Too many dumplings (and a strong adversity to exercise in -9°C) means we here at Bespoke Beijing don’t feel the healthiest at this time of year. The answer? Ordering fruit salads from Gung Ho Pizza and pretending the coconut dressing that comes with it is ‘low fat yoghurt’. Makes us feel much better. Thanks Gung Ho.
Mmmm, fresh fruity goodness!
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Filed under Silliness, Uncategorized
There are numerous reasons why Temple Restaurant deserves to have a great fuss made about it – but for the sake of brevity we’ll try to keep it to one. Put simply, no other restaurant in Beijing occupies such a spectacular and inspiring space.
Housed in a 600-year old Temple complex, Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB for short) is actually just one part of the whole, with several event spaces; an as-yet-unfinished boutique hotel and even a carpet museum all contained within the ancient set of buildings.
Unlike the centuries-old, wood-beamed event spaces though, TRB occupies a more recent addition to the complex – a small factory outhouse that once produced Beijing’s first television sets. Perhaps fittingly then, the restaurant has a more modern design aesthetic. Pristine white tablecloths hint at the excellent service to come, while the black titanium cutlery and fiery hued chairs add a splash of colour to the otherwise minimalist space, punctuated only by the occasional proud white orchid.
But here, the star of the show is the food, with the attentive and friendly service coming a very close second. Exquisitely presented dishes feature international ingredients and techniques, and almost every menu item will sound irresistible – unless you’re a vegetarian. Dishes such as Olive Oil Poached Black Cod, Grilled Veal Chop or Confit of Suckling Pig all put in an appearance, so there’s something delectable to suit all tastes. Portions are small but beautiful and apart from a shockingly small main-course ravioli we had on one visit, perfectly filling.
But secretly, our favourite thing about a meal at TRB is the parade of amuse bouche and petit fours, which appear on the table at various points in the meal like tiny food drops from heaven. Once set down, each offering disappears within seconds, almost as magically as they appeared.
In other words, dear readers, a meal at TRB is an entirely special experience, and one not to be missed. Our top tip? Come here for Sunday brunch after a stroll around the nearby Jingshan Park, or for a special meal after a day sightseeing at Tiananmen and the Forbidden City.
For a pocket guide featuring a personalized selection of the city’s best new restaurants, Bespoke Beijing’s Savvy City Kits offer the perfect solution. To find out more, click here.
TRB 23 Shatan Bei Jie, off Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing (+86 10 8400 2232)
Sadly, the Chinese New Year festivities are nearly over, but we had a ball. And while we wouldn’t necessarily recommend anyone to travel to Beijing over this period (all of the best restaurants are closed for starters), we do think it’s a wonderful time to see Beijing at its festive best.
Here is a collection of colourful photos taken by Team Bespoke over the holiday by way of demonstration!
Feeling kind of gloomy this January? Then thank your lucky stars you’re not this poor little fella…
Embarrassed
Filed under Silliness
The Opposite House is Beijing’s most popular design hotel by some stretch – and deservedly so. Where else in Beijing can you enjoy 15 types of sake with your haute couture sushi, swim in a pool that looks like an art installation, or bump into the likes of Beyonce at breakfast?
The first foray into hospitality by shipping conglomerate Swire and the brainchild of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, The Opposite House can be summed up as hip, happening and ultra Zen.
Located in the city’s bustling and modern Sanlitun district, you’ll find yourself right at the heart of the action and just a stone’s throw away from the city’s best boutiques, bars and international restaurants.
The rooms, meanwhile, are super spacious and minimalist, with only the essentials in plain view. Everything else – from the Nespresso coffee machine to an array of international plug sockets – are cleverly concealed behind blonde wood facades.
Some of the many other reasons to stay? The lobby that doubles as an art gallery (and holds fabulous cocktail parties every quarter); the excellent restaurants and bars that have garnered a loyal following among the local cool crowd, and the friendly management team that constantly evolve the treats on offer at TOH. In short, The Opposite House is where it’s at.
To take the hassle out of booking your stay in Beijing, let Bespoke Beijing to do it for you! Just email info@bespoke-beijing.com with your dates.
Filed under Stay
This new Danish design hub in the heart of Beijing’s Sanlitun district boasts a shop, a café, a restaurant, a bar and a bakery.
There’s no denying the fact that to step into the Royal Smushi House is to enter a different world. Perched at the crossroads of Dongzhimenwai and Sanlitun’s chaotic bar street, a sense of calm pervades its various outlets and there’s something reassuring about its neat Danish design and coolly exquisite interior.
