2Guangzhou

A new Italian restaurant just opposite the Garden Hotel. It’s is owned and run by bona fide Italians who you’ll see moving about the restaurant chatting with guests and making sure that everything is to their liking. They claim that they would never make Italian food that an Italian wouldn’t be pleased with. This is one of the most popular restaurants among foreigners in the city, so make sure you get a reservation before you come, epically during the exhibition season. Prices are quite high, but then again, so is the quality. With great food, great service, and a great location, there’s not much more you could ask for.

Getting there: Metro Line 1, Martyrs' Park Station

Liuhua Congee House in Liuhua park is one of the more central and lovely outdoor eateries. Add to that spacious as well. Liuhua's expansive corridor and outdoor section include two fish ponds, a multitude of plants and a view of the beautiful surrounding park environment. Liuhua is most known for its dim sum and congee, but also impresses visitors with its sashimi, grilled items and Cantonese food. Expect variety here, especially in their dim sum and congee. Most plates are between 25 and 80 RMB, but their sashimi starts at 60.

Outdoor capacity: Corridor 50, Outdoors 70; the corridor seats are indoors and with a view
Best time to get a seat: Monday to Friday before 6 pm for dinner. On weekends and holidays, before 11:30 am for lunch and before 5:30 pm for dinner.
Reservations: Yes
Does the outdoor section close?: It is closed when it is raining.

Getting there: Take bus 181, 186, 31, 251, 260, 33, 38, 518 or 823 and get off at Liuhua Gongyuan bus stop. The sign by the gate should show you how to walk to the restaurant, which is about five minutes away.

Just on the south side of the Pearl River, along the poor man's river walk, Rendevous has been open not much more than a year. The food is excellent but its relatively low-pedestrian location means Rendezvous doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. Obviously a few people have already discovered this elegant multi-storied restaurant, as when I arrived early, most of the larger tables were already reserved. Upon entering the restaurant, the cleanliness, wine rack and desert display are among the first things that catch your attention. A short examination of the restaurant will take you to a loft section and a rooftop area as well. The ambience is strongly European.

Although the owners and the staff are not Vietnamese, Vietnamese dishes make up the larger part of the menu, including a few dishes that may be true fusions between French and Vietnamese. The staff's recommendation in the Vietnamese arena was the cold vermicelli, but others on the menu actually look more interesting than this. Their recommendations in the French arena were the pastas, steaks and deserts. I tried their pan fried chicken breast with mango almond sauce (probably a fusion), which was delicious, with good quality chicken, meaty potatoes, and some unrecognizable herbs adding to the rich aroma. Their desserts, like much of the menu, are divided between Vietnamese/Asian style and French/European. You can try their durian balls, rice cakes and fried bananas or choose to go for an enormous assortment of cakes and cheesecakes. I tried one of the latter and found it flavorful, and above-average for Guangzhou. They also serve up imported beef, pastas, salads and curries, along with seafood, including sole, bass, catfish, satay and crab.

Although Rendezvous' look and focus on French cuisine might suggest higher prices, a large portion of their dishes actually range between 16 and 48 RMB, including some reasonably priced main courses. The American and Australian steaks are the highest priced, with some going up to 108 RMB.

Getting there: Take bus 121 or 131, get off at Haizhuqiaodi bus stop and walk towards the bridge about 3 minutes. The restaurant will be on your left. Or you can take Metro Line 2, Haizhu Square Station, Exit A. Cross Haizhu bridge. The restaurant is on the corner of Binjiang Zhong Lu and Jiangnan Dadaobei, just to your left crossing the bridge.

Though you might not know the name, or be able to pronounce it, Hongxingyidu is one of Guangzhou's most well-known restaurants and is featured in nearly every guide to the city. It's long riverside corridor, busy and overflowing at night, is practically a local sight in itself. Just five minutes on foot from Haizhu square and next to one of the riverside piers, Hongxingyidu offers every kind of seafood and a wide selection of Cantonese cuisine. You can even pick your own seafood from the restaurant's indoor tanks, which are large enough to fill up much of the first floor and could probably function as a city aquarium. You'll have difficulty eating on a budget here, but you can find some 20-30 RMB dishes if you have a sharp eye. Pricier offerings run into the hundreds.

Outdoor capacity: About 15 tables (minimum 480 RMB spending for outdoor table)
Best time to get a seat: For dinner, either make a reservation, or get there before 6:30 pm.
Reservations: Yes.

Getting there: Take bus 1, 183 or 544 to Nanguan bus stop. Walk towards the river, turn right, and ten minutes more should find the restaurant on your right Or Metro Line 2, Haizhu Square Station.Exit A. Walk twenty yards to the road by the Pearl River and turn left. About three minutes walking will take you to the restaurant on your left.

Songfeng Xuan Restaurant is one of a few places where you can literally combine eating and sight-seeing and get good results at both. Located about a forty-minute walk from Mount Baiyun's west gate, their second-floor patio section is surrounded by dense trees and a view of the mountain's rippling hills. Even if you dine indoors, you'll find plenty of greenery, along with a colorful carp pond. Song Feng Xuan's cuisine is thoroughly Cantonese, with chicken, pig's feet and tofu among their most popular items. Dim sum and tea are a morning specialty. Most items here go for about 20 to 90 RMB.
**When it's not too busy, Songfeng Xuan Restaurant can send a van to pick you up at the west gate of the mountain. This will allow to enter the park for free, and of course arrive at the restaurant quite a lot faster.

Outdoor capacity: Sight-seeing area on 2nd floor has 24 seats
Best time to get a seat: Get there before 12 pm for lunch and before 6 pm for dinner.
Reservations: Yes

Getting there: Take bus 127, 223, 501, 76A , 885, 265, 36, 38, 76, 891, 265 or 245 to Baiyunshan Ximen (Baiyun mountain west gate) bus stop. Entering the west gate you will see a map showing you how to walk to the restaurant. It may take around 35 minutes.