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!
Tag Archives: Beijing
MODO Rocks!
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
Is this the best fitting room in Beijing?
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
The Fortune Teller
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
To The Beijing Batmobile!
Bespoke's Beijing Marianna Cerini and John Tackabery (aka J-TAK) board the Batmobile
Strap yourself in… well actually, you can’t, but at least brace yourself for what is sure to be a bumpy and exhilarating ride. Founded and operated by Frenchman Gael Thoreau, Beijing Sideways offers tours of Beijing and The Great Wall in a motorcycle sidecar. That’s right – imagine you’re the sidekick to your favorite superhero as you whizz around traffic, see the sights, and incite more than a few stares from locals.
We took the “Beijing in a Nutshell” tour (1200RMB for the 1st passenger; 750RMB for the 2nd) and couldn’t think of a better way to squeeze the whole city into a mere four hours. From the glamourous heights of Central Business District to the rough-edged remains of the old city hutongs, Thoreau hit on all of Beijing’s high points without neglecting its real character.
Even better, each tour is improvised at Thoreau’s (and your) whim(s), with a little help from his large circle of friends around the city. We had a fashion designer in our party, so he brought us by the ultra-exclusive Wuhao Curated Shop in Dongcheng for a look at their spring collection (more to come on that later…).
And if you’re looking to escape city traffic entirely, Beijing Sideways can give you a glimpse of rural China with a rustic journey to the Great Wall, complete with a stay at their Guest House and a menu of classic French fare (3500-4000RMB per person, minimum two participants).
So for a thrilling, somewhat dangerous, and altogether unique way to see the city, we thoroughly recommend Beijing Sideways.
To book a Beijing Sideways tour through Bespoke Beijing, give us a shout at info@bespoke-beijing.com.
A bike's eye view of the CCTV Tower
Filed under See
Susu
For some reason, the name of this restaurant makes us want to sing a certain Phil Collins song, but the main reason we are telling you about it is because it’s a great new addition to Beijing’s dining scene.
Don’t get us wrong, we love Chinese food. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here. But sometimes it’s nice to eat something a little lighter, and Susu -a new Vietnamese restaurant- delivers just that.
Nestled deep in a hutong north east of the National Art Museum of China, this stylish little courtyard playing 20s jazz sets just the right tone for a tête à tête over lunch or a relaxed dinner away from the crowds.
What’s more, given the lack of reputable Vietnamese restaurants in Beijing, aficionados will be pleased to hear that the owners have employed two experienced Vietnamese chefs to create and execute the menu.
The result is a great selection of classic, well-prepared and tasty dishes including pho noodles, fresh nem rolls, and even chewy banh mi sandwiches perfect for a quick lunchtime snack. Our favourites include the vibrant Three Colour Salad with its crunchy lotus root and surprisingly delicious pig’s ear shavings, and the supremely tasty barbecued fish spring rolls.
Altogether now:” Su-su-ssudio….”
Filed under Eat
The legal pick me up: Jingshan Park
Hands down our favourite park in Beijing. And here’s why…
We’d like to thank the brilliant Genevieve Carmel and Bespoke’s own Keith Luu for the rather superb editing displayed here. Hat’s off guys.
Filed under See
One for your Little Black Book:The Tailor
Upon arriving in Beijing, many of us thought the streets would be lined with fantastic dressmakers all providing chic for chips. Unfortunately it’s not quite that straightforward. Because we’re nice, we begged Bespoke Beijing’s shopping expert Alice McInerney, to reveal her top tailors. Tailor Ma in Yashow Market (yes, you can still find amazing and professional stalls there) is familiar with a wider range of fabrics and he will help you pick the best ones, while if you’re all about haute couture, Sanlitun based designer Huang Ye can create the perfect statement piece in his little studio. And for chic separates, alterations and copies, well…just ask us!
Filed under Shop
Checking In…The Orchid
We heaved a sigh of relief when we first visited The Orchid. Not just because it took us a while to find the first time around, you understand, but because someone finally succeeded in creating a truly chic and comfortable hutong hotel in our beloved city.
Situated in the maze of lanes surrounding the city’s ancient Drum and Bell towers, The Orchid feels like a hidden gem from the outset.
As you slip down the barely visible alley that constitutes the hotel’s entrance off Baochao Hutong, you might want to avert your eyes as you pass the back door of a grubby local kitchen and focus on the gleaming white oasis of cool up ahead. For once inside, you’ll enter a tranquil little world where traditional Chinese roofs meet modern white balconettes* and the hustle and bustle of the city simply melts away.
Hats off to the hotel’s little-known Hong Kong architect, who has designed a multifaceted space that feels much larger than it actually is. Kudos is also due to the hotel’s Tibetan and Canadian owners, who have created a laid back environment that makes you feel instantly at home.
The Orchid’s ten rooms are decorated extremely simply with big poofy duvets, bamboo lanterns and the odd potted plant. Mercifully, wooden beams have been left exposed and bathrooms are sleek and fully equipped.
Even better, there’s free WiFi; breakfast is included; and guests can even access a central film database from their widescreen TVs.
The Bespoke Verdict
Sound the trumpets, we’ve finally found a hutong hotel that we really like. Whether it’s the English-speaking owners, the soft beds or the soft and airy rooms, The Orchid ticks all the boxes others don’t. And the location couldn’t be better. Situated on one of the prettiest streets in the old town and a stone’s throw from Beijing’s hip boutiques and some of our fave local restaurants, it’s hard to beat. Orchid, we salute you.
*this is our word for little balcony. We’re not sure whether we made it up or not. A glance at Google suggests we have. Or rather muddled the meaning somewhat.
Filed under Stay
Gossip
‘The Temple Hotel’ near Jingshan Park may finally be worthy of its title! After years of delays, the beautiful Songzhu Temple is finally morphing into an 8-bedroom boutique hotel and restaurant due to open by the end of the year. Light installations by James Turrell, a restaurant by former Maison Boulud man Ignace Lecleir, and a viewing gallery of antique Tibetan rugs are all on the cards. We can’t wait.