Two sides of the same coin: relaxation and warm beverages.
At Cafe
Whimsically designed with two “bombed out” holes in a brick wall and a tree trunk bench, At Cafe provides a peaceful retreat for late-night chatting and lazy reading. Good Illy coffee. Daily 11am-midnight. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6438 7264) 爱特 咖啡, 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号原798厂内大山子艺术区
Bella’s
Cozy cafe has great breads, sandwiches and sweets. Daily 8am-9.30pm. Next to Yaxiu Market, Chaoyang District. (no tel) 贝拉西餐厅, 朝阳区雅秀市场旁边
Café L’affare
Situated on the ground floor of the original Silk Market, this cafe offers a haven from the hustle and bustle. Their brunch and lunch menu features authentic western food and they also serve decent coffee. Daily 9am-10.30pm. Store 356, 1/F, Silk Market, Chaoyang District. (5169 9156) 仙英咖啡, 朝阳区秀水大厦一层东侧商铺356号
Cafe de Niro
Has nothing to do with the Robert of the same name. Serves coffee, set lunches, club sandwiches in an airy, light-filled environment. Sun-Thu 10am-midnight, Fri-Sat 10am-2am. 1/F Tongli Studios, Sanlitun North Bar Street, Chaoyang District. (6416 9400) 霓楼咖啡, 朝阳区三里屯酒吧北街同里1层
Caffe Cino
Offering a large range of coffees, quality pastries and savories. Daily 7am-10pm. 1/F, Hilton Beijing, 1 Dongfang Lu, Chaoyang District. (5865 5000 ext 5070) 咖啡基诺, 朝阳区东方路1号希尔顿酒店一层
Exquisite Bakery
A wide selection of cakes and pastries that includes wedding and themed cakes. 9am-7pm. Shop 7 Riverville Square, Tianzhu, Shunyi District. (6450 9838) 南炉, 顺义区天竺温榆广场07店
Here
A forest of plants, lampshades, walls lined with photography and a selection of books and magazines make this a cozy place to sip coffee and snack on muffins and pizza. Daily 10am-1am. 97 Nanluoguxiang (just north of Central Academy of Drama), Dongcheng District. (8401 4246) 这里, 东城区南锣鼓巷97号（中央戏剧学院往北）
Industrie Cafe
From the same people who brought you Alfa, Le Hugo and Muse comes this industrially themed cafe. Wireless Internet available. Daily 8am-11pm. Store 912, south west corner of Bldg 9, Jianwai Soho, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District. (5869 5115) 工业咖啡, 朝阳区建外Soho9号楼西南角
Kosmo
Smoothies, healthy juices and a separate section that puts smokers behind glass. Daily 8am-10pm. 1) 225 Chaoyangmennei Dajie, Chaoyang District. (8400 1567); 2) 158 Fushi Lu (inside Sam’s store), Shijingshan District. (6883 2138) 1) 朝阳区朝阳门内大街225号(老外交部楼靠西墙边); 2) 石景山区阜石路158号 山姆会员店
Lao She Teahouse
Check out Lao She’s campy Chinese vaudeville show over bottomless cups of tea and traditional snacks. Daily 9am-9.30pm. Bldg 3, Qianmen Xidajie, Xuanwu District. (6303 6830) 老舍茶馆, 宣武区前门西大街3号楼
Le Palais
Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm. 1/F, Zhuzong Plaza, 25 Dongsanhuan (near the Kerry Centre), Chaoyang District. (6508 4209) 品汇比利时精致甜品店, 朝阳区东三环中路25号,住总大厦1层
Mag Cafe
With a relaxed yet classy setting that’s perfect for quiet study, intimate heart-to-heart conversation, or unwinding with a group of friends. Mag Cafe offers the university set a haven away from the hubbub of Wudaokou. Daily 10am-12pm. Unit East 2, 9B Zijin plaza, 68 Wanquanhe Lu (100 meters south of Renmin University west gate), Haidian District. (8265 0733) 阅读生活, 海淀区万泉河路68号紫金庄园9号楼东二单元
Mima
This courtyard cafe/bar seeks to reconstruct Haidian’s old scholarly air, and infuses it with a hip design. Check out the bar made of 5,600 stacked-up books, outdoor seating and the city’s most creative bathroom, designed by guru Wang Hui. Daily 10am-midnight. East gate of Yuanmingyuan (north of the parking lot), Haidian District. (8268 8003) 左右间, 海淀区圆明园东门内停车场北侧
Pause Cafe
Warm earth tones, modern yet comfortable furnishings and a secluded courtyard (for warmer months) make Pause an ideal spot to kick back and relax. In addition to the German, Mediterranean and Chinese culinary blend, the bartender delivers great cocktails and smooth lattes. Daily 10am-9pm. 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu (one block down from the CIMG building), Chaoyang District. (6431 6214) 朝阳区酒仙桥路4号
Purple Vine Restaurant
Sip tea as you repose on a canopy bed. Daily noon-midnight. 2 Nanchang Jie, Forbidden City west gate, Xicheng District. (6606 6614) 木棉庭, 西城区南长街2号 (故宫西门东侧)
