When I first arrived in Beijing back in 2019, the brunch at NUO hotel was legendary. NUO was the place everyone said to go to celebrate a special event and enjoy the best of expat life. I kept meaning to go, but somehow never managed to check it off my gastronomic hit list. Then Covid hit and, well, buffets were not exactly encouraged. NUO brunch took a hiatus. But foodies everywhere can rejoice because it is back and my friends, it lives up to its reputation!

When you first walk into the beautiful lobby you are invited for a welcome drink at a cozy and elegant bar that feels like a place Cary Grant or Humphrey Bogart would have frequented. Then you head into the dining space, N’Joy, and the wonderland that is their global buffet.

Pride of place goes to the raw bar, where the star of the show is the oysters shucked to order next to the chilled boiled crabs, scallops, and mussels. There is also a sushi table, a western breakfast station with eggs to order, a carving station with pork, chicken, and beef, a corner dedicated to dim sum, and stations for Indian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Don’t forget the charcuterie station where I counted no less than six types of Italian meats and at least a dozen international cheeses. A salad bar is also available with an assortment of fresh produce. There is a waffle and crepe station and an assortment of pastries available – you know, just in case your plate isn’t already overflowing. Everything is amazingly fresh and high quality – the staff must start prepping 24 hours in advance or the management is keeping house elves in the basement à la Harry Potter because it’s truly a magical feat.

But this is just the starter. I strongly encourage you to pace yourself because, in addition to the buffet, specialty dishes are delivered to your table, including prime rib carved to order, garlic lobster, truly amazing warm garlic bread, and my favorite: caviar and blintzes.  Then of course there is the whole tuna that is ceremonially cut and served by the chefs mid-meal.

But leave a little room because you are going to want dessert. Both your inner child and your actual children will be thrilled with the chocolate fountain and cotton candy machine, as well as the make-your-own-sundae bar with plenty of toppings from fresh fruit to gummy worms. There are more cakes than I could count and delicious little petit fours, as well as puddings, candied nuts, and cookies.

Just when you think you can’t eat another bite, delivered to your table is a lovely chocolate mousse.

The price of this wonderful foodie paradise is RMB 588, and you get what you pay for. Everyone I’ve attended with always found something they loved (not just liked). Along with your seemingly endless meal, you have access to unlimited soda, juice, coffee, and water. There are free-flow packages available (RMB 158 for wine, RMB 288 for bubbles, and RMB 428 for champagne)  but I just didn’t want to take up valuable real estate in my stomach with liquid.

PRO TIP: Order a bottle of bubbly for the table to share because nothing goes better with fresh oysters than cold champagne. Just don’t try to drink four hours’ worth of it on top of all that food…you’ll hurt yourself.

So the question is, is the experience worth the price? For me, yes. This was a lovely afternoon spent with friends over excellent food in a beautiful location. Well-behaved children will enjoy it as well, and I would encourage parents to bring coloring books or cards so the kids can play while they socialize. I wouldn’t do it every weekend but for the occasional special event or treat yourself moment it was a lovely option for a lazy Sunday.

To see everything that was on offer check out our video here and scan the QR code above to make your reservations.

Images: Julie Wolf and Vivianne Tsing Rush

KEEP READING: Choc-A-Lot Has An Ultimate Sticky Bun That Lives Up To Its Name

Should five-star dining always be de rigueur for a date night? I’m now in the thick of reviewing restaurants that I can recommend for your special occasions and romantic evenings with your loved one, and I have become even more certain that if where you choose to spend a romantic evening is offering a five-star menu, this ought to come with more than just a five-star price-tag. There has to be substance and all the trimmings, and New World Hotel’s food and beverage options do just that without leaving your pockets weightless.

The Yin on 12 bar sits proudly on the rooftop of New World Hotel. The terrace area is home to its very own alfresco bar and epic marble-encased DJ booth. Couples can sit at the bar and take in the city view at night, or cuddle up on one of the loungers while enjoying table service. I’m always cautious of overly stylized bar concepts, and always feel that the alchemic cocktail mixes on offer need to stand out and reflect the opulence of your surroundings.

