Beijing's Rooftops & Terraces: Sanlitun and Gongti

While the weather has been a little unpredictable of late, when the sun does shine and you’re looking for a spot of alfresco dining or drinking, there is no shortage of stunning rooftops and terraces here in Beijing. To kick off this series, we're going to take a look at some of the rooftops and terraces situated around the Sanlitun and Gongti area, so grab your sunglasses and go embrace summer!

Luxe Lounge

Located on the east side of the Third Ring Road, Luxe Lounge recently had a complete rooftop makeover. Now, the bar has an Egyptian theme, complete with colorful tiles, pillars, hieroglyphics and even a sphinx water feature! The rooftop spans a large space with lots of seating options where you can take in the breathtaking views of Beijing's skyline. On the food front, they’ve got a Western menu with everything from pasta and salads to steak and more. For drinks, as you’d expect, they’ve got a great cocktail menu along with wine, beer and soft drinks.

Luxe Lounge
13/F, Bldg B, Hengan Tower, Donghuan Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东三环北路17号（恒安大厦B座13层）
Hours: 5.30pm-4.30am
Phone:  010 5107 7359

Y Spanish Table

Part of the y Family restaurant group, y Spanish Table opened up earlier this year in Sanlitun Taikooli. It's a rebrand of two former restaurants, Restaurant y and y NOT, which were also both located in Taikooli. It features an elegant terrace area that is partially covered with an awning, making it a great choice for those who prefer to take shelter from direct sunlight but still enjoy dining alfresco. Their menu focuses on Spanish cuisine from the Catalan region, with Chef Yao Yang having recently spent time in culinary schools and restaurant kitchens in Barcelona. 

Y Spanish Table
48, 4/F, N2, Sanlitun Taikooli, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯太古里北区N2座4层48号
Hours: 11am-10pm
Phone: 152 1019 6912

CJ Lounge

This super chic rooftop lounge opened up on the east side of the Workers' Stadium about two years ago. With its sandy-colored walls and tiled floors, CJ Lounge gives off Mediterranean vibes similar to those exuded at the now-closed Nali Patio. Beautiful decor aside, the other big thing this venue has going for it is its stunning view of the Workers’ Stadium, which you can enjoy in all of its refurbished glory.

They've got a range of snacks to nibble on while enjoying the view, like Chicken Wings (RMB 78) and Truffle Cheese Fries (RMB 78), as well as bigger dishes. Drinkwise, they’ve got a range of classic and signature cocktails as well as mocktails, wine, beer and other soft drinks. 

CJ Lounge
1401-1403, 14/F, 2 Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体东路丙2号14层1401-1403号
Hours: 6pm-4am
Phone: 186 1136 5468

BROWNSTONE

Another Spanish restaurant with some lovely outdoor seating is BROWNSTONE. Opening up their first Beijing branch in Sanlitun Taikooli last year, BROWNSTONE was founded in Shanghai back in 2010. They specialize in authentic Spanish food and now have multiple locations in a number of cities across China. BROWNSTONE boasts a beautiful terrace area with colorful tiled tables and bright red chairs. It's the perfect spot to enjoy one of their Red or White Sangrias (RMB 58/glass, RMB 268/pitcher) and nibble on their range of delicious Spanish dishes. 

BROWNSTONE
S4-33, 4/F, Taikooli South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号太古里南区三层S4-33单元
Hours: 11am-midnight
Phone: 010 5211 8278

V Park Whisky Cocktail Lounge

Boasting a large space dotted with greenery and stunning views of Guomao in the distance, V Park's rooftop is a great chill-out spot, especially come the late evening when all the skyscrapers are lit up. Foodwise, they've got a Western menu of mains and snacks with things like salads, pizza, tacos, platters, etc. To sip on, they have numerous classic and signature cocktails as well as soft drinks like healthy juices and wine and beer. If you're coming with a large group of friends, they also have spirit and mixer packages available too. 

