Where to Eat – Restaurants in the Forbidden City

For visitors spending a full day exploring the Forbidden City or simply needing a meal between tours, the palace offers several on-site dining options from quick bites to proper sit-down meals, all included in five restaurants. 

 Average cost: CNY 70 per person

 Location: West wing of the Forbidden City, south of Palace of Compassion and Tranquility

 Opening hours: 10:30-14:30

Imperial Icehouse specializes in Chinese set meals like braised beef rice, sesame cakes, and seafood combos, each including a main, staple and sides. The featured meal is their Empress Dowager Braised Beef Rice (CNY 58), where fork-tender beef comes with fragrant rice and fresh vegetables, consisting a well-balanced meal.

Beyond the food, the restaurant's architectural design is a highlight. Stepping inside this semi-underground vaulted icehouse from Qing dynasty (1644-1911), you'll feel like escaping into a cool summer day from centuries past, which is also a perfect backdrop for historic photos.

 

 Average cost: CNY 50 per person

 Location: After exiting Hall of Preserved Harmony on the central axis, turn right through Gate of Great Fortune (near the Gallery of Timepieces)

 Opening hours: 9:00-16:00

This restaurant caters to visitors with quick-service meals like steamed dumplings, beef noodles, curry beef rice bowls, and kung pao chicken rice bowls. As all items are simple ready-to-serve dishes, both food preparation and turnover are fast. And don't miss the outside snack window serving cost-effective hot dogs at just CNY 28 for two.

 

 Average cost: CNY 40 per person

 Location: East side of Palace of Earthly Tranquility's backyard, along the central axis

 Opening hours: 9:30-16:00

This convenient eatery serves Western grab-and-go food like croissants, hot dogs, fried chicken drumsticks, grilled wings, and juices. Its combo meals offer better value, such as the CNY 33 set with a bread, sausage, and orange juice.

Wanfu Jinchun Teahouse

 Average cost: CNY 60 per person

 Location: East of Forbidden City Restaurants (Palace of Earthly Tranquility)

 Opening hours: 9:30-16:00

To the right of the fast food counter referred above, a small door with the sign board of "Palace of Earthly Tranquility East Courtyard"  leads to the wildly popular Wanfu Jinchun Teahouse. It serves up items with both traditional Chinese and modern flair, such as the “Fortune” latte in blue-and-white porcelain cups, persimmon-shaped mousse, and lychee berry drink with its refreshing sweet-sour taste. 

Note: To dine here, you need to get a queue number in person, which is issued from 9:30 to 15:30. Avoid peak hours from 11:30 to 13:30 for shorter waits.

 

Gate of Divine Prowess

 Average cost: CNY 40 per person

 Location: West side outside Gate of Divine Prowess

 Opening hours: 8:30-17:30

This café treats visitors with a selection of coffee, tea, milk tea, and sweet treats like cakes and ice cream. Their standout items are "Emperor Kangxi's Favorite Chocolate", a drink crowned with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and shavings, and the "Forbidden City Scroll Cake", a delicately floral sponge cake with soft texture.

Designed around blue-green Chinese paintings, the elegant space makes an ideal resting spot after exploring the Forbidden City. Visitors can admire views of the moat and corner tower, capture beautiful photos, and even catch the sunset before closing time in winter.

Note: The Corner Tower Café is located outside the Forbidden City, so you can visit it without a ticket. Just inform the security staff at the entrance, and they'll let you through. 

Forbidden City Ice-cream Stall

In the Forbidden City, you will find lots of convenience stores scattered across open areas, offering light meals like bread, sandwiches and cookies from CNY 5, and bottled water from CNY 4.

While dining in the Forbidden City provides quick energy, its fire-free cooking may result in less satisfying taste. Here are some great alternatives within 3-15 minutes' walk, covering quick meals, Beijing specialties, and upscale dining for a more satisfying culinary experience.

 Average cost: CNY 40 per person

 Location: Left side after passing Tian'anmen Square and entering Upright Gate

 Opening hours: 10:00-21:00

This restaurant serves rice, noodles, coffee, and other simple meals. Though similar in price and taste to the ones inside the palace, it can be ideal if you plan to visit Tian'anmen Square first and need a quick bite before entering the Forbidden City.

 Average cost: CNY 145 per person

 Location: 3-minute walk from Gate of East Prosperity

 Opening hours: 10:30-21:30

This restaurant serves authentic Beijing roast duck with crispy skin and tender meat, which would melt in your mouth when dipped in sugar. Other recommended popular dishes are fried pea sprouts and honey-glazed crispy shrimp. Sitting here, you will enjoy views of the moat and Gate of East Prosperity, which earns it the nickname "most scenic restaurant near the Forbidden City".

Authentic Beijing Stewed Pork Offal in the Restaurant

 Average cost: CNY 60 per person

 Location: Turn right after exiting Gate of East Prosperity, about 3-minute walk

 Opening hours: 10:30-21:30

This spot serves up Beijing local staples and home-style dishes like beef pancakes, sweet sesame cakes, kung pao chicken, and fried pork strips with bean sauce. At just CNY 30 for 8 pieces, the beef pancakes with flaky crust and juicy filling are unarguably the best value bite.  

 Average cost: CNY 350 per person

 Location: 28 Zhonglao Hutong, Dongcheng District (14-minute walk from Gate of Divine Prowess)

 Opening hours: 10:30-21:30

This hidden gem in a traditional courtyard near the Forbidden City serves authentic Chinese dishes like red-braised pork and sweet-sour shrimp, with a dedicated menu for vegans. What makes it more special is that it provides group activities including daytime cooking classes and private chef dinners, which you can book in advance to join in with food enthusiasts from around the world.