Purple Vine Tea House (Ziteng Lu Chaguan)
This tiny teahouse next to the Forbidden City is one of the most peaceful in Beijing, with private rooms separated by wood lattice screens and a small fountain in front that fills it with the sound of water. Order one of the more expensive oolong teas (¥200-¥400/$25-$50) and you'll be treated to the Chinese version of a tea ceremony, less aesthetically pleasing than the Japanese version but with a better-tasting end product. The menu is in English. Open daily noon to 2am.
| Address | Nan Chang Jie 1 | ||
| Location | At the intersection with Xi Hua Men (just outside west gate of the Forbidden City) | ||
| Phone | 010/6606-6614 | ||