V Park Restaurant & Lounge
2005, 20/F, Ruichen International Center, 13 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区农展馆南路13号瑞辰国际中心20层2005室
Hours: 6pm-3am
Phone: 185 1917 4091

Spring Patio

Situated on the third floor of Sanlitun Taikooli, Spring Patio is a bistro that opened up back at the end of 2021. Featuring a beautiful rooftop terrace with plenty of flowers, a pebble floor and bamboo furniture, it has a very peaceful vibe. They do a range of Chinese dishes, but they specialize in Yunnan cuisine, and they have just earned a spot on the 2025 Dianping Must-Eat List. Some dishes to watch out for are the Tofu Rice Noodles (RMB 48), Sour Stewed Fish (RMB 148) and Yunnan Braised Chicken (RMB 118). They also have a great wine selection, and even have a “wine pairings” section of the menu. 

Spring Patio
S9-31, 3/F, Sanlitun Taikoo Li South Area, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区3层S9-31号
Hours: 11.30am-2pm, 5pm-10pm
Phone: 156 1108 2609

Casa Bacardi

Channelling Caribbean late-night beach party vibes with palm trees, fluorescent lights, and even a beach hut-style bar, the only thing missing from Casa Bacardi’s rooftop is a pool. Open until the wee hours of the morning, this is one of the best rooftops around for those looking to party all night long during summer. For non-party animals, they also have a range of Western, Mexican and Japanese food options, as well as plenty of drinks, including, of course, a ton of Bacardi-based cocktails.

Casa Bacardi
L40, 4/F, S8, Sanlitun Taikoo Li South Area, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区S8 4层L40
Hours: 6pm-5am
Phone: 010 5368 8761

COMMUNE·X

Having undergone a complete revamp back in 2022, COMMUNE•X’s large rooftop terrace is dotted with plenty of flowers and greenery among its striking red and white chairs and tables, creating a bright, summery atmosphere. For beer lovers, this is an ideal place to spend an afternoon sampling some of COMMUNE•X’s home tipples. You can even get a tasting flight of four different beers (150ml/glass) for RMB 128 if you want to try a few different ones. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, they also have extensive brunch, lunch, dinner, and even late-night menus with popular dishes like their Commune Crispy Chicken Wings (RMB 68) or Oxtail Grilled Cheese Sandwich (RMB 88).

COMMUNE·X 
S8, 3/F, Sanlitun Taikoo Li South Area, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号院8号楼3层S08-3内S8-31单元
Hours: Mon-Thu, 11am-2am; Fri, 11am-3am; Sat, 10am-3am; Sun 10am-2am
Phone: 152 1097 7183

UBar/Cafe Muse

Originally just home to UBar, Cafe Muse has been sharing this rooftop since April 2023. As well as bringing an excellent coffee menu into the mix, Cafe Muse also injected some art into the space, with it now being home to a mini gallery of sorts that regularly hosts exhibitions. The rooftop itself has numerous plants and vines scattered around, and red awnings covering much of the space give some much needed shade for Beijing’s warmest months. UBar has a range of both classic and signature cocktails, plus bottled beer and soft drinks and a menu with both Chinese and Western dishes. 
    
UBar/Cafe Muse
 2/F, 2 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体西路2号2层
Hours: 9am-11.30pm  (Cafe Muse), 11am-2am (UBar)
Phone: 010 6551 2921 (Cafe Muse) 185 1540 6431 (UBar)

Mix Island

An area near Sanlitun that has plenty of outdoor seating options is Mix Island. With an eclectic range of eateries, bars and other foodie establishments all housed around its large outdoor camping style seating area, it’s an ideal spot for some alfresco fun. From Mediterranean to yakitori to Yunnan cuisine, there is a great mix – you see what we did there? – of flavors to enjoy. You can read more about some of the venues located there in this article. 

Mix Island Mix岛•西西里村
Inside Dongfeng Intl. Sports Park (South Gate), A9 Nongzhan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区农展南路甲9号东枫国际体育园内