By Simon Farnham (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2006-04-24 09:16

Lauded as a media hangout and a great place for networking, The Tree is a favourite for expats and tourists alike. Formerly "The Hidden Tree" of Sanlitun Nanjie, The Tree uprooted itself to its present location on Sanlitun Houjie, just behind Poachers next to the You Yi Youth Hostel. The Tree is famous for two things: It's range of foreign, mainly Belgian, beers and its pizzas. This is evident as soon as you walk in with walls bedecked with old beers advertisements and a huge pizza oven that seems to be in constant use. Generally a quiet place, the hubbub of conversation is sometimes accompanied by live music, and when this is absent, a cool mixture of jazz and funk, reminiscent of 60s spy movies and 70s porn, enhances the atmosphere.

Beers come in all shapes and sizes. The Fruit Lambic beers are a novelty item at 40 yuan (US$5) for 40 cl of apple, cherry or even chocolate. Leffe dark or blonde is also 40 yuan (US$5) while the De Konink on draught is Bolleckes at 35 yuan (US$4.4). Spirits with shorts range from 20-30 yuan (US$2.5-3.7) here, and the barman isn't shy with the bottle either. A bottle of Qingdao is 15 yuan (US$1.9) as is the coffee, which isn't much to write home about.

The Tree's pizzas are said by Italians to be the best in the city starting at 45 yuan (US$5.6) for the basic margherita and going up to 70 yuan (US$8.7) for a meditteraneo (smoked salmon, feta cheese, olives and tomato sauce). Pizzas are ready almost in an instant, brought to you by friendly staff with a good command of English.

Location: 43 Sanlitun Beijie (behind Poachers and Fish Nation)

Opening time: Mon-Sat 11am - late, Sunday 1pm - late

Tel: 010-64151954