There are numerous reasons why Temple Restaurant Beijing deserves to have a great fuss made about it – but for the sake of brevity we’ll try to keep it to one. Put simply, no other restaurant in Beijing occupies such a spectacular and inspiring space.
Housed in a 600-year old Temple complex, Temple Restaurant Beijing (TRB for short) is actually just one part of the whole, with several event spaces; an as-yet-unfinished boutique hotel and even a carpet museum all contained within the ancient set of buildings.
Unlike the centuries-old, wood-beamed event spaces though, TRB occupies a more recent addition to the complex – a small factory outhouse that once produced Beijing’s first television sets. Perhaps fittingly then, the restaurant has a more modern design aesthetic. Pristine white tablecloths hint at the excellent service to come, while the black titanium cutlery and fiery hued chairs add a splash of colour to the otherwise minimalist space, punctuated only by the occasional proud white orchid.
But here, the star of the show is the food, with the attentive and friendly service coming a very close second. Exquisitely presented dishes feature international ingredients and techniques, and almost every menu item will sound irresistible – unless you’re a vegetarian. Dishes such as Olive Oil Poached Black Cod, Grilled Veal Chop or Confit of Suckling Pig all put in an appearance, so there’s something delectable to suit all tastes. Portions are small but beautiful and apart from a shockingly small main-course ravioli we had on one visit, perfectly filling.
But secretly, our favourite thing about a meal at TRB is the parade of amuse bouche and petit fours, which appear on the table at various points in the meal like tiny food drops from heaven. Once set down, each offering disappears within seconds, almost as magically as they appeared.
In other words, dear readers, a meal at TRB is an entirely special experience, and one not to be missed. Our top tip? Come here for Sunday brunch after a stroll around the nearby Jingshan Park, or for a special meal after a day sightseeing at Tiananmen and the Forbidden City.
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TRB 23 Shatan Bei Jie, off Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng district, Beijing (+86 10 8400 2232)