Negroni in Beijing

The signature cocktails at Yin do just that, with house takes on traditional and iconic mixes, such as the Old Fashioned, Apple Martini, and Negroni. The menu is concise and tied together with Chinese aromas, ingredients, and flavors. As always, I started with a version of the Negroni – the Negroni in Beijing (RMB 88) offers the classic balance of bitterness and sweetness with a Sichuan pepper kick! I really enjoyed this generously-poured classic with a Chinese twist, featuring rattan pepper oil and smoked sichuan pepper. If you prefer something whiskey-based, definitely go for the Amber (RMB 88), delicate and sweet; the smoked plum infused bourbon and rock sugar is a welcome delight and packs a nice punch.

Amber

Surprisingly, a vodka-based drink stole the show for me. The Apple Blossom (RMB 88), made with green apple and green tea infused vodka, apple juice, and homemade matcha syrup was heavenly. It tasted like candy and was smooth as silk. They’re extremely easy drinking, so take it slow, but definitely worth ordering a second round.

Apple Blossom

I love Chinese food, and lately this option tends to be my go-to when dining out. There is so much on offer and you have a hugely diverse selection of regional flavors to choose from in Beijing. 8 Qi Nian offers elevated Cantonese fare from Chinese Executive chef Tony Guo.

The Indulgent Pork Belly

We asked for a few recommendations (I suggest always doing this when you dine out – you might miss something epic, if you don’t ask) and it was suggested that we try the Chef’s Special, Mei Cai Kou Rou (RMB 140). Prepared by chef Tony Guo, slices of seasoned pork belly on a bed of cabbage in dark sweet gravy were sticky, indulgent, and delicious. I would advise that this be chosen as a shared main, since this dish is quite rich and needs to be tempered with a bowl of plain steamed rice. We tried the signature Fried Grain Rice (RMB 88) made with Chinese sausage, preserved pork, barley, and millet. Colorful and tasty, this was good but best paired with something less rich, as it’s already packed full of salty, woody, and textured flavor. The humungous Pork Rib (RMB 98) was moist and carved like butter, and I would say is the perfect accompaniment to the fried rice dish.

Fried Grain Rice

Our sides, Steamed Scallop and Shrimps (RMB 180), reminded me of dim sum without the translucent dumpling casing, and the Pan-Fried Crispy Cod-Fish (RMB 58), was reminiscent one of my dearly-missed British classics, “fish n chips”. The batter was fine and crispy, the cod flaky, and melt-in-the-mouth. The cod tastes like the sea and doesn’t need any added seasoning. These dishes come in generous portions, so go easy when ordering on an empty stomach. I was too full to sample any dessert but decided to go with a nightcap instead, and enjoyed another generously poured glass, this time, a New Zealand red, Brancott Estate Pinot Noir (RMB 105). Lush.

Pork Rib

Ambience-wise, this place is modern and classy without any uncomfortable airs or graces.The low-key lighting, Chinese-inspired adornments, and low rise tables with comfortable leather seating indoors set the right tone for romance and enjoyment. There’s a resident DJ playing chilled house and a nice mixed crowd of people. This place sits neatly on trend without being pretentious and the service was impeccable: knowledgeable staff and service with a genuine smile. I believe as a whole the bar and restaurant offers value for money and next time I intend to occupy one of their stately premier rooms, starting at RMB 1,300 (also a reasonable price per night).

Round off the evening nicely with a glass of Pinot Noir

I’ve been invited back to enjoy a dessert and perhaps shake a leg or two at one of their famous Saturday Salsa nights! Your next date night plans should be set. Go and enjoy their rooftop bar after an evening of good food at 8 Qi Nian, and come with your dancing shoes on!

New World Beijing Hotel, 2/F, 8 Qinian Main Street, Dongcheng District 东城区祈年大街8号新世界酒店2楼 (东打磨厂街 (Head up to 12/F to enjoy Yin On 12 Rooftop Bar).

