Add: No. 1 Sanlitun Beixiaojie, near the offices of the European Union and the Germany Embassy.

Telephone 84541797

Paninoteca is a bright, cheerful, bustling Italian cafe with white walls and 1960s décor. At first sight it reminded me of the wonderful Marine Ices in London's Chalk Farm. Which made the food I was given all the more disappointing. I ordered a panino with ham, cheese and olive paste but the accompanying salad was dead on arrival and the bread was like concrete. After hacking at it with a knife for several minutes I gave up and ate the contents of the sandwich - which were fine - but I left feeling hungry. The two espressos were great and Paninoteca's prices are very reasonable. It's a very popular place so they must be doing something right.