Beijing’s Most Romantic Date Night Restaurants
06/08/2019
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China’s answer to Valentine’s Day, Qixi Festival (7 Aug), is fast approaching so get booking now for a night to remember. Here’s our guide to Beijing’s most knee-weakeningly romantic date-night restaurants.
For sheer jaw-dropper setting, get thee to TRB Hutong (formerly Temple Restaurant), one of the capital’s most exclusive eateries, set in the idyllic grounds of a staggeringly beautiful six-century-old Qing Dynasty temple complex. Conceived by Belgian-born sommelier and restaurant manager Ignace Lecleir, this bold, contemporary fine-diner plates up an innovative, seasonal take on the Gallic classics, and was one of the first in Beijing to showcase the cream of organic, locally sourced ingredients.
Even meat-eaters swoon for the delectable feast of veg-only delights on offer at boundary-pushing hutong hideaway King’s Joy. Under the guidance of chef and former-monk, Pan Jianjun, intrepid diners are served playful, flavoursome, elevated morsels like lightly battered ‘Monkey’s Head’ mushrooms with a piquant sweet-n-sour sauce, or sautéed matsutake with braised silky tofu. If the weather is fine, aim for a table in the enclosed courtyard, offering the best vantage of starchitect Yung Ho Chang’s stunning work.
Start (and finish) your evening at Yunnan knockout Lost Heaven on its viewy alfresco terrace, with a delicately aromatic pu-er martini in hand, of course. Step inside for striking, atmospheric interiors and a whistlestop culinary tour taking you via, not just Yunnan, but as far afield as the Mekong regions of Thailand, Laos and Burma. Richly flavoured and cleverly spiced crowd-pleasers include steamed cod with Dai tribe salted black beans, Da Li-style chicken with chilli and green onions, and sticky sweet pork ribs in black rose sauce. Heavenly, indeed.
Nothing says romance like jewellery and a blowout meal. So once you’ve draped your beloved in Danish silversmith Georg Jensen’s tastefully minimal bijoux at House of Jensen, step into The Georg next door, comprising a ‘casual fine dining’ restaurant, private salon, courtyard atrium, bar and lounge. Opt for the restaurant’s full tasting menu to get that full hit of the elegant Danish fare with a dash of Asian flavour.
Be sure to book ahead to secure one of 16 antique-accented private dining rooms at the staggering JE Mansion for the ultimate dinner à deux. Exquisitely presented, mod interpretations of Chinese classics like roast duck impress, but it’s the beggar's chicken that steals the show, despite its deceptively modest moniker, with delicious meat that just melts off the bone. Afterwards, up the romance with nightcaps at the bar or in the sultry lounge. Cin cin!
TRB Hutong / Songzhusi Temple / 23 Shatan Beijie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8400 2232 / lunch & dinner daily / trb-hutong.com
King’s Joy / 2 Wudaoying Hutong / Dongcheng / +86 10 8404 9191 / lunch & dinner daily Lost Heaven / 23 Qianmen Dong Dajie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8516 2698 / lostheaven.com.cn
The Georg / 45 Dongbu Yaqiao Hutong / Dianmen Dong Dajie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8408 5300 / dinner Tue-Sun / @thegeorgbeijing JE Mansion / Honglingjin Park West / Chaoyang / +86 10 5139 8739 / lunch & dinner daily / china-je.com
For sheer jaw-dropper setting, get thee to TRB Hutong (formerly Temple Restaurant), one of the capital’s most exclusive eateries, set in the idyllic grounds of a staggeringly beautiful six-century-old Qing Dynasty temple complex. Conceived by Belgian-born sommelier and restaurant manager Ignace Lecleir, this bold, contemporary fine-diner plates up an innovative, seasonal take on the Gallic classics, and was one of the first in Beijing to showcase the cream of organic, locally sourced ingredients.
Even meat-eaters swoon for the delectable feast of veg-only delights on offer at boundary-pushing hutong hideaway King’s Joy. Under the guidance of chef and former-monk, Pan Jianjun, intrepid diners are served playful, flavoursome, elevated morsels like lightly battered ‘Monkey’s Head’ mushrooms with a piquant sweet-n-sour sauce, or sautéed matsutake with braised silky tofu. If the weather is fine, aim for a table in the enclosed courtyard, offering the best vantage of starchitect Yung Ho Chang’s stunning work.
Start (and finish) your evening at Yunnan knockout Lost Heaven on its viewy alfresco terrace, with a delicately aromatic pu-er martini in hand, of course. Step inside for striking, atmospheric interiors and a whistlestop culinary tour taking you via, not just Yunnan, but as far afield as the Mekong regions of Thailand, Laos and Burma. Richly flavoured and cleverly spiced crowd-pleasers include steamed cod with Dai tribe salted black beans, Da Li-style chicken with chilli and green onions, and sticky sweet pork ribs in black rose sauce. Heavenly, indeed.
Nothing says romance like jewellery and a blowout meal. So once you’ve draped your beloved in Danish silversmith Georg Jensen’s tastefully minimal bijoux at House of Jensen, step into The Georg next door, comprising a ‘casual fine dining’ restaurant, private salon, courtyard atrium, bar and lounge. Opt for the restaurant’s full tasting menu to get that full hit of the elegant Danish fare with a dash of Asian flavour.
Be sure to book ahead to secure one of 16 antique-accented private dining rooms at the staggering JE Mansion for the ultimate dinner à deux. Exquisitely presented, mod interpretations of Chinese classics like roast duck impress, but it’s the beggar's chicken that steals the show, despite its deceptively modest moniker, with delicious meat that just melts off the bone. Afterwards, up the romance with nightcaps at the bar or in the sultry lounge. Cin cin!
TRB Hutong / Songzhusi Temple / 23 Shatan Beijie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8400 2232 / lunch & dinner daily / trb-hutong.com
King’s Joy / 2 Wudaoying Hutong / Dongcheng / +86 10 8404 9191 / lunch & dinner daily Lost Heaven / 23 Qianmen Dong Dajie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8516 2698 / lostheaven.com.cn
The Georg / 45 Dongbu Yaqiao Hutong / Dianmen Dong Dajie / Dongcheng / +86 10 8408 5300 / dinner Tue-Sun / @thegeorgbeijing JE Mansion / Honglingjin Park West / Chaoyang / +86 10 5139 8739 / lunch & dinner daily / china-je.com