Photos: Nicole Bonnah, www.beijing.newworldhotels.com

Inspired by the Ming Dynasty, the luxurious O’Bar sits proudly on the fifth floor of the well-known Nuo Hotel. Patrons can take advantage of a Zen Oasis on their rooftop terrace, or drink and dine under ambient lighting in their black-and-gold adorned bar and indoor seating area. This is five-star luxury and is worthy of an opulent date night with your nearest and dearest.

The cocktail menu is full of classic options, such a dry Martini. However there are a number of fusion takes on familiar tastes, and the menu is full of signature house cocktails that are reflective of alchemic traditional Chinese flavors, which are robust and adventurous. Take for example the Green (RMB 100), a mixture of Capucana Cachaca, pistachio, dry sherry, lime, Matcha and salt. Inspired by Chinese green tea, this modern blending of flavors pays homage to past times, with added extravagance reminiscent of the Ming Dynasty and its Emperors.

Dry Martini

I chose to go with something just as unique and lavish, the aptly named Luxury (RMB 100). This contained a bombastic mix of Mina Real Mezcal, rye whiskey, beetroot, hazelnut, lime, and the royal ingredient, saffron. Many associate saffron with Indian cooking, however it has a long history that first began in Tibet. Saffron made its way around Asia and surrounding countries along with other herbs and spices that traveled the silk road to be traded for newly discovered and exotic items. Saffron is used in many Chinese regional dishes, and so this cocktail again was a perfect reflection of luxury and Chinese culture.

“Luxury”

The Luxury is not for the fainthearted, and was presented in a diamond-shaped glass goblet which neatly sat in a display box adorned with dry flowers and one of the best macaroon I have ever tasted. The macaroon, at first, felt like an odd partnership for a cocktail but was pleasantly sweet, dissolved in the mouth like butter, and cut through the sharpness. I could have done without the huge display box, but appreciate the sentiment.

One surprise element of the evening was the bar’s cartoon-themed ‘Hero’ range of cocktails, inspired by some of the best-loved animated movie heroes and served in cute toy replica bottles that are great for fun-loving photo opportunities. This lightened the mood and reflected the laid-back atmosphere of the bar. They are five-star, but do wonderfully well not to take themselves too seriously.

I tried the Big Hero (RMB 100), which just has to be the star of the show from the beverages that were sampled on the evening. Made with coconut, roasted barley, pineapple, and lime, this was a decadent, sweet, and refreshing mix that reminded me of an extremely well balanced Pina Colada.

As bar snacks and dishes go, you can’t get more luxurious than the options available at O’Bar. From caviar (RMB 398) to more comforting staples, like cod fish and chips with tartar sauce (RMB 138), there is something for both of you to enjoy with your date night cocktails.

The caviar was sold out, which was such a shame as the dish promised nicely aged caviar with classic condiments (RMB 368). Yum! So I first went for a selection of tapas, which was washed down with a glass or two of Shiraz (RMB 150). The Spanish ham bruschetta (RMB 88) was salty and delicious, and the smoked salmon version was equally as nice (RMB 78). The quality of the ingredients meant that personally I would have preferred the ham and salmon to be served without the bread, as they don’t need this accompaniment. The San Sebastian Croquettes won the battle of the tapas and were served with a creamy tartar sauce (RMB 88).

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bruschetta

The duck confit followed (RMB 100) and to finish the meal, I indulged in the cheese platter (RMB 238). The duck leg was served on a bed of spinach with strawberries and blueberries. The salad was underwhelming, however the duck was gamey, moist, and delicious. The cheese platter was everything and more, with generous portions of blue cheese, Manchego, goat cheese, soft Brie, and Edam. Partnered with sweet poached pear, grapes, seeded crackers, and dates, I was in cheese platter heaven.

Duck Leg Confit

My nightcap was a generous pour of Baileys over ice (RMB 88). Sweet and creamy, this was a great substitute for a dessert after demolishing the cheese!

So much cheese!

