China Food | Synotrip

Swede and Kraut Restaurant

Swede and Kraut serves Western cuisine in a cozy community-like atmosphere. High quality pasta, pizza and German-style meat dishes can be found here. The bread is baked fresh and is also sold at

Swede and Kraut serves Western cuisine in a cozy community-like atmosphere. High quality pasta, pizza and German-style meat dishes can be found here. The bread is baked fresh and is also sold at Skyways Bakery nearby.

Prices are comparable to those of other authentic Western restaurants in Nanjing. Expect to pay 120 to 250 yuan for a meal for two not including alcohol.

How to Get There: Swede and Kraut is located in an alley (南秀村, nánxiùcūn)) one block north of Hankou Xi Lu (汉口西路, hànkǒu xī lù). It is just a little bit farther down the alley than Behind the Wall Cafe.

Green T House

Although very popular amongst the expat crowd, The Green T House has an air of exclusivity that is a little off-putting– the restaurant is inconspicuously sign-posted and in order to enter, you have to ring a door bell (which may not be answered immediately). Once inside, the interior is striking with soft lighting, long-backed chairs in dark wood and dramatic lampshades (you’re not allowed to take photographs though). Dishes are expensive. There is the feeling that you are paying more for ambience than for the quality of the food, so be prepared to appreciate the aesthetics of the restaurant above the cuisine. The portions are also very dainty so don’t go hungry.

www.green-t-house.com
www.greenteahouse.com.cn

Blue Sky - Expat Bar and Grill

Blue Sky is a popular pub & grub joint with the male expat crowd. Simple music such as “Barenaked Ladies” is played while ESPN dominates the TV.

Beer starts at 15 yuan for a small bottle of Qingdao. They also have Carlsberg on tap. A...

Blue Sky is a popular pub & grub joint with the male expat crowd. Simple music such as “Barenaked Ladies” is played while ESPN dominates the TV.

Beer starts at 15 yuan for a small bottle of Qingdao. They also have Carlsberg on tap. A variety of basic Western food is served including steaks, eggs, sausages and hamburgers.

How to Get There

Blue Sky is within walking distance of Nanjing University and several hotels although most customers would just take a cab here. You shouldn’t be able to miss the 10 meter wide, flashing “Blue Sky” sign. Nearby are other places that target the foreign crowd such as Slow-life Café, Skyways Bakery and Swede and Kraut.

Vienna Cafe

This darling café feels so European to me that I hide away here when I need a break from China. The renovated lane house always feels particularly warm and cosy with dark wood paneling and rich striped wallpaper. The back of the restaurant is a historic atrium, which allows for plentiful natural light in an otherwise windowless space. The menu is small but appealing, with traditional Austrian dishes like Kaesespaetzle for 60 RMB (FYI: this dish is kind of like a grown-up macaroni and cheese, I’d call it the most amazing comfort food I’ve had in years). The breakfast menu is equally small, but offers eggs in every style conceivable, fruit and cereal. The indulgent dessert menu is includes temptations such as banana cake, cheesecake, and Sacher Cake (a famous Viennese chocolate cake). To make matters worse for you dieters out there, Vienna Cafe lures you in by baking cakes during the day, so it smells wonderful inside. The Viennese coffee, at 30RMB for a latte, is prepared by a gorgeous Gaggia espresso machine.

How to get there: Shaoxing Lu is close to the busy Huaihai Lu, but it still feels miles away. It’s on one of the quietest streets I’ve seen in the middle of the French Concession. Take Metro Line 1 to Shanxi Lu station. Exit onto Shanxi Lu, and head south for 4 blocks. Take a left on Shaoxing, Vienna Café is half way down the block on the right. (Edited by Xiaoqing)

Indian Kitchen

This Indian restaurant is always busy, always a great sign and the reason we originally went to Indian Kitchen. Located just a few blocks away from my house, this spot regularly satisfies my Indian food cravings. The food is cheaper than nearby Vedas, and while I have heard complaints that Indian Kitchen is perhaps not as authentic as Vedas, I still find it pretty darn good.

