The 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, akin to China's Michelin Guide, was unveiled last week, featuring 35 restaurants from Beijing. Initiated in 2018 by Meituan-Dianping, this yearly guide assesses restaurants based on culinary excellence, customer experience, and the balance of tradition and innovation.
Rather than stars, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide uses diamonds for its ratings: three diamonds signify "a must-visit at least once in a lifetime," two diamonds indicate "ideal for special occasions," and one diamond denotes "suitable for gatherings with family and friends."
Among the 35 Beijing establishments included, there is one three-diamond restaurant, five two-diamond restaurants, and 29 one-diamond restaurants. This year, eight new restaurants received diamond awards, although the total number of Black Pearl restaurants has decreased by two compared to last year.
Noteworthy changes in this year's awards include Jingji Aristocrat Cuisine by Rong, which earned the sought-after three diamonds (up from two in the previous year), and Gastro Aesthetics DaDong, which dropped from three to two diamonds.
A comparison between the Black Pearl Guide and the 2026 Beijing Michelin Guide reveals interesting differences: the three-Michelin-star restaurant Chao Shang Chao received only one diamond, while another three-Michelin-star establishment, Xin Rong Ji, was awarded two diamonds. Additionally, Jingji Aristocrat Cuisine by Rong received only two Michelin stars in this year's guide despite its three diamonds.
There remains significant overlap, and the complete list of 2026 Black Pearl Restaurants is provided below, with those also recognized in the 2026 Beijing Michelin Guide highlighted in bold.
**Three Diamonds**
- Jingji Aristocrat Cuisine by Rong 京季荣派官府菜 (up by one)
**Two Diamonds**
- Restaurant 1996 1996川菜•主厨餐厅 (up by one)
- Gastro Aesthetics DaDong 美大董海参店(南新仓店) (down by one)
- Mansion Cuisine by Jingyan 京艷•翰林书院
- LAMDRE 兰斋
- Xin Rong Ji (Xinyuan Nanlu Branch) 新荣记(新源南路店)
**One Diamond**
- Amico BJ
- BLACKSWAN by Vianney Massot黑天鹅法餐厅 (NEW)
- LES MORILLES 樂•墨瑞
- The Georg (Donghuamen Branch) The Georg（东华门店）(NEW)
- The Beijing Kitchen (SKP Branch) 北京厨房( SKP店)
- MIO in Four Seasons Hotel Beijing 北京四季酒店, MIO
- Bo Jing Xuan Chinese Restaurant in Tylfull Hotel 北京泰富酒店-柏景轩中餐厅
- Chao Shang Chao (Zhengda Branch) 潮上潮(正大店) (NEW)
- Chushan Siji (The Westin Beijing Chaoyang Branch) 楚膳四季•24节气餐厅（亮马桥威斯汀店）(NEW)
- Furong 芙蓉无双荣派湘菜
- GYJ Macau Hotpot (Guomao Branch) 官也街澳门火锅 (国贸商城店)
- Hong 0871 Yunnan Cuisine 泓0871臻选云南菜
- Huai Xiang Guo Se (Zhengda Central branch) 淮香国色(正大中心店) (NEW)
- YUZU京. (NEW)
- La Chansonnière Restaurant 蘭頌餐厅
- Lei Garden (Huaxi International Center Branch) 利苑酒家(华熙国际店)
- The House of Dynasties龙庭 (北京瑰丽酒店) (NEW)
- LU STYLE (Sanyuanqiao Branch) 鲁采(三元桥店)
- Rong Pao 荣袍 (NEW)
- Shengyongxing Roasted Duck Restaurant (Sanlitun Branch) 晟永興烤鸭店(三里屯店)
- Wolfgang's Steakhouse (Sanlitun Branch) 沃夫冈牛排馆(三里屯店)
- Wulixiang Shanghai Cuisine 屋里厢上海菜馆
- Xinchangfu New Hunan Cuisine (Xindadu Branch) 新长福•新湖南新湘菜（新大都店）
- Xue Wei (Zhongguo Hongjie Branch) 雪威(中国红街店)
- Yangzhou Restaurant 扬州宴(北京店)
- Yan Garden by Chef Fei 檐庭北京前门文华东方酒店 (NEW)
- Sushi Ryu 鮨龍
- The Zen Japanese Restaurant (Qianliang Hutong Branch) 鮨然(然寿司钱粮胡同店
Alright, before I begin, I need to vent a bit. Perhaps it will make me feel better. We’re currently in Vangvieng, and it’s incredibly HOT here. So very hot! We’ve rented a charming little house on the outskirts of town, where water buffaloes (or maybe cows? Definitely some type of bovine!) are grazing in our backyard. Our back deck looks out over fields and there’s also a small pond. Fish are jumping in there, causing splashes. If you weren't aware, that's the sound of summer! But the heat... The sun shines directly on the deck, and there's absolutely no shade whatsoever. I burn easily, so I had to retreat inside and am now typing at my laptop in the kitchen, waiting for the shade to reach my chair so I can head back outside.
Here are several additional places in Beijing to watch the big game.
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Still without weekend plans? Here's some inspiration for you!
This year's list includes 35 restaurants from Beijing.