This is a date night for those that would like to indulge a little and celebrate a special occasion. It’s always nice to splash out once in a while, and if you so happen to be staying the night in one of Nuo Hotel’s rooms, you’ll get to try one of Beijing’s best brunches! Have a night of Oriental bliss and head on down to O’Bar.

Love and Action Can Change lives!

Join the Canadian International School of Beijing’s Charity Ball

To Support Children with Leukemia!

Oh yes! There’s nothing better than shaking a leg and enjoying good food for a good cause. Parents, teachers, and friends are invited to join the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB), for their second Charity Ball. Preparation is wrapping up for the event and thanks to the generous support of local families, facilitators have received many auction items, stage decorations, and offers of performances to make up what they believe will be an awesome evening.

A few weeks back the school successfully organized and hosted an art auction consisting of 26 works of art donated by CISB students, which helped to raise RMB 17,850. The CISB Chorus also recorded a video for the Ball, and representatives of the school visited kids being treated for leukemia at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics Hospital (CIP). The event is in aid of offering even more support for these kids in need.

Mark your calendars and show your commitment to the charity action on March 30. The goal is to raise RMB 600,000, all of which will be donated to the Angel program of China, Ai You Foundation. CISB believes that an action of love can change the lives of young kids suffering from leukemia, and welcome you to join this action by securing your seat(s) at the event as soon as possible.

The afternoon’s event includes dinner at the famous Nuo Hotel, known for their culinary creations and fine dining outlets. A generous spread will be followed by a dance with Stevie Mac and the Mac Daddies! Get the purse or wallet out and reserve yourself a seat, get the glad rags on, and go and eat and dance for charity. Something tells me you won’t regret it.

Scan the QR to register online!

Can’t make this lovingly coordinated event? CISB will also be launching an online auction with some selected items offered by their sponsors and parents. Get spending and support kids in need.

Adults. RMB 980. Mar 30. 5pm- late. Nuo Hotel Beijing, Lido.

Photos: thebeijinger.com

Do you have an upcoming family-friendly event that you want to be included in our listings? Maximize the reach of your event and promote it on beijingkids!

Let us know by leaving your message in the comments section below or by emailing us at webeditor@beijing-kids.com. Follow us on WeChat (ID: beijing-kids) or join our family events WeChat group by sending us your WeChat QR code. Please note that readers should confirm with each organizer if events are canceled or scheduled as planned. For more events that may not be included in this list, please check our Events page. 

Parent Workshop: Beating School Anxiety, Feb 28
Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) is holding a bilingual workshop on how to help children cope with anxiety on February 28. This seminar will explore the meaning of “anxiety”, help parents spot the signs of anxiety in their children, and provide tips for dealing with anxiety at home. They will also help participants to better understand themselves and their children. All ages. Free. 8.30-10am. YCIS Beijing, Hall H. For more information or to register, please visit this page. Honglingjin Park, 5 Houbalizhuang, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区后八里庄5号红领巾公园东门（8583 3731, info@bj.ycef.com）

Swiss School Beijing Open House, Feb 26
Swiss School Beijing is organizing an open house for families of children aged 3 and over. Participants will have an opportunity to visit the school, led by their elementary school Principal, Swiss School representatives, and admissions staff. Adults. Free. 9.15-11.30am. Swiss School Beijing. 10 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District. (info@swiss-school-beijing.ch)

Italian cooking class at Hutong, Feb 26, Mar 10, Apr 10
The Hutong invites everyone to their Italian cooking class, where you can enjoy a three-and-a-half-hour cooking experience, and learn to make fresh egg pasta and authentic Italian panna cotta under the guidance of an expert instructor. Hutong will provide free wine while you enjoy your creations. All ages. RMB 350. 10.30 am-noon. The Hutong. For more information or to register, please visit here. 1 Jiudaowan Zhongxiang Hutong, Dongcheng District. 东城区九道湾中巷胡同1号(北新桥地铁站东南边) (6404 3355; 159 0104 6127)

