This is our local shop. They never have anything we want, but we keep returning because they’re close by, it’s hot here, and they have a cute kid we’d like to think our purchases contribute to the wellbeing of.
Our main buys? Mizone drinks (great for hangovers) and Dove chocolate bars. Because sometimes chocolate is the only answer…
Filed under Silliness, Uncategorized
Don’t you just love kooky Beijing pastimes? We came across this guy cracking an enormous bullwhip by the National Art Museum of China (you can see for yourselves if you head there at around 7pm each evening). We don’t know why - and it makes a hell of a noise - but it’s pretty cool. Just stand well back!
Filed under See, Uncategorized
Meet Sid. We’re rather fond of Sid. And not just because he looks like he’s just told a really dirty joke.
No, Sid exists in the Bespoke Beijing office because a photo of him has been pinned to our office manager’s computer to cheer us all up first thing in the morning. So no matter how rude our taxi driver was getting in to work, how busy the subway or how humid the weather, Sid is there to remind us that everything’s just great.
(He also reminded us to book that appointment with the dental hygienist but that’s another matter…)
Filed under Silliness, Uncategorized
Chinese art collectors and history fiends alike will love Red Gate – which not only happens to be the city’s most unique art gallery, but as of this weekend, also its oldest.
It all started with one man – an Australian named Brian Wallace. He had a passion for art; Beijing had an abandoned 15th century gate tower. In 1991 the local government let him set up Beijing’s first contemporary art gallery inside, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now the magnificent space is home to a consistently excellent rotating collection of China’s hottest up-and-coming contemporary artists, from experimental collective Island 6 to the ever popular Zhou Jun.
Handily, both Wallace and the gallery’s manager Liyu Yeo are usually on hand to offer more information about the artworks. Mention Bespoke and Liyu might even give you a mini talk on the gate tower’s history.
Once you’ve finished perusing (or buying) the art, you can ascend into the rafters to see the tower’s permanent exhibition of historical photographs. The collection shows snapshots of Beijing’s city walls and nine historical gates and is as good as any you’d find in Beijing’s museums.
Red Gate Gallery Dongbianmen Watchtower, Dongcheng district (+86 6525 1005)
Filed under See
She’s the hip and talented ceramicist beloved of many an international collector; he’s one of the most fun people we know. Artist and designer Lin Jing and fashion fixer Ray Lee have just revealed the newly refurbished FEI Space boutique in 798. And it’s pretty damn cool.
From Alexander Wang sunglasses to patchwork antique rugs, if you’ve got some cash in your pocket this is a truly fantastic place to splurge.
The old factory space turned shop houses a handful of structures straight out of Lin Jing’s vivid imagination and a smattering of comfy antique chairs and mirrors. There’s even a bed cover from BLESS (the cult Berlin brand) that looks as though two people are sleeping in it – which gave us a fright when we walked in we can tell you…
The artful clothing rails (yes even the racks are stylish) are filled with cutting edge designers from home and abroad, including local luminaries such as Zhang Da and hip Danish menswear maven Henrik Vibskov. There’s even a selection of achingly cool leather cuffs, waist cinchers and bags from London bondage store Fleet Ilya.
In short, this is about as cutting edge as Beijing gets, so go take a peek, you won’t be disappointed.
FEI Space 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxiangqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (+86 10 5978 9580). Open Tue-Sun 10.30am-5.30pm or by special appointment (contact us).
Filed under Shop
And we admit we’ve been going a little overboard with the ‘Miniature setting’, which turns every scene into something akin to a tiny toy land.
Here are some photos we’ve taken around Dongcheng district over the last couple of days. Sweet aren’t they? And are we crazy or does the temple building look edible? As though it’s made of marzipan?
No? Just us? Must be lunchtime…
The Temple Hotel
Ducks on Houhai Lake
Courtyard doorway near Zhangzizhonglu
Beijing taxi at the Guijie crossroads
There's a lot going on here, but it's all good.
It’s no secret that MODO is one of our favourite Beijing restaurants, but it just got even better thanks to the addition of several new spring dishes and three very handy chef’s menus.
For instance, has there ever been a more delicious sounding dish than the ‘Seared Giant Japanese Scallop with Curried Cauliflower, Crispy Bacon and Rhubarb Sauce’?? No we didn’t think so. Add to that several light and scrumptious creations such as the Summer Peach Salad and the Seared Duckbreast with Watermelon and Feta and you know a meal here will be a special one every time.