Transplanted from Copenhagen (with a few additions in the form of a bakery, a Georg Jensen boutique and a Monocle Shop), The Royal Smushi House is a recreation of that city’s popular café, which purports to sell sushi, Danish style. In practice, that means sushi-sized, delicately prepared culinary creations deriving their ingredients from the Scandinavian smørrebrød (open faced sandwich). Typically Nordic flavours such as dill and salmon and red cabbage feature heavily, and each ‘smushi’ takes several minutes to prepare. Perhaps given this café’s pedigree, it goes without saying that all are delicious, and often more of a mouthful than they first appear.
Our tip? Pop by one morning to grab some freshly baked bread and pastries from the Bakery or enjoy afternoon tea in the Café, and then go and explore the rest of the venue. From the Monocle Shop with its carefully designed lifestyle products to the fabulous upstairs restaurant, The Royal Smushi House may be peddling a pricier experience than most, but in a city more accustomed to fast paced cooking and low quality products, it makes a delightful change. And no one minds paying for that.
The Royal Smushi House: 12 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district, Beijing (tel: 6416 9664).
Filed under Drink, Eat, Shop, Uncategorized
It’s not every day you get to try out a restaurant before it’s open to the public, but naturally we know the right people. So, in the name of keeping you completely up to date with all things fabulous and Beijing-related, we bring you some exclusive snapshots of the brand new 1949 Hidden City2 complex on Jinbao Street.
Those who have been to the original 1949 will know that the Sanlitun branch is located in a former factory complex. Exposed red brick and quirky sculptures are the order of the day and it’s a great place for a relaxed evening meal with friends.
By contrast, 19492 is a much grander, 3-storey building arranged around two traditional courtyards. Designed by the same architects as the Hong Kong Jockey Club a few doors down, it’s resplendent with colourful painted eaves, pine trees and plenty of elegant Chinese touches with a modern twist.
The new 1949 has a more traditional setting
Given 19492’s prestigious neighbours on Jinbaojie (Burberry, the Jockey Club and Mazerati dealerships) – and its proximity to Wangfujing and Tiananmen– this venue is without doubt aimed at impressing local VIPs. But that’s not to say it’s a forbidding or exclusive place, far from it. This is about as fun and special a setting as it gets for a duck dinner in the center of town. With a whole collection of wood fire duck ovens in the central courtyard, all visible to diners, and Elite Concept’s take on the Beijing Hot Pot coming this winter, there’s plenty for tourists and old China hands alike.
Sweet and sour garoupa fish
Bespoke Beijing got to try the very first duck out of the new ovens, roasted to perfection over the wood of fruit trees to add a delicious sweet flavour. We’re pleased to report (as if you ever doubted it), that it was every bit as good as the Sanlitun branch. 1949’s owner tells us he’s made some minor improvements to both the sesame buns and the pancakes, but we didn’t really notice. They’ve always been the perfect accompaniment (along with the beautifully presented hoi sin sauce and vegetable accoutrements) to what we think is still the best duck in town.
So good we forgot to take a photo BEFORE we ate half of it!
Other dishes that were a massive hit? The sweet and sour garoupa fish, which looked spectacular and tasted even better; a naughty but nice shredded fried potato dish, foie gras on miniature toasts and some fantastically flavourful and smokey stir-fried fresh vegetables.
In conclusion, we’re huge fans already, so when the builders leave and it opens at the end of the month, we urge you to go – it’s an absolutely quacking new venue.
(Sorry).
Orchids in the reception area
One of the private rooms. Swanky eh?
1949 Hidden City2: Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng District (6521 2221 – Duck de Chine)
Filed under Eat, Know, Uncategorized
You know the drill. You land, you’re taxiing, and before the engines are even turned off, chaos ensues. So, if your scruples aren’t as intact as they should be, why not follow our top tips for getting off a plane first and you need never be annoyed by your fellow passengers again…
1. SIT AT THE FRONT OF THE PLANE
So, do you come here often?
Remember: prevention is better than cure. Make sure you get yourself a seat at the front of the plane via online check-in before you fly. Stay one step ahead of the crowd by going on seatguru.com for a seating chart and other useful insider info. When the plane lands, you’ll be the first one to get off, before the masses go crazy behind you. Suckers.
2. STOW YOUR BAGS IMMEDIATELY
Superheros are smart as well as strong y'know...
Put your bulkiest luggage in one of the first overhead compartments as you board the plane. That way you won’t have to store it at the back of the aircraft, where a bazillion other people will soon be trying to stuff their bags into every available space. It also means you can stay coolly seated when the plane lands while everyone else scrambles to pull their luggage down. Then you just glide to the front, sans baggage, to grab yours right before you exit. C’est parfait.