O’Bar Wintergarten – Nuo Chalet, Mar 1
You are invited to the O’Bar Wintergarten at NUO Hotel Beijing, where you can taste authentic mountain dishes such as raclette, grandeur charcuterie platter, an international cheese platter, and baba au rum. All ages. 6pm. NUO Hotel Beijing. Please make reservations in advance. 2A Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区将台路甲2号 (5926 828; fbreservations.beijing@nuohotel.com)

Dumpling cooking class at Beijing Mandarin School, Feb 27
Beijing Mandarin School welcomes everyone to participate in their Chinese Lunar New Year dumpling cooking class, to learn how to make jiaozi, which is a staple food of northern China. All ages. RMB 150. 1-2:30pm. Beijing Mandarin School. E-tower. Rm 904-905, 9F, E-tower, Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区光华路12号数码01大厦9层904-905室 (6508-1026)

Family-Friendly Cuisine at Pauline’s Cuisine, Mar 1
Families will enjoy learning to make delicious, healthy classics at Pauline’s Cuisine’s Family-Friendly Cuisine class. The menu for the class includes sweet potato frittata, spaghetti bolognese, a healthy veggie quesadilla, and pumpkin oatmeal. Adults. RMB 420. 10am-1pm. For more information or sign up, please scan the QR code in the image or visit this page. Pauline’s Cuisine, Lido.

Photography intensive workshops, various dates in Feb and Mar
Prisscila Baxter regularly organizes photography workshops for different levels of photographers every month. The March schedule has five different themed photography courses: travel and street, retouching with Adobe Lightroom, light and portrait, geometric and symmetry, and events, night and flash in different locations. Adults. RMB 750 per class. 10am-1pm. Prisscila Baxter. (WeChat ID: prissbaxter; 131 2470 7430)

Intro to Studio Photography, Feb 26
For novice photographers, controlling lighting in the studio can be a challenging skill. The SLab is holding an Intro to studio photography class, which covers basic techniques for differentiating light sources in a studio setting to help students expand their understanding of the complementary perspectives associated with lighting and model positioning in professional photography. Participants will have an opportunity to use these devices and put the technology into practice, and be able to complete photo shooting exercises and get feedback to improve their skills and style. All ages. RMB 690. 7-9pm. The SLab. Rm 102, Bldg 5, 15 Dongzhimen Waidajie, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区东直门外大街15号楼5单元102室. (156 0120 1550; Wechat: TheSLabBeijing)

Song of Countryside Cloudy – The Symbiotic Contemporary Art Exhibition, Mar 3
No matter how society develops, the township spirit cannot be eliminated, and natural ecology cannot be eliminated. Inheriting traditional culture is the theme of this exhibition. It features five typical historic villages in China, from the towns by the Great Wall to the mountains and rivers, bringing together the essence of Pingping in Hebei, Songzhuang in Beijing, Wuyuan in Jiangxi, Hongya in Sichuan, and Anning in Yunnan. All ages. Free. 10am-8pm. Beijing Times Art Museum. Huaxi Live, 69 Fuxing Lu, Haidian District. 海淀区复兴路69号.(8567 9817)

Private Talent: Love, Feb 24-Mar 24
This exhibition focuses on various aspects of love, such as friendship, desire, joy, and sadness, and tells the story of love since the liberation of interpersonal relationships in the twentieth century. All ages. Free. 10am-7pm. Contemporary Art Culture Center. For more information or to register, please visit this page. 7 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District.

Peppa Pig Live, March 2-3
The most popular cartoon character from the UK, Peppa Pig, will come to Beijing to celebrate the Year of the Pig. Take your kids to enjoy an original stage play, delicious baked cakes, wonderful magic, and exciting balloons. All ages. RMB 180-480. 10.30am-7pm (March 2), 1-4pm (March 3). Beijing Comedy Theatre. For register, please visit this page. 11 Chaoyangmen Beidajie, Dongcheng District. 东城区朝阳门北大街11号。