For those of you unfamiliar with this hip Sanlitun eatery, MODO means ‘manner’ or ‘way’ in Spanish, and the talented South American team behind it encourage you to eat their way: no starters, no mains, just an assortment of exquisite dishes to share.
"Mmmmm, pork belly and apple sauce...."
Helpfully, the chef (Mr Daniel Urdaneta) has also just created three suggested sharing menus to help you make up your minds, including one for vegetarians. Six dishes to share (including dessert) costs 430RMB, while eight dishes costs 620RMB. We think you’d be hard pushed to find a better quality meal for this price anywhere in the world, let alone Beijing.
MODO: Third Floor, Sanlitun Village, 19 Sanlitun Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (+86 10 6415 7202).
Filed under Eat
Guilt free gorging...
Appropriately, a new vegan restaurant has just opened near the Lama Temple, and it’s actually very good. The food is Western, rather than Chinese, but trust us when we say this is probably the most virtuous restaurant you will ever eat in.
Not only are no animal products used anywhere on the menu, but every aspect of this enterprise is completely green and sustainable. From the water filters on the taps to the fact that vendors delivering their produce in unsustainable packaging have been banned – owner Laura Lawless has thought of everything.
When we asked for ketchup we were told they didn’t stock mass produced Heinz goods, but instead made everything from scratch. We were promptly treated to their homemade mayonnaise instead.
Dishes we sampled included a surprisingly tasty beetroot salad with dates and walnut; a burger made of enoki mushrooms; an Indian-style dahl bat; some homemade hummus; and to finish, a chocolate cake that deserves awards for its deliciousness considering it’s made without any dairy products whatsoever. Hey we know we had a lot but we’re blaming that on our dining companion – Time Out’s Food & Drink Editor Lillian Chou.
It's certainly the tastiest mushroom burger we've ever had...
And the ambience? The bright and comfortable interior is a tad more hippy than it is chic, but that seems to be the idea. Put simply, eat here and you’ll have good karma for at least the next year. The monks across the street would certainly approve.
The Veggie Table's laid back, bright and airy interior
The Veggie Table: 19 Wudaoying Hutong, Doncheng district (+86 10 6446 2073)
Filed under Eat
The amazing fitting room
Wuhao, a boutique and arts space hidden behind a hefty wooden door on Mao’Er Hutong, may well be one of Beijing’s most exciting hidden gems. A mesmerising Spring installation currently inhabits the space (Wuhao changes its themes and wares seasonally) consisting of paper butterflies, eco-friendly clothing, foldable furniture and limited edition designs inspired by the elements of wood and earth.
But Wuhao’s best kept secret – the pièce de résistance if you will – is its fitting room.
Imagine being given the best hug ever. By a real-life bear, and you’ll come somewhere close to understanding what it feels like. Soft cuddly fur covers both the floor and walls, and makes you want to roll all over it and giggle like a little child. Add to that a playful pillow-chair and a full length mirror that is incredibly flattering (we don’t care if it’s an optical illusion, WE-LOVE-IT), and you’ll understand why it took us some time and a lot of self-discipline to leave. Did Que Yang, Wuhao’s project assistant, notice us trying to sneak back in at every opportunity? We think so, but we didn’t care, it was worth it.
In a nutshell: Wuhao’s fitting room is pure awesomeness in a single room. It’s where every woman, man, child and pet would like to be when trying new clothes.
Scratch that. It’s where every woman, man, child or pet would like to be at all times.
We are now thinking of recreating it at Bespoke HQ. An office meeting will be held soon about the issue.
Wu Hao: 35 Mao’er Hutong Dongcheng district (+86 189 1135 5035 - Call to book an appointment)
Filed under Shop
Jessie the Fortune Teller Tour Guide
Imagine our surprise when a girl called Jessie came in to see us about a tour guide position and instead started telling our fortunes. ‘I love life and I do a bit of everything!” she said breathlessly after about five seconds of meeting us.
After giving our palms the once over, the comment ‘your business line goes up and up, Bespoke Beijing will do very well’ was perhaps a tad predictable, but we can’t blame her for trying.
She wrinkled her nose at our love lines and told us how many children we could have if we wanted them (this involved slapping our clenched fists several times for dramatic effect). She also told us that we should never grow peach trees in our courtyard lest our fortunes take a turn for the worse (no danger of that then, we all live in flats).
So thank you Jessie, for brightening our Tuesday afternoon. You’re a bit of a legend.
Filed under Silliness