Qianmen Street is only about 800 metres long, but there is a lot packed into it. Traditional Beijing restaurants stand beside newer shops and cafés. Old-style façades line the pedestrian street, while crowds move between restaurants, souvenir shops and familiar modern brands.

It is easy to walk from one end to the other without stopping.

But if you have time, Qianmen is better taken slowly. Sit down for a coffee or a beer, watch people passing outside, and stay long enough to notice some of the details along the street.

I have walked Qianmen Street many times. On my recent visits, I counted three coffee shops directly along the main street, plus a craft beer bar and a hotel lobby bar.

Here is what I found.

1. Starbucks on Qianmen Street

Starbucks sits at the northern entrance to Qianmen Street, close to Zhengyangmen. It is hard to miss, but it does not look like a typical Starbucks from the outside.

The café occupies a three-storey building designed in a traditional Chinese style, fitting surprisingly well into the surrounding Qianmen streetscape. From the side, you can see Zhengyangmen rising behind it.

Side view of Starbucks with Zhengyangmen in the background

I especially like this corner in the evening. The old gate, illuminated façades and modern coffee shop all sit within the same view. If you are not in a hurry, this is an easy place to stop and watch Qianmen change from day to night.

Front view of the three-storey Starbucks building

Address: No. 1 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Tel: +86 10 6301 0108
Price: Around RMB 50–100 per person

2. The People Coffee — 人民咖啡馆

Farther south, at No. 81 Qianmen Street, is The People Coffee (人民咖啡馆). The sign now reads 要潮人民咖啡馆, and the bright red frontage makes it easy to spot while walking down the street.

Front view of the People Coffee人民咖啡馆

Inside, the decoration has a strong retro Beijing feel. There are old photographs of buildings along Beijing’s Central Axis, a large black-and-white view of Tian’anmen Square, and walls filled with cups and other details.

One of its more noticeable drinks is 财神奶咖, served with a heat-sensitive cup sleeve that reveals an image of Zhengyangmen when it becomes warm.

The shop also serves what it calls 慢炖咖啡, or slow-brewed coffee. On my visit, many drinks were priced below RMB 20, making this one of the less expensive coffee stops on Qianmen Street.

Address: No. 81 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Price: Coffee from around RMB 9.8

3. Luckin Coffee — 瑞幸咖啡

At No. 108 is Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡).

Luckin shops are everywhere in Beijing, but this branch has been adapted a little to its Qianmen surroundings. The shop is small, with only a limited number of seats, so I see it more as a place for a quick coffee and a short rest than somewhere to spend a long afternoon.

Front view of Luckin Coffee on Qianmen Street

One practical advantage is the opening time. This branch opens at around 8:00 in the morning, earlier than many places along the street. If you come to Qianmen early, before the main crowds arrive, it can be a useful first coffee stop.

Address: No. 108 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

4. CitiGO Hotel Qianmen Beijing — 北京前门大街CitiGO欢阁酒店

Just a few doors farther along, at No. 112, is 北京前门大街CitiGO欢阁酒店.

You do not have to be staying at the hotel to walk into its lobby bar. The ground-floor space works partly as a hotel lobby and partly as a casual sitting area, with sofas, coffee and a bar.

Exterior of CitiGO Hotel Qianmen Beijing

This is easy to overlook if you are simply walking past, because from the street it looks like somewhere intended only for hotel guests.

It can be a quieter place to sit for a while. Coffee is available during the day, while craft beer is served in the evening. The lobby also stays open later than most coffee shops along Qianmen Street.

Address: No. 112 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

5. 77′ Beer Girl — 77啤妹精酿生活馆（前门店）

Continue south to No. 139 and you come to 77′ Beer Girl — 77啤妹精酿生活馆（前门店）.

This is the most obvious place on Qianmen Street if you want beer rather than coffee.

Front view of 77′ Beer Girl Qianmen Street

The bar focuses on craft beer and has a more relaxed feel than the shops and restaurants around it. Its beer brand, 77Beer, comes from Jiaxing in Zhejiang, with different brews using ingredients and flavors beyond the usual lager.

Inside 77′ Beer Girl Qianmen Street

I have also noticed foreign visitors stopping here, particularly later in the day. After spending a few hours walking around Qianmen and the surrounding hutongs, it is an easy place to sit down with a beer before continuing into the evening.

Address: No. 139 Qianmen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Opening hours:
Monday–Thursday: 14:00–24:00
Friday–Sunday: 12:00–24:00

Slow Down on Qianmen Street

Qianmen Street is often treated as somewhere to walk through: arrive from Zhengyangmen, follow the pedestrian street south, take some photos, buy something, and move on.

But sometimes it is worth stopping.

Have a coffee near Zhengyangmen. Sit beside a window and watch the crowds. Or have a beer farther down the street as the lights come on.

Qianmen is old Beijing and modern Beijing sharing the same 800 metres. You notice that mixture much more clearly when you are sitting still.

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