Youth Unfinished: Lü Jia Conducts Beethoven and Schubert, Mar 3
Lü Jia is an internationally renowned Chinese conductor who has hosted more than 2,000 operas and concerts in Europe, the US, and around the world over the past 20 years. He was the first Asian conductor to become a prominent opera director in Italy, as well as the first Chinese conductor to direct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. On March 3, Lü Jia will conduct the China NCPA Orchestra at the National Centre For Performing Arts in works by Beethoven and Schubert. All ages. RMB 50-480. 7.30-9.30pm. National Centre For The Performing Arts (NCPA). For more information or to buy tickets, visit here. 2 Chang’an Jie, Xicheng District. 西城区西长安街2号. (6655 0000)

Speed Networking, Feb 27
Viva Women’s Professional Network is organizing a speed networking event at the Bookworm, giving attendees the opportunity to interact with other professionals in a structured process. Adults. RMB 180 (members), RMB 220 (non-members).6.30-9.30pm. The Bookworm. For more information or to register, please visit this page. Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区工体北路4号院. (6586 9507)

 Photos: courtesy of event organizers

Spring is the season to finally shrug off that heavy jacket, enjoy the breeze and sunshine, and indulge in a fancy afternoon tea session with old friends who’ve been hibernating all winter. Just in time for the warmer weather, here are three new afternoon teas that caught our attention.

Conrad Hotel Beijing
To celebrate their fifth anniversary, Conrad Hotel Beijing has revamped a sugar-free High Tea menu at Chapter and Lobby Lounge, featuring mango & passion-fruit cheesecake, chocolate cannoli, apple mousse tart, carrot cake, vegan scones, cookies, gluten-free crisps, nachos, and rye bread crackers with hummus. To avoid any refined and processed sugar, the culinary team used xylitol, and fresh ingredients as alternatives, Harald Feurstein, the General Manager explained.

Among a dozen bites, we especially liked the carrot cake, which had two layers of round dough filled with cream cheese frosting between the layers. It was satisfying and sweet, seasoned with cinnamon, and topped with a tiny fake carrot made of meringue. The healthy cookies were infused with superfood chia seed, and oatmeal, which made them sturdy and rustic.

Chapter has an elegant atmosphere with a library-esque ambiance, designed by Spin Studio from Japan. Having delicate afternoon tea among all those books will surely impress your guests. This mindful afternoon tea costs RMB 298 (plus 15 percent service charge), and is available between 2.30-5pm at Chapter. It also includes two cups of teas or coffee. Call 6584 6270 for reservation.

Laurent Moreno

Nuo Hotel Beijing
Meanwhile, Nuo Hotel Beijing has collaborated with Laurent Moreno, a world-renowned executive pastry chef from France, and will launch a new afternoon tea for chocoholics at Lobby Lounge on Apr 2. Moreno has 15 years of professional experience and has worked with the famous Pierre Hermé (dubbed “the Picasso of Pastry” by Vogue), Michelin three-starred restaurant La Tour d’Argent, Champs-Elsyées Ladurée shop in Paris, Fauchon, and Dalloyau. Sounds impressive? He is also a training and business consultant at the World’s Top Ten Pastry School Ferrandi, and Ecole Gastronomique Bellouet Conseil, and represents Cabosse Chocolate and Grand Marnier brands as a Celebrity Ambassador.

The chocolate-heavy delights that he brings to Nuo are artsy and elegant in appearance. They include strawberry and basil chocolate cheesecake, French dark chocolate (using cacao from Vietnam), Le Carnaval (milk chocolate cake, raspberry confit), Choux Laurent, and more. His Le Bounty was very impressive, thanks to its glossy ganache glaze, topped with a chocolate sheet and tart passion-fruit flavored cream, and a generous spoon of caviar with savory and umami flavors to balance the rich sweetness of the dark chocolate. The touch of a tiny gold leaf foil made it more like a work of art than a mere dessert. The Sesame Blanc, green tea, vanilla chocolate Ivoire was also impressive, which involved Moreno creating the perfect ratio between Chinese tea and chocolate. Its white chocolate was not overly sweet, with a hint of tea flavor.

