Beijing hidden gem: A temple café&restaurant in Beijing’s hutongs-2

☕ HALF COFFEE 觀

📍 Location: On the Central Axis, north of Bell Tower, near Doufuchi Hutong

🕙Opening hours: 11:00 am – 18:00 pm

💙 Free entry – no reservation needed

Half coffee in beijing temple cafe

Half coffee in beijing temple cafe

Half coffee in beijing temple cafe

You may already tried Beijing Hutong cafe, but have you already tried BeijingTemple cafe?

Hong’en Guan宏恩观: A 730-Year-Old Beijing Temple Coffee Spot on the Central Axis

If you’re searching for a Beijing temple coffee experience that blends history and calm, Hong’en Guan is a hidden gem worth finding. Once known as “the Dragon’s Tail Fortress,” this site was originally Qianfo Temple, built during the Yuan Dynasty over 730 years ago.

Located at the northernmost end of Beijing’s ancient Central Axis, it was designed to protect the imperial city and guard against bad energy from outside.

After meticulous restoration, this historic Beijing temple still preserves its Shan Gate, Heavenly King Hall, Emperor Hall, Great Hero Hall, Treasure Hall, and side halls, now transformed into a peaceful courtyard where you can sip coffee surrounded by centuries of history.

Now transformed into Hong’en Guan Garden, it also features:

1, 和木·归 Gui Temple

fancy restaurant in Beijing temple

fancy restaurant in Beijing temple

fancy restaurant in Beijing temple

• Average price: 250 RMB/pp

• Opening hours: 11:00 am-21:30 pm

• Must-order:

  🦆 Roast duck 299 RMB- The roast duck lover would never miss the chance to try this one -“He Mu’s” three-way roast duck is quite unique. Besides the classic serving style, their signature candied scallion duck wraps Chaozhou’s traditional sweet scallion candy (a local intangible heritage snack) and Beijing roast duck in glutinous rice paper -a sweet-savory, crispy-fragrant combo that’s truly one of a kind.

  
  

  🍤 Suiyuan Pear Shrimp 139 RMB - a dish with a story. Large shrimp are paired with Beijing’s seasonal white pears in autumn -it’s not just a taste, it’s a bite of culture and history.

  
  

  🐟 Yellow Croaker Stuffed with Crab Roe Soup 69 RMB -a true surprise inside. The wild yellow croaker is deboned and stuffed with crab roe and shrimp — absolutely a “divine combination.”

  
  

  🌰 Autumn Chestnut Aroma 99RMB — foie gras delicately shaped into chestnuts, with a faint hint of wine. When the autumn sunlight hits the dish, it’s a perfect blend of creativity and craftsmanship.

2,Beigang Craft Beer Bar 北港精酿餐吧

chill beer bar in Beijing temple

chill beer bar in Beijing temple

chill beer bar in Beijing temple

• Average price: 100 RMB/pp

• Opening hours: 18:00 pm-01:00 am

It’s a bit of a pity that much of its original historical function is gone…

But sipping coffee in this 730-year-old building, surrounded by ancient stone lions and walls, still feels like having a quiet chat with the past — another kind of timeless charm.