Hotpot with a view

A rooftop space facing the ancient Drum Tower is a rare asset for Laoguo Laozao, or the Old Stove Chongqing-style hotpot restaurant. With umbrellas to shelter from the sun, and lights to illuminate the evening, expect the beautiful view to make it a very popular place as the weather warms up.

The restaurant has another, less-tempting part on underground level one. It seems being an authentic Chongqing eatery means you have to offer foods such as chitterling, duck intestines, pork liver, beef marrow and even cockscomb. But if you are not so adventurous, there are always the more common beef, lamb, fish and frog, besides mushrooms and vegetables. The spicy noodles are quite worth trying.

Opposite Yandai Xiejie (Street), Di'anmenwai Dajie, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6403-5543.