Party time

The recession is not entirely a bad thing for Beijing diners because restaurants are lowering their prices. Even the KFC is doing special discounts on set meals. So why not celebrate the New Year at a good restaurant at a reasonable price, and get closer to your loved ones.

Barolo Restaurant at The Ritz Carlton Beijing is one of the best Italian Restaurants in town. It offers five delectable courses from the Piedmont region for New Year's Eve at 888 yuan per person, or 1,088 yuan per person with selected wines matched to each course. The Ritz's Carlton's bar will be jumping all night.

For a decent Chinese dinner visit Huang Ting at the Peninsula Beijing, where one can eat eight courses of Cantonese dishes, to a background of Chinese folk music, in a traditional courtyard house decoration. Set meal costs 588 yuan per person, and 288 yuan for children.