Portman Western Restaurant (波特曼西餐厅)

Portman Western Restaurant (Boteman Xicanting) is at 53 Qidao Street in the Central Avenue Recreation Zone of Harbin's Daoli District, a short walk from Zhongyang Street in Heilongjiang province. The kitchen cooks in the Russian tradition that Harbin has held since the early twentieth century, with some French and Italian touches added to the menu. It is one of the few western-style restaurants in the Central Street area that stays open late, with daily hours of 10:30 to 24:00.

The signature dishes reflect that mixed Eurasian repertoire. Borscht is the usual first order; baked seafood, a beef stroganoff-style braise and Russian salad complete the core selection. Dishes tend to be rich, creamy or baked, well suited to Harbin's long cold season, when diners come in from sub-zero temperatures. The menu is set up for sharing across a table, and most dishes are large.

The interior is decorated in a period style meant to echo the European architecture of Central Street, giving the room a formal, slightly theatrical character. The mood is relaxed and comfortable rather than intimate, and it tends to fill with tour groups and families in the early evening, with a calmer crowd after 20:00. No dress code is enforced. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available, and the late closing makes it a practical choice for a post-sightseeing dinner or a late supper after an evening stroll along Central Street.

Prices fall in the upper-middle band for Harbin, typically a few hundred yuan per person for a full meal with starters, mains and a drink. Reservations are recommended in the evening and can be made by phone at 0451-8468-6888. During the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, from about late December to February, and on national holidays, evening tables fill quickly and booking a day or more in advance is prudent.