VIBE

The cheerful Sanlitun outlet of this Shanghai chain serves up its signature fresh, healthy fare in a bright, all-about-blonde-wood space drenched in natural light, and its popular outdoor terrace offers views of the last remaining hutong in Sanlitun. Big portions, laptop-friendly surrounds (i.e., free Wi-Fi), and a yuppie-cool vibe draw in the best and brightest of Beijing’s expat trendy types, to the extent that waits at lunch or for a weekend brunch can be over an hour long. Some complain that patchy food and service quality don’t live up to the hype, but, judging from the ever-growing lines, such grumbles haven’t dampened enthusiasm.

CROWD

MacBook-toting hipsters and lunching CBD office-types.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

Whatever you like! Jeans and sneakers will do the trick, but if you want to blend in with the lunching execs by wearing something sharp, by all means feel free.

GO HERE WITH

A friend; colleagues; family

WHY WE LIKE IT

This is one of the few places in Beijing where you can scoop up generous portions of healthy Western-style café fare–most other “Western” cafés in town only offer small plates of greasy spoon-style eats. (The menu is updated frequently with fresh seasonal choices.) Also, the terrace is one of the best alfresco dining options around, especially for brunch.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The service and kitchen run hot and cold–both need to be sorted out; the occasional over-an-hour waits are too long for a sandwich and salad.

GOOD TO KNOW

They’ve got free Wi-Fi and free delivery, both very cool. (Check out their website for ordering and delivery details.) Also a rarity for Beijing: they’ve got a non-smoking section.

OTHER LOCATIONS

Qianmen (Beijing); Lido (Beijing); Shanghai

CLOSEST COMPS

Grandma’s Kitchen (Beijing)

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