Beijing’s top restaurants for wine

In time, for those planning a trip to Beijing over the forthcoming holidays, here is a guide to the best restaurants for wine recommended by Vinehoo.com.

The old capital is now seeing a small explosion in the number of restaurants with exclusive wine lists, which makes the dinning experience even more exciting.

Western drinking culture is becoming more popular throughout Asia and this is fuelling the increased attention that restaurants are giving to their wines.

We recently revealed the best restaurants for wine in Shanghai, so click through the following pages to see what Beijing has to offer.

Mio

Mio means “my” in Italian, and this welcoming Italian restaurant is located in the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing. There are crystal shapes and shimmering lights everywhere, ushered along by a jazz-age soundtrack and a dominating quasi-chandelier stretching the length of the ceiling. Featuring two open kitchens and an authentic pizza oven, Mio offers Southern Italian cuisine, including a selection of pizzas and tapas. The Italian food menu is complemented by an extensive choice of wines and cocktails. The iPad wine menu enables you to choose your drink from Mio’s more than 400 wines more easily.

Four Seasons Hotel, 48 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang district (010) 5695 8858

Danieli’s

Reputed to be “Beijing’s finest Italian restaurant”, Danieli’s offers the opportunity to experience the best selection of the country’s cuisine, coupled with Beijing’s largest Italian wine selection. It is a good place to find rare Italian vintages on the extensive wine list and a knowledgeable staff is more than willing to assist in pairing them with the right dishes.

21 Jianguomenwai Dajie, Beijing (010) 6460 6688.

29 Grill

29 Grill is known for its diverse menu of cold cuts, which goes well with an equally impressive cheese selection. The restaurant features a well-stocked wine cellar with both new and old world wines. This restaurant is ideal to meet with friends to enjoy a cheese tasting session and allow the professional and friendly staff to help you pick a fine vintage to accompany your selection.

29 North Dongsanhuan Road, Chaoyang district (010) 65846300.

Morton’s of Chicago

Morton’s of Chicago, the Steakhouse is located on the 2nd floor of the prestigious Regent Hotel. It is located in the centre of the city and surrounded by the headquarters of many large local and international companies making Morton’s a Beijing dining hotspot. The wine list put a heavy emphasis on American wines, from Napa Valley’s entry-level wines to top fine wines such as Opus One. The restaurant is also known for its signature temperature-controlled wine lockers with personalised wine cabinets for their frequent customers.

Regent Hotel Shop 201, 99 Jinbao Jie, Dongcheng district (010) 8528 7070.

Grill 79

Grill 79 is one of the top international hotel restaurants in Beijing. With impressive views of the Forbidden City, the restaurant proves itself as a captivating destination for international dining. Diners can expect one of the best wine lists in Beijing, including up to 650 selections of New World wines and Scotch whisky.

No 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue,Chaoyang district (010) 65052299-6459.

China Grill

China Grill is an international restaurant serving prime meat, fish and seafood in a variety of cooking styles. The restaurant also features a wide selection of fine wines, along with 360-degree views of Beijing. China Grill also has close to 480 wines from around the world, including a surprisingly good selection from Greece.

66/F, Park Hyatt Hotel, 2 Jianguomenwai Dajie Restaurant (010) 8567-1838/40.

One East

Contemporary American-style fine dining with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients brings business travellers to the Hilton’s flagship restaurant. One East is also known as one of Beijing’s fanciest burger places, with burgers made from Wagyu beef and served with foie gras plus a choice of toppings. You’ll also find one of Beijing’s best wine lists here. An extensive choice of 235 fine wines is available to complement the American cuisine. The wine list puts a particular emphasis on Champagne, as well as a wide selection of French white and Italian Red.

Second floor, Hilton Hotel Beijing, 1 Dongfang Lu, Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang district (010) 5865 5030.

The Cut

The Cut is an award-winning steak restaurant offering the finest slices of Wagyu beef and contemporary western food. The steaks are served with a selection of gourmet sauces and mustards. The wine list includes an extensive range of Champagne list to accompany the innovative food menu.

The Fairmont Beijing, 8 Yong’an Dongli, Jianguomenwai Avenue (010) 8507 3617.

Aria

Aria at China World Hotel, Beijing, offers guests “contemporary European cuisine complemented with an extensive wine selection in a stylish dining environment”. This restaurant offers an impressive wine list with around 750 different French and Italian wines, plus a handful from the new world.

2/F, China World Hotel, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie (010) 6505-2266.

Temple

Temple Restaurant Beijing is one of the most exciting, stylish restaurants in the city and a real must for design lovers. The award-winning restaurant is housed in a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty Tibetan temple which was renovated in 2008 and given a contemporary new look by Australian architectural and design firm, Hassell. The menu offers European dishes and given Chef Ignace Lecleir’s background as a sommelier, the wine list is fittingly expansive, with 700 labels, including French, Spanish and American bottles, housed in three on-site wine cellars. The core of its wine list features wines from France, focusing on Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy.

No.23 SongZhuSi, Shatan Beijie, Dongcheng district (010) 8400 2232.