A hotel: The Opposite House is the nicest boutique hotel. It's in the best mall, Sanlitun Village, which is where a lot of techies hang out. It's like the Rosewood in Menlo Park.
Car service: In the last year, Beijing has become an absolute pain for getting taxis. Many drivers are flooding into the city, unfamiliar with the roads. I recommend getting a full-day car service if you are a busy traveler. It will cost you about 100 U.S. dollars a day.
A sweet tooth fix: Colibri Café in Sanlitun Village has fast Wi-Fi, great people watching, and delicious cupcakes.
A great meal: The homemade noodles at Haidilao Hotpot, a chain of Sichuan hot-pot restaurants renowned by local foodies. Or the lemongrass fish at Middle 8th in Sanlitun. Or the world-famous dumpling restaurant DinTaiFung never fails. You can also go to Chef Too in Chaoyang Park for a decent New York-style brunch. The owner is from New Jersey.
A drink: Apothecary or D Lounge
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