Hangzhou travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Hangzhou cuisine (Hangbang cai) is one of the pillar styles of Zhejiang cooking and one of China's most celebrated regional cuisines, prized for mild, slightly sweet flavors built around freshwater fish, bamboo shoots, and the city's own Longjing green tea. Signature dishes such as West Lake fish in vinegar sauce, Dongpo braised pork, and Longjing tea shrimp date back to the Southern Song Dynasty, when Hangzhou's status as imperial capital drew refined court cooking that still defines the city's restaurants today.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Louwailou (Gushan Road)
Popular Hangzhou Cuisine restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: Hangzhou's most famous heritage restaurant, founded in 1848 on Solitary Hill Island in West Lake, serving the city's signature vinegar fish and Dongpo pork
30 Gushan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310007, China
Zhiweiguan (Renhe Road)
Popular Hangzhou Dim Sum & Snacks restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: A 1913-founded Hangzhou institution known citywide for its soup dumplings, cat's ear noodles, and old-city snack classics
83 Renhe Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China
Grandma's Home (Hubin Road)
Popular Hangzhou Home-style restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: A hugely popular Hangzhou-cuisine chain launched in 1998, prized for affordable home-style versions of the city's classic dishes near West Lake
No. 3 Hubin Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310007, China
Hangzhou Restaurant (Yan'an Road / Kuiyuanguan)
Popular Hangzhou Noodles & Cuisine restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: A household-name Hangzhou noodle house dating back to 1867, doubling as a small museum on the city's noodle-eating history
205 Yan'an Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, China
Zhang Sheng Ji (Shuangling Road)
Popular Hangzhou Cuisine restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: A long-running Hangzhou-cuisine restaurant on Shuangling Road known among locals for its home-style braised pork
33 Shuangling Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, China
Jin Sha (Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake)
Popular Cantonese / Chinese Fine Dining restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: One of Hangzhou's most acclaimed fine-dining rooms, a Michelin-recognized Cantonese restaurant set inside the Four Seasons Hotel on West Lake's western shore
Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake, 5 Lingyin Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou 310013, China
Ru Yuan
Popular Contemporary Chinese / Zhejiang restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: Hangzhou's first Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant, set inside the Hangzhou Botanical Garden at the foot of Jade Spring Hill, built around seasonal local ingredients
11 Yuquan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou Botanical Garden, Hangzhou 310013, China
Xin Rong Ji (Xixi Wetland)
Popular Taizhou / Zhejiang Seafood restaurant in Hangzhou.
Known for: A One-MICHELIN-Star outpost of an acclaimed Taizhou seafood house, set in a garden compound on the edge of Xixi Wetland Park
No. 5, Dazhongxiuqi Village, west area of Xixi National Wetland Park, Tianmushan Road, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, China
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Hangzhou Cuisine
Louwailou (Gushan Road)
Zhang Sheng Ji (Shuangling Road)
Xin Bailu Restaurant (Zhongshan North Road)
Sichuan Hot Pot
Hangzhou Home
Hangzhou Street Food
Seafood
Xin Rong Ji (Xixi Wetland)
Tian Lun Inn (Xihu)
French
Hangzhou
Hangzhou Dim Sum & Snacks
Zhiweiguan (Renhe Road)
Hangzhou Noodles
Hangzhou Noodles & Cuisine
Jiangnan
Zhejiang
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Wushan Night Market
Roughly 400 open-air stalls selling Hangzhou street food such as scallion oil pancakes alongside clothing and handicrafts
Hours: Daily from around 5:00 PM until late evening
Hefang Street snack stalls
Old-brand shops and teahouses selling Top Scholar's cake, black sesame paste, eight-treasure porridge, and lotus root starch
Hours: Most shops 9:00 AM-10:00 PM daily
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Reservations are recommended for lakeside window tables at heritage restaurants like Louwailou, especially at lunch and on weekends
Share a full Hangzhou-cuisine meal (Dongpo pork, West Lake fish, Longjing shrimp) between two or more people — dishes are portioned for sharing and cost the same regardless of group size
Order beggar's chicken a day in advance at restaurants that serve it, since it requires long, slow baking in a clay wrapping
Tipping is not expected or customary in mainland China, including at restaurants
Michelin-starred restaurants such as Ru Yuan require reservations weeks in advance given very limited seating
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ¥12-25 (~$1.79-$3.73) per bowl of noodles or dumplings at a street stall or local eatery | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |