Xiamen Restaurants and Dining

(Xiamen, Fujian, China)

There is no chance that you could possibly go hungry in Xiamen, as restaurants of every description are never far from hand. Dining out is an especially popular way to socialise and unwind in China and this is clearly reflected in Xiamen's thriving dining scene.

The best restaurants in Xiamen quickly become crowded and noisy, although this is really all part of the atmosphere. When dining at one of Xiamen's many traditional Chinese restaurants as a group, it is customary to order a group of different dishes, which are shared and accompanied by either tea, beer or shots of rice wine. A local speciality to look out for in this region of China is the peanut soup, which is usually easy to find.

When to Eat / Opening Hours

Typically Chinese, the opening hours for restaurants in Xiamen are fairly early, although visitors soon adapt to these different timings when it comes to eating out. Hotels in Xiamen are always the most popular option for breakfast and serve this first meal of the day from 06:00 until 09:00. Lunchtime is not far behind and Xiamen's numerous restaurants tend to open for business at 11:00, closing three hours later. Eating out in the evening cannot be left too late, since the majority of the city's dining venues only serve until 21:00 or 22:00, sometimes slightly later.

Where to Eat

Hotel restaurants are always a good bet for visitors to Xiamen and are happy to serve non-guests, often offering English menus and some rather western-style cooking. For cheap eats, head to the numerous alleyways that reside around Zhongshan Lu harbour. Close to where the Siming Beilu intersects this area, an impressive group of restaurants can be found, many of which specialise in the famous Sichuan style of Chinese cuisine, serving hot and spicy dishes.

Popular dining choices around the city include Xiamen's Lujiang Hotel on Lujiang Dao, where its highly regarded rooftop restaurant offers fine dining at its best, with Cantonese buffets and awesome views across the sea. Close to the university, the Venezzia Cafe suits many tourists and serves good pizzas and other Western-style dishes, with further restaurants being located nearby and along the Yanmu Jie and Siming Nanlu stretches. Another good dining option in Xiamen is the food court at the World Trade Centre, where several good fast-food restaurants are just a short walk from the train station.