It's important, therefore, to take business associates to a restaurant that will make them feel like you're showing them respect. One way to do this is to choose a restaurant that has private rooms you can reserve for yourself and your guests. Mah says many classy restaurants in Beijing have private rooms, though you may have to pay a little extra to reserve them. If you don't speak Chinese, verify that the restaurant has an English menu or photos of the food in the menu, since you'll be expected to order for the group.
Arrive early to select the menu. Start out with a few cold dishes, like cucumber salad, raw vegetables or pressed tofu with chili oil. For the main course, order meat or seafood. "Seafood is considered very expensive, so to treat someone, you should order shrimp or fish," Mah explains.
Don't fall into the trap of ordering rice, dumpling, or noodles for the main course. "Those things are considered filler food," she says. "It should be something that's offered after you've offered everything else that's more expensive."
When you sit down, Mah says, there may be one napkin on the table folded differently than the rest. "That's the seat of the host," she explains. "If you're hosting, you should automatically go to that seat, and if you're not the host, don't sit there."
Continually fill your guests' plates, and the same goes for their glasses. If someone hands you a business card, take it with both hands and look at it. Putting it right in your pocket is considered disrespectful.
Below are a few places you can feel comfortable bringing guests, and a few you can try out when you're off the clock.
• Da Dong Roast Duck. You should order Peking duck at least once while you're in Beijing, and you should order it at Da Dong. It's famous throughout the city, and with both English and Chinese menus, it's as foreigner-friendly as it is locally respected. Mah says it's an ideal place for a business dinner because it has private rooms. Location: 22 Dongsi Shitiao, Phone: +86-010-5169-0328.
• Made in China at the Hyatt. Let's face it. Once you get one taste of Beijing's signature dish – duck – you'll definitely want another. Don't miss out on the one restaurant that's widely considered to be a rival to Da Dong. Slightly less creative than it's competitor – it is located in the Hyatt, after all – Behring says Made in China just may be 'the best duck in town.' The open kitchen adds an element of entertainment to the dining experience.
• Din Tai Fung. This is one place where it's okay to order dumplings as a main course. 'It's a chain from Taiwan,' Mah says, 'and it's definitely somewhere you could bring people.' Din Tai Fung offers a variety of steamed dumplings, noodle dishes and specialty soups for Westerners who like to play it safe.
• Capital M. Boasting one of the most scenic views around, Capital M is located on Qianmen Street with terrace views of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Despite its setting in one of Beijing's most iconic areas, the food at Capital M is skewed toward European dishes and flavors, like crab tortellini and Catalan seafood stew. Still, it comes highly recommended by Boyce, who describes it as 'excellent for business dinners.'
• Old Beijing Noodle King. Though you'll want to entertain clients at a high-end restaurant, one of the perks of visiting Beijing is getting mouthwatering meals cheap. If you want to catch a quick bite, Mah suggests the zha jiang mian at the Noodle King, which are homemade noodles tossed with sweet and savory pork sauce, julienne cucumbers and vinegar. Location: 29 Chong Wei St., Phone: +86-010-6705-6705.
• 'Ghost street' or Guijie. Lined with red lanterns, 'Ghost Street' is kitschy, but still considered a hub for good shopping and great food. One of the more celebrated spots is Hua Jia Yi Yuan Guijie, where the atmosphere is casual and the interior courtyard often hosts live entertainment. Location: 235 Dongzhimennei Dajie, Phone: +86-01-6405-1908.
• Yue Bing. If you're up for a treasure hunt, Behring says navigating your way to Yue Bing is well worth it. 'It's not fancy, but it's the best food I've ever had,' she says. Head toward the National Gallery, and on the north side of Wangfujing, you'll find the restaurant in the Cuihua Hutong. Once you get there, Behring recommends the guo tai doufu, which are tofu sandwiches filled with pork, battered and fried.
Dig Deeper: Online Resources for the China Bound
How to Survive a Business Trip in Beijing: Where to Unwind
Sooner or later the crowds, the language barrier, the jetlag and the back-to-back meetings are going to get to you. Luckily, Beijing is well prepared for overwhelmed business travelers who want to kick back without spending all their free time in a hotel room.
• Get a massage. A massage is relaxing in and of itself, but in Beijing, you can get one at a fraction of what it might cost in the States, making your time on the table that much sweeter. Eimer recommends either Dragonfly or Bodhi for a high-quality, low-cost massage. The Bodhi Sense location has comparable prices to all three of Dragonfly's centers, starting at about $22 for an hour-long massage.
