Wangfujing | Le Cabernet

Once the city’s only option for cheese fondue, the Novotel Peace Hotel’s French restaurant may have ample competition these days, but it still holds its own. The ¥388 ceramic pot comes filled with melted raclette, comte and emmenthal cheeses and is easily enough for three or four diners. The cheese is accompanied by an overflowing basket of crunchy, toasted cubes of bread for dipping, which isn’t very traditional but has a nice texture contrasted against the gooey cheese. You also get a generous side of tomatoes, cornichons and pickled onions, as well as a plate of cold cuts.

Find it: Wangfujing Novotel Peace Beijing, 3 Jinyu Hutong, 王府井金鱼胡同3号北京诺富特和平宾馆, Tel: 6512-8833 ext. 7621

CBD/Guomao | Enoteca

Wine and cheese go hand in hand; that’s why Enoteca gives a discount on wine when you order a cheese fondue (¥180 for two, ¥320 for four) from Monday to Thursday. Choose among Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah (originally priced at ¥190-203), for just ¥170 each. What’s different about the fondue here is that while it’s made with the traditional combination of gruyere and emmenthal, it also contains a little whole grain mustard for a unique tanginess.

Find it: M102 Northern Tower, The Place, 9A Guanghua Lu, 光华路9A世贸天阶北街F1-M102, Tel: 6587-1578

Dongsishitiao | Café Swiss

You can’t really go wrong with melted cheese, and no one knows that better than the Swiss. Apart from raclette (¥205/person), the national dish that involves spreading melted cheese onto potatoes, the Swissotel also makes cheese fondue, Switzerland’s other national dish. At ¥239 per person, it’s certainly not cheap, but it is the tastiest, most authentic rendition we’ve found in Beijing. The pot of bubbling gruyere and emmenthal cheese is accompanied by bite-sized pieces of baguette and brown bread, as well as tomatoes, pickles, pickled onions and baby potatoes.

Find it: 1/F, Swissotel Beijing, 2 Chaoyangmen Bei Dajie, 朝阳门北大街2号, 港澳中心瑞士酒店, Tel: 6553-2288

Sienna Parulis-Cook