Beijing is one of the most sprawling, enormous and impressive cities in China, as well as Asia, and it would take any visitor a good month before they can even claim to have seen a tenth of it. With its famous hutongs, numerous districts and God knows how many restaurants big and small, it’s hard to write a definitive eating guide to the capital city. Hence, in this feature, we’ve decided to go about it in the most Tatler-esque manner, and highlight only the most beautiful, picturesque restaurants Beijing has to offer. Not for us the tiny hole in the walls: no, what we want is great food in even better settings to feast both our eyes and our palates. Enjoy!

Friday:

8pm: If you ask people where you should eat Peking duck in Beijing, you will most definitely hear one of these three names: Da Dong, Grand Hyatt’s Made in China, or Duck de Chine. As we were staying at the lovely Opposite House in Sanlitun, walking five minutes over to Duck de Chine at nearby1949 Hidden City seemed the easiest option. Well, nearly the easiest option: always remember to order a duck while you’re making your reservations, as bizarrely for a restaurant that specialises in Peking duck, it is actually only available by pre-order. While you wait for your duck to be cooked, have a glass of bubbly at China’s first Bollinger bar. When it arrives, make sure to take a minute to savour the homemade hoisin sauce, which you can also add the unusual additions of peanut sauce, sesame sauce and fried garlic to.

The duck itself is very good: the skin is crispy with just the right amount of fat, the wrappers are a good texture. The only downfall was we found the meat to be a bit too lean and not the most tender. Is this the best Peking duck in Beijing? No, but it is definitely up there in the top five and it does win plenty of points for its stylish setting. There are usually two seatings: the locals come early around 6.30pm, while tourists pack the place from 8.30pm onwards.

Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chao Yang District. Tel: +86 10 6501 8881.

Saturday:

11.30am: Whether you choose to spend Saturday shopping on Qianmen Street or sightseeing at Tiananmen Square, there is only one place to brunch in style: Capital M. Opened by Michelle Garnaut, the Australian chef and restaurateur who opened the now-closed M at the Fringe here in Hong Kong and M on the Bund in Shanghai, Capital M is a sight to behold. It is heralded for its views of Tiananmen Square (the cover photo of this story is taken from Capital M’s terrace), but the interiors also deserve a mention. Done in shades of Chinese red and gold, it is cosy for such a humongous restaurant with couches, golden screens, black and white floors, and warm turquoise paintings on the wall. Our favourite spot in the restaurants are the seats next to the terrace, where you get the alfresco breeze and the views, minus the boiling sun. Sunday brunch is a real steal here, priced at RMB288 for three courses, including a cocktail and limitless tea or coffee and the food at Capital M surpasses what was on offer at M on the Fringe. We particularly enjoyed the razor clams in white wine, the chicken tagine, and most memorably, one of the best mille feuille we’ve tasted for a long time.

3/F, No. 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street. Tel: +86 10 6702 2727.

7pm: From Tiananmen, another tourist spot that is a must-see is the Forbidden City. This will take you the better part of the day, and by the time you’re ready to collapse, jump in a cab and ask them to take you to Temple restaurant, conveniently located minutes away. The setting is simply magical: located in a complex with a 600-year old temple (which is now used primarily as an events space), its surrounding buildings were converted into a factory for China’s first black and white televisions during the Cultural Revolution. Now it houses an art gallery, and Temple Restaurant, owned by Belgian restaurateur Ignace Lecleir, who was previously with Daniel Boulud at Maison Boulud de Pekin.

Despite the opulent surroundings, there is also a good deal to be found: the four-course tasting dinner for RMB398. The pigeon with sweet onion compote, roasted foie gras and truffle sauce is simply stunning, and the cheese trolley also contains a few surprises, including cheeses made in Beijing by a Chinese cheesemaker, Liu Yang. His brie with truffle is surprisingly good, and while his Tomme does not compare to the French version (also available on the cheese selection), it is an interesting comparison.

23, Shantain Beijie, Dongcheng District. Tel: + 86 10 8400 2232.

Sunday:

12pm: Before we head off to the airport to fly home, there is still time for one last meal. Chinese food with a French or European twist has been the rage in Beijing for a couple of years now and Le Quai at the Worker’s Stadium is a prime example. It is most popular in the autumn as the outside terrace overlooks a manmade river, and the breeze and surrounding greenery is extremely comfortable. Proudly advertising itself as selling “slow food”, Le Quai uses a number of local ingredients, such as an excellent cold starter of Beijing turnip with Sichuan chilli: while it’s not initially spicy, your mouth becomes pleasingly numb after a few bites. Make sure to ask for their excellent Zhejiang vinegar as an accompaniment.  We also adored the slow-cooked pork belly, with eggs marinated in wine.

Gate 12, Worker’s Stadium, Beijing. Tel: +86 10 6551 1636.