You could also pair the sweets with their creative iced coffee – they freeze the coffee into cubes, put them in a nice glass, then you could just pour milk and syrup on those cubes to make your perfectly chilled cup of joe. The chocolate afternoon tea will be available from Apr 2 at Lobby Lounge, Nuo Hotel. Call 5926 8888 for reservations.

Rosewood Beijing
After collaborating with China’s notable Bao Bao Wan Fine Jewelry, Rosewood Beijing joins Delvaux, one of the world’s most famous luxury brands to present an exquisite afternoon tea at Bistrot B Lounge and Bar until Apr 30.

Founded in Belgium in 1829, Delvaux filed its first patents for handbags in 1908. Their bags are works of art with dynamic and incandescent colors, such as chili orange, turquoise, flamingo pink, saffron red, and ebony, inspired by Ethiopia. Executive pastry chef Florian Couteau and his team create a number of savory and sweet delights to echo Delvaux’s latest collection, such as orange and roasted pine nut marmalade with Madagascar whipped vanilla ganache, which came in a beautiful ball-shape with shiny orange glaze that was not overly sweet; Caribbean chocolate crèmeux with Himalayan salt sable, which mirrors the season’s Ethiopia silk twill; and rye bread with ricotta and asparagus. This afternoon tea costs RMB 388 and is available between 2.30-5.30pm at Bistrot B Lounge and Bar, and includes an exclusive gift prepared by Delvaux. Along with the afternoon tea, there will be a pop-up store in the Lobby Shop with the maison’s latest Spring/Summer 2018 collection. Call 6536 0066 for reservation.

More stories by this author here.

Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure

Photos courtesy of venues, Tracy Wang

As another winter beckons, NUO has a feast of activities and culinary surprises to keep you warm and festive. Join them to welcome in 2018 with fun, food, and decadent drinks.

Wave goodbye to 2017 with a sumptuous Seafood Mania lunch buffet at N’Joy (RMB 358 per person, option to add free-flow Deutz Champagne for RMB 288 per person) or a celebratory dinner buffet (RMB 698 per person, including free-flow fresh juice, soft drinks, beer, and house wine, option to add free-flow Deutz Champagne for RMB 288 per person).

On New Year’s Day, great the coming year with a smile while enjoying a full brunch buffet (RMB 498 per person, including free-flow fresh juice, soft drinks, beer, and house wine, option to add free-flow Deutz Champagne for RMB 288 per person).

If you prefer to celebrate the local way, JIA Restaurant is offering Chinese-inspired New Year’s set lunch and dinner menus, starting from RMB 4,880 per table of six to eight people.

Finally, if you want to see out the last hours of 2017 with a drink in hand surrounded by fellow classy party animals, then head to O’Bar’s countdown party (entry RMB 150, 8pm-late).

View a full list of all the wonderful New Year’s events on offer below:

All prices are subject to service charge and tax. Please note, tickets for brunch/dinner at N’Joy must be pre-booked. For more information or to make a reservation, please follow NUO’s official WeChat account (nuohotelbeijing) or call 5926 8281

This post is provided by NUO Hotel Beijing
Photos courtesy of NUO Hotel Beijing

Last year before the nights got too cool, my husband, Bobby, planned a surprise staycation for me. I was only expecting a date night: he started the date with really sweet letters and then took me to a tourist spot for dinner since tourists on a travel site said, “If you haven’t gone there, you haven’t visited Beijing.” After dinner, we hopped in a taxi to head to a mystery location. As we pulled up, I saw that it was Nuo Hotel. I was already familiar with the hotel as a brand and as a favorite of friends in the Lido area, but hadn’t gotten to actually have lunch or dinner at one of their restaurants.

The beautiful restaurant where we ate

When I stepped into the lobby I was impressed. The artwork inside is beautiful and the smell of their signature pu’er soaps and shampoo waft all around you. As I approached the concierge, I was still thinking Bobby was taking me to the O’Bar lounge for an after dinner drink. The O’Bar has a DJ every night, and hosts a variety of events. On clear nights, the location is nice because it’s open air on a terrace. I’m a fan of terraces.