3. BRIBE THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Mmm, smell the lovely cash. Smell it!
Ok, this is where you may have to crank it up a notch if you didn’t have time for the online check in. Try bribing the flight attendant, or use your begging skills to ensure a seat in the front row. Discretely slip the air stewards a wad of bills (with the highest number on the outside of course) and tell them you’ll make it worth their while if they cut you a break this one time. If the flight is not fully booked and the incentives are high enough, you’d be surprised at what you can get away with.
4. FEIGN ILLNESS
I hope they can hear me out there, this is so undignified...
Nobody wants to be near an ill person on an airplane, especially when you can put them in the line of, er, fire. Grab your stomach, make your best queasy face and express to the flight crew the urgency of your getting off first, lest they have a much longer and more unpleasant time cleaning the cabin.
5. PRETEND TO BE HEAVILY PREGNANT
It was easy, I just bought a sweater in duty free and stuffed it up there!
There isn’t a lot of dignity in this one, ladies, but pregnancy is a condition that everyone must sympathize with: women feel your pain, and men pretend to out of fear of inciting the opposite sex’s wrath. Bonus points for simulating your water breaking.
6. GO MENTAL
Get me off this !?@#$%! plane you b****es!
When all else fails, you can always resort to being “that crazy person” on the airplane. Shout obscenities, harass other passengers, throw your luggage and generally be a complete nuisance. If you have trouble faking it you can always sink several G&Ts too many during the flight. It’s the final resort and a sure-fire way to be greeted by airport security once you’re off, but we still think a stint in airport jail is preferable to being entombed in your seat by rear ends and carry-on bags…
Shot on location at Bespoke Beijing HQ by John Tackabery, with special thanks to Barbie and Iron Man.
Filed under Know, Uncategorized
Instead of guessing who slept with who (we’ll leave that to the tabloid press), Bespoke Beijing challenges you to guess who slept where. Do you know which hotels these celebrities stayed at when they were in Beijing?
Answers at the bottom…
1. Will Smith
2. Donatella Versace
3. Jessica Alba
Yes Jessica, we agree: who doesn't love Panjiayuan Dirt Market?
4. Anna Wintour
5. Matt Dillon
6. Beyonce
Beyonce at Mutianyu. She actually had her picture taken with those old men in costume!
7. Kylie Minogue
8. Kanye West
9. Christian Bale
Only the best for Mr West. But where exactly did he rest his head during his stay in Beijing?
ANSWERS:
Will Smith: The Wild Wild Westin Chaoyang; Donatella Versace: Got pampered at the Peninsula; Jessica Alba: Stayed at the Fantastic Four Star Yi House; Anna Wintour: The Devil Wears Bathrobes from the China World Summit Wing; Matt Dillon: For Matt There’s Something About The Opposite House; Beyonce: Queen B enjoyed Sweet Dreams over at The Opposite House; Kylie Minogue: Wiggled her way over to the Westin Financial Street after her 2008 gig at The Workers’; Kanye West: Primped, preened and pouted his way around the Peninsula Beijing; Christian Bale Is a Grand Hyatt Man.
Yi House Hotel
But which hotel’s right for you? Get in touch with Bespoke Beijing at info@bespoke-beijing.com and find out!
Located inside an ancient Daoist temple, this hip little bar has the perfect combination of a great locale and that atmosphere of laid-back cool Beijing does so well.
Not only are the local guys who run it friendly, welcoming and bilingual, but they’ve created an intimate bar you’ll want to spend the whole evening in. Just two hefty wooden tables populate the space, and an old staircase leads up into the rafters if you can’t find a perch downstairs.
The bar has already become something of a hangout for the cool crowd (we spotted fashion designer Xander Zhou and half of Hanggai when we visited) so you won’t be surprised to see ‘accidentally’ kitsch odds and ends dotted about. From Taschen erotica tomes to a farmer’s weighing scales and artfully melted candles, it’s all been arranged in a hip wusouwei manner. Perhaps, dare we say it, thanks to the Italian wife of one of the owners.
Meanwhile Zajia’s cute, hand-written menu features everything from Boddingtons beer to Mai Tai cocktails. We’d obviously prefer to keep this place a secret, but it’s probably already too late for that. So go, enjoy, and if you see us feel free to buy us a Mojito….
Zajia Bar: Hong En Daoist Temple (behind the Bell Tower), Dongcheng District (+86 8404 9141)
Filed under Drink, Uncategorized