Fangshan Restaurant

Add: In the Beihai Park, 1 Wenjin Street
Signature dishes: Imperial courses

In 1925, some chefs employed to cook in the imperial kitchen opened a tea house in Beihai Park. The restaurant was called Fangshan, literally meaning to imitate the cooking of imperial cuisine. The restaurant's menu listed 108 items, including main dishes and snacks. In 1956, Beijing Fangshan Tea House was renamed Fangshan Restaurant.

At the moment, the restaurant offers 800 dishes. It is located in a structure of classical decor that highlights the motif of dragon and phoenix, symbol of emperors and empresses in ancient China. Tables are set under large hand-painted palatial lanterns while all the table wares, ceramic or silver, are duplicates of what the imperial courts used before.