The most artistic dinning places in Beijing
Text by Adeline Wang, photos by Agenda

In a world where fine dinning is no longer limited to the quality of food, the artistic experience associated with the meal tends to take center stage. Foodies love the collision of art and cuisine as much as they love the fusion of modern and traditional dishes, and eastern and western fare.

Yi House Restaurant Mediterranean-Asian Fusion Elegant and stylish, you’ll wish for a long wait as you tear yourself away from the art that lines the lobby. The relaxed ambiance is accentuated with striking, monochrome photography, setting the scene for the artistic morsels you’ll be served. Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-midnight. Grace Beijing, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, 798 Yishu Qu, 706 Houjie 1, Chaoyang District (6436 1818) 朝阳区酒仙桥 路2号院798艺术区706后街1号

Green T. House 紫云轩 Chinese This venue has been one of the most unique and striking for more than a decade. Black high-backed seats, big vases and candles create the artful ambiance that surrounds their even more artful dishes. All the tables and seats, lights, wares, menus, and their displays were designed by the owner herself. 1) Daily 11am- 2.30pm, 6-11.30pm. 6 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District (6552 8310) 朝阳区工体西路6号; 2) Daily 11.30am-11.30pm. 318 Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang, Chaoyang District (8456 4922 ext 8, 136 0113 7232) 朝阳区崔各庄乡合 各庄村318号

South Silk Road 茶马古道 Yunnan Opened by Beijing-based artist Fang Lijun, these super-hip restaurants sports minimalist loft interiors bedecked with the owner’s own artwork, down-home Yunnan specialties (including guoqiao mixian, crossing bridge noodles, Yunnan cui niupi, fried beef skins, and ru bing, fried goat’s cheese) and their own brand of rice wine. 1) Daily 10am- 10pm. 1/F, 58 bldg, Worker’s Stadium (near the west gate), Chaoyang District (8580 4287) 朝阳区工人体育场58栋1楼 (工 体西门); 2) Daily 10.30am- 10.30pm. 2-3/F, North Bldg 4, Area 2, Anhuili, Chaoyang District (6481 3261) 朝阳区安 慧里2区4号北楼3层; 3) Daily 10.30am-10pm. 5/F, APM Mall, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (6526 8401) 东城区王 府井大 街新东安广场5层

The CourtYard 四合院 European Fusion The CourtYard was the first Chinese restaurant to make it onto Conde Nast’s list of the most exciting restaurants in the world, and has continued to woo its visitors with its stunning décor and fine crafted cuisine. The second floor hosts frequent art exhibition. Reservations recommended. Daily 6-9.30pm. 95 Donghuamen Dajie (north of Donghuamen parking lot at the Forbidden City), Dongcheng District (6526 8883) 东城区东华门大街 95号 (故宫东华门停车场北面) courtyardbeijing.com

Pure Lotus 静心莲 Vegetarian Chinese Pure Lotus offers an enchanting escape for long-term residents and diners alike. Each dish is a masterpiece, and the opulently decorated, Buddhist inspired venue allow the senses to relax and unfurl to full comprehend the nature of each bite. Daily 11am- 11pm. 1) Tongguang Bldg, 12 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang District (6592 3627, 8703 6669) 朝阳区农展馆南 路12号 (通广大厦内); 2) 3/F, MetroPark, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (8703 6668) 朝阳区首都机场将台路北京丽 都维景饭店三层

Le Quai 有景阁 Chinese “New School” Cuisine Hidden inside the southeast corner of Beijing Workers’ Stadium, this two floor wooden house is actually a 250- year-old building and while it might be simple on the outside, the interior is filled with luxury. The old Anhui architecture is perfectly complimented by their delicious desserts and accentuated by the art gallery situated on the second floor. Daily 11am-midnight. Gate 12 of the Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District (6551 1636) 朝阳区工人体育 场12号看台对面

ROOMbeijing ROOM 北京 Contemporary International Brian McKenna brings his no-holds-barred attitude to the artistic cuisine available in this restaurant. It’s not for the faint of heart, but those looking to be tantalized in taste, sight and soul will feel right at home. Sun-Wed 11am-2am (kitchen closes midnight), Thu-Sat 11am-4am (kitchen closes 2am). Rm 301-302, 3/F, Park Life, Yintai Centre, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (8517 2033) 朝阳区建国门外大街2号 银泰中心301-302室

Royal Smushi House 皇家慕喜 Danish “Sushi” The Royal Smushi House is a vividly stylish complex with a restaurant, bakery, Monocle shop and displays of Danish works of design. It’s a great place for a small artistic escape with some petit artistic morsels. Probably the best place to go if you’re craving for some smushi. Daily 7am- 10.30pm. 8 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6416 9664, info@royalsmushihouse. cn.com) 朝阳区东直门外大街8 royalsmushihouse.cn.com