San Wei Bookstore
Downstairs a bookstore and upstairs a teahouse with live music. Friday nights have jazz performances and Saturday nights feature live traditional music with guzheng and pipa performances. Tickets RMB 30. Reservations recommended. Daily 9.30am-10.30pm. 60 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District. (6601 3204) 三味书屋, 西城区复兴门内大街60号
Scene a Cafe
A huge all-day dining restaurant split over two tiers and serving up a selection of custom-made food from 8 differently themed open kitchens. An a la carte menu is also available. Daily 6-10.30am, 11.30am-2.30pm, 6-1am. China World Hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (6505 2266 ext 35) 咖啡苑, 朝阳区建国门外大街1号中国大饭店
Schoolhouse Canteen
Part of The Schoolhouse at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, the Canteen serves casual Western food and affords great views of the great Wall from its outdoor terrace. Adding to the dining experience is Schoolhouse Glass, an art glass workshop. Tue-Thu 10am-6pm. 12 Mutianyu Village, Huairou District. (6162 6505/6287) www.schoolhousecanteen.com 小园, 怀柔区慕田峪村12
Sculpting in Time
Coffee, pasta dishes and desserts amid shelves of books and crafts. Daily 9.30am-12.30am. 1) 2B Jiangtai Lu, Hairun International Apartments, Shop 3A (near the Lido Hotel), Chaoyang District. (5135 8108); 2) 50 Xiangshan Maimai Jie, Haidian District. (8259 8296); 3) Building 12, 1 Huaqing Jiayuan, Chengfu Lu, Wudaokou, Haidian District. (8286 7026); 4) 7 Weigongcun Lu, south gate of Beijing Institute of Technology, Haidian District. (6894 6825) www.sitcafe.com/ 雕刻时光, 1) 朝阳区将台路乙2号海润国际公寓商业3A; 2) 海淀区香山买卖街50号; 3) 海淀区成府路五道口华清嘉园12号楼1号; 4) 海淀区魏公村路7号北京理工大学南门
Sequoia Bakery and Cafe
Serves up deli-style sandwiches and homemade desserts, as well as good coffee. Also delivers. Daily 8am-8pm. 1) Bldg 15, North Sanlitun Beijie (just north of Mystique), Chaoyang District. (6413 0771); 2) 44 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6501 5503) 1) 朝阳区三里屯北15楼室; 2) 朝阳区光华路44号
Space for Imagination
Following in the tradition of Sculpting in Time, this coffeehouse and bar features an intimate theater showing avant-garde films every Thursday night at 6.30pm with spacious wooden floors and a good collection of books. Wudaokou’s best-kept secret. Daily 10am-2am. 5 Xiwangzhuang Shuangqing Lu, Haidian District. (6279 1280) 盒子咖啡馆, 海淀区双清路西王庄5号
Sparrow’s Cafe
Charming cafe with home-baked goods including an all-day churro selection, as well as tarts inspired by the owners’ favorite fare (he’s from Portugal, she’s Peruvian). Also features a special blend of coffee. Tue-Sun 9am-8pm, closed Mon. 103 Sanlitun Beijie, Block 30 (opposite UNICEF), Chaoyang District. (6413 0345) 朝阳区三里屯北街30号楼103室(联合国儿童基金会对面)
Tasty Taste
Cheesecakes better than at most other spots in town. 9am-midnight. Workers’ Stadium North Gate, Chaoyang District. (6551 1506) 泰笛黛斯, 朝阳区工体北门
Teahouse of Fu
Classical teahouse with exquisite Ming/Qing furniture on the south bank of Houhai. 10.30am-midnight. Bajiao Ting (inside Houhai park, Shiqiao Dong), Deshengmennei Dajie, Xicheng District. (6616 0725/6343) 茶家傅, 西城区德胜门内大街石桥东后海公园内八角亭
U-Cafe
Perfect for those with the travel bug, this cafe is decorated with global knick-knacks. Enjoy a variety of coffee drinks. Daily 9am-11.30pm. Room A8, U-Space, 8 Guangqumenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. (5861 4080) 悠游咖啡, 朝阳区广渠门外大街8号A座A8室
Vineyard Cafe
This hard to find hutong cafe, which specializes in comfort food and comfy couches, is both hip and sensible and their hearty breakfasts are excellent weekend brunch fare. Daily 11.30am-late. 31 Wudaoying Hutong (just north of the Confucius temple), Dongcheng District. (6402 7961) www.vineyardcafe.cn 葡萄院儿, 东城区五道营胡同31号
Wen Ru Teahouse
Elegant teahouse with specialty teas. Also try their tea-infused dishes. Daily 10am-midnight. 10 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (8580 4341) 文汝馨居, 朝阳区建国路10号
Yuemingyuan Teahouse
Traditional teahouse providing a quiet reprieve for frayed urban nerves. Wide selection of snacks and teas available. Daily 9am-midnight. 24 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6507 4661) 月明园, 朝阳区东大桥路24号