Beijing teahouses are not only places to drink a cup of tea; they are also good places to soak up the traditional local culture. Performances such as the Beijing Opera, acrobatics, magic tricks and comic dialogues are usually given in these teahouses. Food and snacks may be served at some teahouses. Now let's have a look at the four best teahouses in Beijing.
Lao She Teahouse 老舍茶馆
People there can enjoy a splendid performance every day converged with outstanding folk arts, such as operas, folk arts, acrobatics, magic performances and Changing Faces. Meanwhile various kinds of tea, Beijing traditional snacks, Beijing cuisine and tea parties can be experienced. Advanced booking is needed. Built in 1988, Lao She Teahouse was named after an artist, Lao She, and his famous theater. This teahouse is full of Beijing's unsophisticated style and simplicity, with elegant furnishings. Neatly arranged ‘Eight Immortals' tables, backrest chairs, palace lanterns hung from the ceiling, wooden tablets with Longjing Oolong tea on the counter, and paintings and calligraphy couplets hung on the wall, make you feel like you have entered an old Beijing folk museum.
• Opening times: 9:00am-9:20pm
• Address: Bldg. 3, Zhengyang Market, Qianmen Xi Dajie, Chongwen District (the front door store) 西城区前门西大街正阳市场3号楼 （前门店）
• Transportation: Take bus 17, 22, 43 or 826 to Qianmen Station. Alternatively, take Subway Line 2 and get off at Qianmen Station.
• Telephone: 010-63036830, 63021717
Sentosa Teahouse圣淘沙茶楼
Having a business area of 5,000 square meters, "Sentosa" is one of the global top 500 high-end tea restaurants. There is a Nanyang Exotic Hall and more than 20 VIP rooms with luxurious and warm Chinese, French, British, American, German, Scandinavian, Mediterranean and Southeast Asian styles. The Oldies Concert Hall on the third floor is filled with a classic Beijing nostalgic style and romantic atmosphere. Famous singers and old Chinese national artists will perform the Golden Oldies in this concert hall every night. Being intoxicated with the oldies while enjoying some nice tea makes you feel like you are going back in time to the old Shanghai restaurants of the 1930s and 1940s, with a nostalgic, romantic, and warm atmosphere. That environment brings tenderness and sweetness to young couples and happy recollections to old friends. Tea from home and abroad, and Western style dishes, such as coffee and "abalone", are mainly offered there, as well as Chuan and Yue cuisine.
• Opening times: 10:00am-12:00am
• Address: Jia-1, Waiguan Xie Jie, Andingmen Wai, Chaoyang District 北京市朝阳区安定门外大街外馆斜街甲1号
• Transportation: Take bus 18, 407, 426 or 758 to Anwaigan Water Bridge
• Telephone: 010-85285000
Zhangyiyuan Tianqiao Teahouse 张一元天桥茶楼
Covering an area of about 500 square meters and accommodating over 200 people, Zhangyiyuan Tianqiao Teahouse is an antique building where people enjoy tea drinking and relaxation. It's where the original old Tianqiao civilian literature and art programs, such as storytelling, acrobatics, drama and crosstalk are performed every day. It also serves as a place where tourist souvenirs, art works, sculptures which show the styles and features of the old bridge, writing, photographs, flavorsome Beijing snacks and handicrafts are sold.
• Advanced booking is needed because of the high demand.
• Opening times: 9:00am-5:00pm
• Address: 18, Wanming Lu, Xicheng District (opposite the Oriental Hotel) 西城区万明路18号 (东方饭店对面)
• Telephone: 010-63163518
• Transportation: Take bus 15 and get off at the Yonganli stop
Menghuitianqiao — Sanlitun Theater of Deyunshe 梦回天桥—德云三里屯剧场
Located at 4, Gongti Dong Lu (West SOHO of Sanlitun), Sanlitun Theater of Deyunshe, with its solemn and elegant style, classical interior decoration, lighting, advanced stage, and central air-conditioning, has a business area of nearly 6,000 square meters and is divided into two layers. The stage has a large LED flat screen showing Chinese and English. The hall can accommodate more than 500 people with antique mahogany tables and chairs in the auditorium. Around the hall are teahouses, snack shops and mouth-watering Beijing snacks which are supplied daily. Visitors can enjoy drinking tea, chatting, and appreciating crosstalk. In consideration of the cultural differences, all of the shows have an English translation.
• Tip: It is better to have a crosstalk ticket in advance.
• Address: 4, Gongti Dong Lu, Chaoyang District (facing the Sanlitun Yashow Clothing Market) 北京市朝阳区工体东路4号 （雅秀服装市场对面）
• Booking Telephone: 010-58407676
