Sanlitun: Something here for everybody
0 
|
|
|
Indian food shop |
If you fancy a Japanese feast, then opt for Haru Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar. It's a great place for lunch or dinner. Hatsune is another Japanese restaurant worth checking out while those more interested in a fusion of eastern and western cuisines might like to venture into Element Fresh. This restaurant offers great salads, fresh juices and various reasonable meal deals. Union Bar & Grille is a popular steakhouse, and those yearning Chinese food are spoilt for choice. Chaodian comes highly recommended for its dim sum and Hong Kong delicacies, while Karaiya Spice House serves up Hunan cuisine in an intimate environment.
Meanwhile, if it's McDonald's you're craving, you'll find a branch here. Those with a sweet tooth have not been overlooked either – you guys might want to check out the great crepes and lunch sets at Jaya Cafe or indulge in some fruity puddings at the Asian desert shop Mango. Beyond this, you can find Italian, Spanish, French and other delicious cuisines in restaurants that suit all budgets.
Sanlitun has various sides to its personality, but predominantly it boasts two faces – one for daytime and another for night owls. During the day, this is the place to come to and spend, spend spend, or at the very least do some big-time window shopping. There are some really cool shops here. One of my favourites is Crossover Center, where you can buy the wildest furniture and art for your home. Even if you don't have your own house or flat, or the disposable income to shell out thousands of yuan on a giant-size statue of a pig to hang from your ceiling, it is at least worth browsing around this shop to view the curios on display. I just adore the fibre-glass pig that stands on the staircase. It bites into a pearl necklace while injecting a hypodermic needle into a rather huge breast, and is a piece of art I would love to have in my living room.
At the back of Sanlitun Village, heading West towards the Poly Theatre, you can find more interesting stores and places to eat. Do check out April Gourmet, situated in the Just Make Building, Xingfuzhongjie. This is a supermarket geared towards expats where you can find all sorts of treats. There is a deli selling everything from Camembert and Feta cheese to salamis, hummus and fresh salads. You will find a range of breads and shelf after shelf of all sorts of condiments and specialities that you probably miss from home. April Gourmet is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. through to midnight. If you are looking for Garam Masala, papadums or some turmeric, then do check out the small grocery store Qi Yuan Mart on Sanlitun 41. It specializes in Indian ingredients.
Also, behind Sanlitun Village you will find Comme des Garcon, Giorgio Armani and other boutiques in the throes of being completed. The Village is an ongoing project. But 3.3 Shopping Mall has been open for business for a while now. Here in the basement you can find a games arcade as well as a great massage centre where you can enjoy foot massages, full body massages and a range of other relaxation treatments.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments