Sweet-teeth, get ready to pay homage to photographer-chef Tatsuo Rokudo's temple of back-to-basics home cooking. Although savory snacks are on the menu, it's the desserts that truly shine.

Thick hot chocolate (RMB 22) with a hint of nuts is made from cocoa imported from Japan especially for Il Sole, guaranteeing you won't find a chocolate drink like this anywhere else in Beijing. Ginger ale (RMB 18) made from scratch is so spicy you'll feel the heat emanating from your abdomen after the first sip. The chiffon cake's (RMB 10) perfect balance between weightlessness and richness is an affordable indulgence both on your wallet and your waistline.

But the piece de resistance is Rokudo's version of sweet blanc-mange (RMB 22): a tofu-like cube of velvet almond milk cradled in a moat of almond syrup. This seraphic sweet will lift the spirits and deliver a peaceable state of mind.

Il Sole
Open: 12pm-2am.
Location: 79 Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-64073730