Hangzhou cooking is closely related to the local culture and characterized by natural flavor, beautiful presentation and a light and palatable taste. Dishes and pastries which would have once been served on pleasure boats sailing up and down the lake remain the main staple of the Hangzhou diet and recipes here usually contain a great deal of seafood including fish, shrimp, crab and oyster. Any dining experience in Hangzhou should include at least a few of the following local specialties: Beggar's chicken (an entire chicken wrapped and slowly cooked in a ball of mud), West Lake fish (vinegar coated fish from the lake), braised pork and stewed shelled shrimp cooked in Longjing tea.

There are a few elite restaurants in Hangzhou serving up this cuisine in pleasant settings and with style for atmosphere. Perhaps the best place is the Louwailou restaurant on Solitary Island but there are other places dotted around the city. Late at night (after 10pm) the area around Hangzhou's Fish Market comes to life. This market is tucked just behind the lake on Yan'an Lu. It is a fun area bursting with life and good food. The fish is displayed in the nets at the front of restaurants and diners can select their favorite fish to eat. It is very fresh, always tasty and there is an authentic local and lively atmosphere about this place. Many of the larger hotels have elaborate seafood dinner buffets that offer a wide variety of choices, especially in the Shangri- La Hotel is most popular.