Yi House RestaurantMediterranean-Asian Fusion Elegant and stylish, you’ll wish for a long wait as you tear yourself away from the art that lines the lobby. The relaxed ambiance is accentuated with striking, monochrome photography, setting the scene for the artistic morsels you’ll be served. Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-midnight. Grace Beijing, 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, 798 Yishu Qu, 706 Houjie 1, Chaoyang District (6436 1818) 朝阳区酒仙桥 路2号院798艺术区706后街1号

Green T. House 紫云轩Chinese This venue has been one of the most unique and striking for more than a decade. Black high-backed seats, big vases and candles create the artful ambiance that surrounds their even more artful dishes. All the tables and seats, lights, wares, menus, and their displays were designed by the owner herself. 1) Daily 11am- 2.30pm, 6-11.30pm. 6 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District (6552 8310) 朝阳区工体西路6号; 2) Daily 11.30am-11.30pm. 318 Hegezhuang Village, Cuigezhuang, Chaoyang District (8456 4922 ext 8, 136 0113 7232) 朝阳区崔各庄乡合 各庄村318号

South Silk Road 茶马古道Yunnan Opened by Beijing-based artist Fang Lijun, these super-hip restaurants sports minimalist loft interiors bedecked with the owner’s own artwork, down-home Yunnan specialties (including guoqiao mixian, crossing bridge noodles, Yunnan cui niupi, fried beef skins, and ru bing, fried goat’s cheese) and their own brand of rice wine. 1) Daily 10am- 10pm. 1/F, 58 bldg, Worker’s Stadium (near the west gate), Chaoyang District (8580 4287) 朝阳区工人体育场58栋1楼 (工 体西门); 2) Daily 10.30am- 10.30pm. 2-3/F, North Bldg 4, Area 2, Anhuili, Chaoyang District (6481 3261) 朝阳区安 慧里2区4号北楼3层; 3) Daily 10.30am-10pm. 5/F, APM Mall, Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (6526 8401) 东城区王 府井大 街新东安广场5层

The CourtYard 四合院 European Fusion The CourtYard was the first Chinese restaurant to make it onto Conde Nast’s list of the most exciting restaurants in the world, and has continued to woo its visitors with its stunning décor and fine crafted cuisine. The second floor hosts frequent art exhibition. Reservations recommended. Daily 6-9.30pm. 95 Donghuamen Dajie (north of Donghuamen parking lot at the Forbidden City), Dongcheng District (6526 8883) 东城区东华门大街 95号 (故宫东华门停车场北面) courtyardbeijing.com

Pure Lotus 静心莲Vegetarian Chinese Pure Lotus offers an enchanting escape for long-term residents and diners alike. Each dish is a masterpiece, and the opulently decorated, Buddhist inspired venue allow the senses to relax and unfurl to full comprehend the nature of each bite. Daily 11am- 11pm. 1) Tongguang Bldg, 12 Nongzhanguan Nanlu, Chaoyang District (6592 3627, 8703 6669) 朝阳区农展馆南 路12号 (通广大厦内); 2) 3/F, MetroPark, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (8703 6668) 朝阳区首都机场将台路北京丽 都维景饭店三层

Le Quai 有景阁Chinese “New School” Cuisine Hidden inside the southeast corner of Beijing Workers’ Stadium, this two floor wooden house is actually a 250- year-old building and while it might be simple on the outside, the interior is filled with luxury. The old Anhui architecture is perfectly complimented by their delicious desserts and accentuated by the art gallery situated on the second floor. Daily 11am-midnight. Gate 12 of the Workers’ Stadium, Chaoyang District (6551 1636) 朝阳区工人体育 场12号看台对面

ROOMbeijing ROOM 北京Contemporary International Brian McKenna brings his no-holds-barred attitude to the artistic cuisine available in this restaurant. It’s not for the faint of heart, but those looking to be tantalized in taste, sight and soul will feel right at home. Sun-Wed 11am-2am (kitchen closes midnight), Thu-Sat 11am-4am (kitchen closes 2am). Rm 301-302, 3/F, Park Life, Yintai Centre, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (8517 2033) 朝阳区建国门外大街2号 银泰中心301-302室

Royal Smushi House 皇家慕喜Danish “Sushi” The Royal Smushi House is a vividly stylish complex with a restaurant, bakery, Monocle shop and displays of Danish works of design. It’s a great place for a small artistic escape with some petit artistic morsels. Probably the best place to go if you’re craving for some smushi. Daily 7am- 10.30pm. 8 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6416 9664, info@royalsmushihouse. cn.com) 朝阳区东直门外大街8 royalsmushihouse.cn.com