Beijing Aqua City YiPiao Hot Spring Resort

Vegetarian

Via the grand entrance with a retro vibe, diners are escorted into a lofty dining room on level 2. Painstakingly crafted Beijing classics define the extensive menu, much of which dates back to the Qing Dynasty. The crispy duo blanched in oil manifests expert judgment of heat – pork tripe and chicken gizzards are both perfectly cooked. Thinly sliced smoked pork head meat is buttery and smoky. Round off with artisan desserts, like rose puff pastry or split pea cake.

This flagship of the chain has an elegant but relaxed dining space done out in modern Chinese style. The menu is essentially the same as at other branches, focusing on Taizhou cooking and fish from the East China Sea. But the 28-day-old baby Peking duck, which you have to pre-order, is available exclusively at this location. Try also the duck stew with fish maw and taro – the taro is so starchy and tender that it melts in your mouth.

On a swan theme, feather motifs and graceful arabesques abound in the spotless white room of this restaurant, set in an idyllic spot overlooking a pond where swans and koi swim. As for the food, French chef Vianney Massot champions a unique take on traditional Gallic fare using seasonal ingredients. The slow-roasted, wild-caught turbot boasts firm, juicy meat with two sauces that complement its intense briny flavour.

This period mansion, complete with a stone garden and carved wooden windows, provides the perfect foil to the restaurant’s polished cuisine. The menu celebrates the all-time favourites of Huaiyang cooking, such as braised pork belly in brown sauce with arrowroot, and sautéed swamp eel in pepper sauce. Hand-peeled lake shrimps with fox nuts boast velvety texture and are best enjoyed with aged vinegar. The seasonal menu is also worth checking out.

A remodelled, high-ceilinged courtyard mansion houses this stunning restaurant whose splendid view changes with the seasons. In a similar vein, traditional Beijing dishes have been treated to a modern makeover. Besides being carved traditionally, jujube wood-fired Peking duck can be served three ways, boasting crispy skin and juicy flesh. Seared sea cucumber with Zhangqiu scallion is another original dish that will blow your mind. Also check out their Beijing-themed cocktails.

Italian