Duan Gongzi

Duan Gongzi (Young Master Duan) is the restaurant that feeds Dali's visitors - and half its locals - every night: a handsome old-town house serving the Bai people's signature cooking alongside the wider Yunnan repertoire. The three-course classics - sour fish, steam-pot chicken, and the 'crossing bridge' noodle bowl - are all done properly, with prices that stay refreshingly honest.

It is busy, atmospheric, and the staff are expert at guiding first-timers through the menu with photos and patience. Book for dinner or arrive early; the courtyard tables are the ones to request.