Be sure to order:

Palak Paneer (spinach and Indian cheese)

Potato and Peas Masala

Butter Chicken

Mutton Madras (which is not on the menu anymore, but if you like spice, ask for this)

All dishes are around 40RMB.

Be sure to make reservations, especially on weekends!

How to get there: Take Subway line 1 to the Hengshan Road stop. Exit onto YongJia Lu and head east or left out of the subway. Walk one and a half blocks, and the restaurant is on the left side.

Alameda

Alameda is a Brazilian restaurant hidden away down a side street off Sanlitun’s Bar Street. The restaurant is well worth finding, especially for their lunch special, which is only 60 yuan for a starter and main dish. The lunch menu changes daily and there is usually a meat, fish or vegetarian option for both the starter and the main. The menu may be a bit limited, but the food is healthy, very fresh, and beautifully presented, which more than makes up for the lack of selection.

The glass walls make the restaurant feel light and summery. However, customers may experience a bit of noise fatigue when it gets busy as the sound seems to reverberate (rumour has it they are moving to new premises in the future so check back here for an update).

Alameda is nestled amongst a number of interesting clothing shops (in the Nali Mall), which makes for fun shopping or browsing after lunch.

Making a reservation in advance is recommended, especially for lunch.

The Pink Loft

This Thai restaurant, with its bright pink cushions, huge pink lampshades, and waiters clad in pink, is aptly named. Although the mainly concrete interior makes the restaurant feel quite industrial, it still maintains a warm (and colourful) atmosphere. The ground floor serves as the reception while the dining area is on the second and third floors. The service here is very good and the menu is impressively extensive. However, if you are feeling daunted by the prospect of ordering on your own, feel free to ask the manager for suggestions or even to order for you. There is an assortment of different kinds of prawns on the menu, be sure to try at least one as they’re delicious.

The restaurant is located in the trendy Sanlitun （三里屯） area，and is just a stone’s throw from the popular Ya Show market.

McCawley's Irish Bar and Restaurant

No city is complete without an Irish bar and Shenzhen has McCawleys to give the city's drinkers a slice of Hibernia in Asia. This is a popular spot for Shenzhen's expats to drink, eat and watch sports events. The bar is predictably very woody and decked out with the paraphernalia of Ireland. Th...

For this standard of bar the prices are reasonable. Draught beers are RMB32-58; bottled beer is RMB18-28 and shooters cost RMB25. There are generous discounts during the 11am to 8pm happy hour.

The food is decent Western-style pub grub. Sandwiches cost RMB65, Manwiches are RMB85 and the fresh Catch of the Day is RMB90.

Seaworld is off Taizi Road near the Taizi Hotel. Bus nos. 105, 204 and 220 pass here. A taxi from Luohu will cost about RMB80.

The Penthouse

The Penthouse is one of Shenzhen’s best-kept secrets. This tastefully decorated French restaurant consists of a dining area, wine cellar, private rooms, roof-top terrace and a wine bar. Its top floor position in Shenzhen’s commercial centre means there are excellent views of the city. Thankfully, the food and service live up to the expectations generated by the setting. Needless to say, it’s not cheap but not quite as expensive as other Western restaurants of this class in Shenzhen.

How to get there

The Penthouse is in Fountain-Signature Suites (serviced apartments) on Shennan East Road about a ten-minute walk from the intersection with Dongmen Road and opposite Leyuan Road. Both Guo Mao and Lao Jie Metro stations are the nearest. From the former head north and from the latter head south to Shennan Middle Road. From there, head east. It will take about twenty minutes to get there from either. Bus nos. 2, 29 and 205 stop near it.

Banana Leaf

Banana Leaf specializes in Thai and South Asian cuisine. Thai curies, Vietnamese spring rolls, hot and sour soup, spicy seafood dishes, samosas and fruit filled pancakes make up the menu. A meal for two will cost around RMB100 –150.

How to get there

Banana Leaf is...

How to get there

Banana Leaf is on Dongmen Walking Street, in the heart of Dong Men, on the second floor of the building across from the Sun Plaza. By Metro, take Exit A at Lao Jie station. Look for the sign on the street.