Beijing's food and beverage scene experienced a number of unexpected closures last year, with beloved establishments bidding farewell enthusiastically, while some lesser-known spots vanished quietly for good. Unfortunately for those of us in the capital, the closures are continuing into 2025.
Recently, three well-known Western dining establishments have closed, and one popular brand has been acquired by new owners.
La Pizza's Shangdu SOHO location has said goodbye. Once a hidden gem among Italian expats in the city for its expertly crafted pizza and a rotating selection of pasta and comfort dishes, La Pizza Shangdu SOHO has now closed its doors. Gennaro Miele, who is now the manager and a business partner of former La Pizza chef Giuseppe de Stefano, informed the Beijinger that the restaurant has been sold to fellow Italian eatery SÌPASTA after de Stefano’s decision to return to Italy.
La Pizza had an impressive 15-year history in the capital, with its original location in Solana creating a buzz among local food enthusiasts and pizza aficionados since its opening in 2008. Its success allowed for the expansion to Shangdu SOHO a few years later. However, the brand faced a significant challenge in 2021 when de Stefano was hospitalized due to complications from a septic infection. While the Beijing expat community rallied to support him with fundraising for his medical costs, he ultimately returned to Italy that same year, leaving La Pizza’s future in jeopardy.
Thanks to Miele's initiative, the Shangdu SOHO branch of La Pizza enjoyed a resurgence starting in 2023. New offerings such as the larger Pizza a Ruota di Carro (“wheel of the cart” pizza) and a rotating menu of regional pastas received excellent reviews. Unfortunately, the Shangdu SOHO location has now closed, passing its operations to SÌPASTA, which has also recently undergone changes…
SÌPASTA has new owners, having been sold to new management at the end of last year. Established in April 2022, SÌPASTA quickly gained attention in Beijing for being one of the few Italian restaurants completely dedicated to pasta, boasting handmade options featured in classic dishes as well as more elaborate items like Spaghetti alle Parmigiano Reggiano, served tableside in a wheel of cheese. The future direction for the brand is unclear, as is the status of the original location— a notice from December indicated it was closed for renovations— but the new location in La Pizza's former space appears to have already opened, although its operating hours on Dianping remain unconfirmed.
The Rug has closed two of its three locations. In January, both its Sanlitun Courtyard No. 4 and Wangfujing branches shut down. According to a post on the Rug’s official WeChat account prior to Chinese New Year, the branches closed on January 16, with plans to look for new spaces soon.
Since opening in 2014, the Sanlitun branch of The Rug offered more than just breakfast from its two-level layout in the compound. In addition to typical brunch items, it also served Western favorites like their well-loved Mapo Tofu Pizza. Fortunately, The Rug's Chaoyang Park branch remains open, ensuring that patrons can still enjoy the mapo tofu pie. Here's hoping they secure new locations shortly.
In other closure news, Jing-A has discreetly closed its Hopson One location near Dawanglu. A message on their official WeChat indicated that due to the lease expiration, they will be "adjusting their operational plan," resulting in the Hopson One location no longer being listed on their official site.
The Jing-A Hopson One opened in the fall of 2022, introducing unique offerings like a Surf & Turf burger and exclusive bar snacks. Following significant changes after Covid, the brand closed one of its Shenzhen locations in 2023, standardizing its menu across all outlets in early 2024.
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Images: theBeijingers, Uni You, courtesy of the venues
As February 2025 approaches its conclusion, three major brands originating from Beijing have shut down their locations throughout the city.