Our To Try List features new restaurants, dining promotions, drink discounts, food and beverage festivals, guest shifts, pop-ups, and other culinary events happening in Beijing.
This week, Italian restaurant Mercante makes its return to Beijing, Wild Kite opens its third location in Solana, Jing-A launches a Brew Hub, and more additions to our To Try List.
**Italian Restaurant Mercante Comes Back to Beijing**
Mercante has reemerged in Beijing with two locations! Established in 2011, Mercante originally had a welcoming eatery in the Dongcheng hutongs, securing multiple Beijinger Restaurant Awards over time. In 2014, they opened Fiume along the Liangma River but had to shut down the original Mercante due to Covid, consolidating operations at Fiume.
The new Mercante locations are returning to their hutong origins, with one situated on Zhaofu Jie in Gulou and another on Xizhuang Hutong near Fayuan Temple. Both venues are currently running a soft opening menu that includes signature Italian dishes such as fresh pasta, risotto, their renowned Pesto Lasagna, and various tiramisu options. In addition to food, they offer specially crafted coffees, wines, and other beverages. It's important to note that during the soft opening phase, they will operate all day as a cafeteria but will serve as a restaurant only during lunch and dinner hours. Full opening times are listed below.
**Mercante Fayuan Temple Branch**
51 Xizhuang Hutong, Xicheng District
Soft opening cafeteria hours: Tue-Sun, 10:30 am-9 pm (closed Mon)
Soft opening restaurant hours: Tue-Sun, 11 am-2 pm, 4:30 pm-9 pm (closed Mon)
Phone: 185 1922 9589
**Mercante Gulou Branch**
69 Zhaofu Jie, Dongcheng District
Soft opening cafeteria hours: Tue-Sun, 10:30 am-9:30 pm (closed Mon)
Soft opening restaurant hours: Tue-Sun, 11 am-2 pm, 5 pm-9:30 pm (closed Mon)
Phone: 186 1039 5579
**Wild Kite Launches Third Location in Solana**
Wild Kite has recently opened its third branch in Solana, located adjacent to Q MEX. The two-story brewpub features an impressive selection of 31 beers on tap. In addition to their famous burgers, which secured fourth place in the Beijinger's last two Juicy Burger Cups, they have upgraded their fruit-smoked barbecue system to enhance their smoked meats.
**Wild Kite Solana Branch**
RS-08, Bldg 8, Solana, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District
Hours: 11 am-midnight
Phone: 185 1587 5618
**Jing-A Introduces “Brewing Hub” at Zhongjun World City**
Not long ago, Jing-A opened a new location in the CBD's Zhongjun World City, called the “Brewing Hub.” This branch is smaller than other Jing-A establishments and takes inspiration from European tapas-style dining. Despite the limited space, it boasts 22 signature brews on tap, plus a selection of small bites like Lao Jim's Fried Chicken and Truffle Fries. For a more substantial meal, they offer popular burgers, including the Stout Bacon Cheeseburger and the Yunnan-Guizhou Sour Soup Flavor Wagyu Burger.
**Jing-A Brewing Hub**
Unit W117, 101, 1/F, 9 Jinhui Lu, Chaoyang District
Hours: Sun-Thu, 5 pm-1 am; Fri-Sat, 5 pm-2 am
**Puzzles Hosts Two Upcoming Wine Dinners**
Puzzles, located in Baochao Hutong, has scheduled two Wine Dinners this month—one on Saturday, Oct 18, at 7 pm and another on Thursday, Oct 30, at 7 pm. The first event, this Saturday, will feature Alex from China Wines & Spirits (CWS), who will present wines from five different countries and grape varieties. The second dinner, on Oct 30, will be led by Alejandro from Gelanxi (GLX), showcasing five Spanish wines from his hometown along with local specialties. Both events will feature a variety of Puzzles' signature dishes such as Flammkuchen and Stuffed Paprika. Each dinner is priced at RMB 388 per person, and reservations can be made by scanning the QR code in the posters.
**Puzzles**
52 Baochao Hutong, Dongcheng District
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 5:30 pm-9:30 pm; Sat-Sun,
The Italian restaurant Mercante is back at BJ, Wild Kite has opened in Solana, Jing-A has launched a Brew Hub, and there’s more on our To Try List this week.