But when the concierge asked for our reservation number, and Bobby responded not with, “Oh we’re looking for the O’Bar,” but instead pulling out the printed reservation, my jaw dropped. My husband is famous for what we call his “Bobby surprises.”

They’re grand surprises that started with our engagement, when he set up a picnic on an island and needed to come pick me up by rowboat with his shirt off. After that, and before our wedding day, he wrote a sidewalk chalk letter from my campus door all the way to his. He worked on it the whole night one night and finished it just an hour before I woke up and walked the letter trail. Another time he orchestrated a huge scavenger hunt across a city, involving three other couples coordinating it.

One time he told me he had a surprise for me and when he arrived it turned out to be a chocolate milkshake from Chic-fil-a. We agreed from that day on he was not allowed to say surprises unless it’s a “Bobby surprise.”

But Nuo Hotel staycation was a “Bobby surprise” for me. He had gotten all of my toiletries and clothes ready and hidden in his bookbag, which he takes to places often anyway, so I never suspected anything. He had arranged for a trusted friend to watch our children that night, (when we arrived the next day my daughter asked us to go on a date again so they could spend more time with this friend).

Cuddled up at the O’Bar

I swooned all over for him. We did indeed go down to the O’Bar to enjoy the rest of the evening. In the morning I slept in, enjoying the luxury of the room without children around, but it accidentally caused us to miss breakfast. When we arrived at the Western bar for the last moments of breakfast, conference guests were spilling in and we knew we wouldn’t have a table. The concierge was gracious and let us go to the VIP lounge for a light breakfast with the snacks provided there.

After we spent time together, we decided to eat lunch at their traditional Chinese cuisine restaurant, Jia. I enjoyed a light soup lunch and found the prices quite reasonable.

Then, he treated me to a couples massage. We picked the aromatherapy massage and headed to the ginormous private spa room with a nice long-cushion couch. If you’re wondering, we thoroughly enjoyed every relaxing moment, and his masseur was careful not to apply pressure to his knee where he had surgery.

I wanted to stay another night of course, but reality required us to start back home.

I’ll admit I’m totally spoiled now and ruined for hotels. We spent around RMB 5,000 for the whole of the staycation, from the first taxi ride to the taxi ride home. Every jiao was worth it since we needed to focus on our marriage and this Bobby surprise was totally unexpected.

Nuo Hotel has quite a few deals right now, which I would encourage you to check out.

Pictures: Nuo Hotel, Vanessa Jencks

The latest addition to the artsy Lido area is Nuo Hotel. Every Saturday, the hotel converts its courtyard into an outdoor bazaar. The Nuo Market will feature products such as an Italian cold-cuts stall filled with fresh cheese and MIELE-branded products – olive oil, dry pasta, canned tomatoes, and more. Prepare for an at home or at hotel spa with skincare products, spa aroma candles, wooden jewelery boxes, ceramic aroma burners, cream-colored customized bathrobes and organic Pu-er tea infused bath accessories. Lavish your taste buds with Shangrila Farms honey in all flavors, aromatic dark-roasted coffee beans, freshly brewed wine, and beer.

If hunger sets in after the market, enjoy the N’Joy’s All You Can Eat Lobster deal that’s on for lunch or dinner on Saturdays (this deal is also available for dinner on Thursday and Friday until July 15).

For Sunday Brunch, head over to N’Joy to enjoy over 450 gourmet dishes from 10 different countries prepared by the hotel’s team of chefs at different stations. What is on offer? Scampi from Iceland and live-cooked mussels en cocotte, Fine de Claire No. 4 oysters shucked in the moment and a whole tuna disassembling ceremony performed. You’ve been served. Call 5926 8281/8282 or email fbreservations.beijing@nuohotel.com to book a reservation.

You can head over to the Si’de Park to take a stroll and play with the kids before heading home. Si’de Park has a tennis court, very neat playgrounds where the whole family can relax and have fun. You are bound to run into an old man flying a kite.

Photo: Courtesy of Nuo Hotel