plus outdoor seating for warmer months.

JM Café
45 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷45号
Hours: 10.30am-6.30pm
Contact: 166 0008 5155

French Shop Plus 法国小超市plus
45 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷45号
Hours: Daily, 10am-11.30pm

Yun’er Xiaozhen Yunnan Restaurant

This little gem has a menu of Yunnanese classics, from Yunnan-style xiaochaorou to a whole bunch of different mushrooms, all at around RMB 100 per person for a meal. They’ve also got a few restaurant cats plus a small yet cozy rooftop seating space for groups.

Yun’er Xiaozhen 云洱小镇
84 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷84号
Hours: Daily, 11am-11pm
Contact: 010 8404 2407

Santoor Indian Restaurant

Hidden upstairs above a Japanese restaurant and a cocktail bar, Santoor serves up Indian and Bangladeshi curries, barbecue, snacks and more – with favorites being their Butter Chicken (RMB 58), Dal Makhani (42), and numerous lassi flavors like pistachio and papaya – from their second story abode. The space has a real charm, making it a nice place for a surprise dinner date or get together away from the hustle and bustle of the city center.

Santoor Indian Restaurant 萨都里印度餐厅
2/F, Jia 70 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷甲70号2层
Hours: Daily, 11.30am-10pm
Contact: 010 6402 0310; 189 1138 7774

Ravens 

Having undergone a recent redesign, Ravens is a bar and eatery in a space it once shared with Italian bar Nina. Enter here for their Angus Burger (RMB 88) topped with a poached egg nestled in a big white onion, their Beef Filet (RMB 98) with a side of chips, or one of their signature cocktails. 

They’ve got a few interesting takes on some classics, like a Rye Old Fashioned (RMB 75) served in a cinnamon smoke-infused glass, and a Chambord Manhattan (RMB 75) that adds Chambord raspberry liqueur and kirshwasser to the classic.

Ravens Restaurant & Bar
66 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷66号
Hours: Tue-Sun, 6-11.30pm
Contact: 186 1174 1214

Ogawa Bistro

The simplest way to describe Ogawa would be this: It’s a Sichuan joint with a wine menu. For all intents and purposes, Ogawa is just that, but the modern bistro is more than a sum of its parts. The food here is phenomenal, with elevated renditions of Sichuan staples on a small menu, which, yes, pair lovingly with the restaurant’s wine selection, all in a bright, welcoming space with wood panels, a mirrored back, concrete walls, and an upstairs for larger parties.

Ogawa Bistro 小川川菜
60 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷60号
Hours: Daily, 11am-2pm; 5pm-10pm
Contact: 139 1123 0050

Jiuxin Restaurant

This beloved restaurant offers homestyle Dongbei cuisine and other dishes within a no-nonsense dining room. Expect hongshaorou, xiaochaorou, options for dishes over rice and a selection of 褡裢火烧 dalian huoshao, pan-fried pancakes filled with pork and scallions and more, at a nice RMB 100 for 30 pieces.

Jiuxin Restaurant 聚鑫餐厅
14a Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷甲14号
Hours: Daily, 10.30am-2.30pm; 5pm-10pm
Contact: 010 6404 8347

The Dali Dali

The second location of the bar of the same name near Huayuan Hutong, The DaliDali takes inspiration from surrealist artist Salvador Dali. This goes beyond the design of the bar, with elements on the walls, ceiling, and everywhere made to make it seem as if you’ve walked into a Dali painting, and extends to the drinks as well. Go for the Gin Pesto (RMB 80), a well-done gin basil smash, or the Mr. Coffee (RMB 100), a whiskey drink given depth thanks to the addition of coffee beans.

The DaliDali 达利酒吧 (Beiluo branch)
26 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷26号
Hours: Sun-Thu, 6pm-1.30am; Fri-Sat, 6pm-2am
Contact: 187 1506 9770

Libertango

Another cocktail bar with a second branch – the original this time situated along Fangjia Hutong – Libertango’s Beiluo location has a great menu of movie-themed and other creative cocktails served inside a colorfully lit interior with a second floor for movie screenings and other events. Try the rum, pineapple, and passion fruit-driven California Dreaming (RMB 75), or the Chunking Express (RMB 80), a coffee cocktail spiced up with peppercorn-infused whiskey. 

Libertango (Beiluo branch)
13 Beiluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
东城区北锣鼓巷13号
Hours: Sun-Thu, 6pm-1am; Fri-Sat, 6pm-2am

READ: Five Hutong Cocktail Bars Worth Their Mixology Salt

Images: Wikimedia Commons, Dianping, Uni You, Nancy Lee