Zhong An Hotel Beijing Former Residence of Journalist Edgar Snow

The Milanese fashion brand runs this elegant restaurant that exudes feminine sensibility. On the menu, Northern Italian classics are the main draw: think veal Milanese and Piedmontese beef brasato, as well as hand-made agnolotti and linguine. The array of freshly baked Italian bread on offer is also fantastic. For the full experience, order the set menu. Oenophiles should check out the wine list, which features labels from every region of Italy.

The speciality here is Shandong cooking, especially Confucius cuisine, sea cucumber and live seafood shipped daily from Jiaodong peninsula. The chef is from Yantai and knows the food from his home province inside out. Try his roast 45-day-old duck served with caviar, prawn crackers and Shandong pancakes, which embodies features of both Beijing and Shandong cuisine. The lengthy tea menu and bespoke tea service make for a very special experience.

The bamboo bush, jade ornaments, ink paintings and cut flowers may prime your brain for a hefty price tag, but a meal in this modern restaurant doesn’t break the bank. Its signature braised fish head is juicy and tender, nicely braised in an aromatic brown sauce. Roast duck uses 40-day-old birds that are chargrilled to perfection and plated gorgeously. Always save room for the creamed yam and osmanthus sweet soup.

Upon arrival at this upmarket restaurant, diners step into a hallway lined with steeply priced dried fish maws. With years of experience in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Chef Cheung reimagines Chaozhou classics with sophistication and finesse. Braised fish maw with 30-year-aged dried radish is one of his proud creations – the lingering aromas of the radish lend the dish extra depth of flavour. Both the wine list and tea menu are packed with excellent choices.

Lei Garden hails from Hong Kong and specialises in authentic Cantonese fare. This is their first Beijing outpost and it rolls out food of a consistently high standard. Most ingredients are sourced from their own farm to ensure quality and freshness. The signature roasted pork belly boasts alternate layers of fat and meat, with crispy skin and juicy flesh. To avoid disappointment, pre-order slow-cooked soups that take over six hours to make.

Though its name means "purple and gold", this cosy restaurant is clad in hand-embroidered orange fabric with a bird theme. The Hakkanese chef reinterprets traditional Cantonese fare with a refined touch and occasional Hakkanese twists. The braised pork belly ribs with preserved mustard greens are made with rose myrtle fruit wine from his home county. The double-boiled chicken and fish maw soup with conch seduces with its rich, deep umami.

In 1979, the branch office of Sichuan provincial government opened this restaurant to serve comfort food from back home to homesick officials. Since opening its doors to the public in 1995, it has been a popular spot among locals. In the cosy space, motifs of Beijing hutongs are combined with Sichuan cultural symbols. All-time classics include mouth-watering chicken with springy skin and velvety meat in a fiery spicy peanut and sesame sauce.