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A western restaurant in Beijing owned by an Aussie from Melbourne
Capital M Restaurant in Beijing is owned by Michelle Garnaut an Australian from Melbourne – it’s one place I used to take all my visitors so I think I have been there about twenty times. It has a sister restaurant in Shanghai called ‘M on the Bund’ again using the initial of the owner Michelle in its name. I have been to the Shanghai restaurant but my preference is definitely Capital M in Beijing!
The Beijing restaurant is located on Qianmen (front gate) Street which is a famous pedestrian street that runs from the Archery Tower in the north (which can be seen from the restaurant’s terrace) and Tiantan Park in the south.
Qianmen is a lovely street to walk along prior to dining at Capital M as it has beautiful buildings/tea houses/shops and cafes on either side and the majority have been refurbished to resemble the style of the late Qing Dynasty. The gate is situated to the south of Tian’anmen Square and once guarded the southern entry into the inner city.
If you are dining at Capital M, it’s a good idea to get dropped off a little earlier at the southern end of Qianmen to enjoy a leisurely stroll or you can take the little tram from one end to the other. There is also a little street that runs parallel to Qianmen and this one is ‘typical old Chinese’ in that it’s rather dirty and smelly and I just love it.
The buildings are not refurbished like Qianmen Street which I think is wonderful, and there are old Chinese men and women selling their wares sitting on dirty old plastic stools. You can also pop into a typical old style restaurant or buy some of that awful smelling ‘stinky tofu’…but once you get past that smell, you can carry on shopping buying a huge range of incredibly cheap gifts and clothes.
After a walk, it’s always time for a cocktail before a delicious dinner, so onto Capital M. If the weather is nice then it’s preferable to sit out on the terrace while taking in views of Tian’anmen Square and Mao’s mausoleum or just have a drink on the terrace and enjoy dinner inside. Day time the views are great (without smog of course) and at dusk it’s spectacular.
Dining inside is a very special experience with the signature parquet flooring and beautiful lighting. And the paintings on the walls are something you just have to see – it’s truly a gorgeous restaurant.
It’s not just the ambience of this restaurant, the meals are pretty special too. It’s well known for its crispy suckling pig which of course I would never eat but the Middle Eastern inspired vegetarian platters are great. The menu changes pretty regularly but what doesn’t change is the famous Capital M pavolva or the equally delicious mille feuille. Both are truly delicious but in my opinion the pavolva is the winner for sure! It’s important to keep a small space to enjoy the dessert along with the complimentary sweets – chocolates/turkish delight and other treasures…yum!!
A definite place to visit whilst in Beijing!
Sophie said:
All of you night pictures look fa-bu-lous !! This was definitely one of my favorites areas in Beijing. Pity that I did not know Capital M at that time though. I’m sure your guests all had an amzing time when you took them around in this district as well as in the restaurant.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi S. Yes it was a great place to take friends. Everyone if them loved it. You are right the area is fabulous. A touch expensive was the restaurant but worth it definitely. Hope you and Jerome will have a lovely weekend. My brother and nephew are coming to visit which will be great. X
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vinneve said:
Looking at the photos it reminds me about Taiwan as they have similar looking streets etc. Would you like to go back again there for work?
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Amy said:
Lovely, pleasant outdoor and indoor setting! Dessert to die for, beautiful photos. 🙂
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Little Miss Traveller said:
I adore pavlova and that one looks delicious!
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Joyce Belfort said:
I agree, the BJ branch is better than than SHA one. Beautiful photos 😍😍
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi Vinneve. Yes I certainly would go back but what I would like to do is live there and study Mandarin full time. I have done that once before and it increased my skills two fold. So that’s my ultimate goal I think.
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carentaylor said:
Capital M Looks to be an amazing restaurant, beautiful decor and fab food too! Your night time photos give off a fantastic atmosphere with everything lit up! I bet your guests, one and all, were thrilled with your choice of venue 😉
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Lignum Draco said:
It sounds like a very eclectic menu, which is the aussie style, I suppose. It looks like a spectacular location.
I’d like to wander those “old streets”. It’s what I want to see when travelling.
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vinneve said:
Good on U 🙂
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Mabel Kwong said:
Capital M sounds like such a treat with such a diverse menu but more importantly, that view of the significant places in history. Very fine, and sounds like it showcases both the best of Australian and Chinese cuisine.
“there are old Chinese men and women selling their wares sitting on dirty old plastic stools” Interesting to hear. It is in these kinds of stores that are stocked to the brim, very packed, but usually you can get something you are looking for, or something that will come in very handy 🙂
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vivalaViv said:
What a lovely post! I have been to Beijing once, in 2009 and I loved it! So much to see and so much history!! Your post has taken me back there Sue. Thank you!
Viv X
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Dear Viv. So glad you had some nice memories. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thanks Amy. Yep those desserts are so delicious.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Marion take it from me please. It was!!!!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi Joyce. Thank you.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
You are right Caren every single one of my visitors loved it. I even took my dear language teacher there to say goodby after my three years. She loved it as it’s but somewhere she could ever afford to go. I loved seeing her eating the pavlova. She loved that too.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Exactly like me. I prefer the old to the new.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Definitely. Abs the wares are so much cheaper than out along somewhere like Nanluoguxiang which is the. Wet commercialised old street in Beijing.
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carentaylor said:
You certainly know some very impressive places on your quest to find fine eateries for friends and families to enjoy too. What a wonderful treat for your language teacher, I’m sure she appreciated your generosity and gratitude for all her help, as you of her too 🙂
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sidran said:
I can sense your special liking for this place.Food looks fab too .Are you fond of chinese movies?
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Yes I do like Chinese movies very much. I bought lots of DVD’s whilst in China.
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Edward Tan said:
Have you ever tried M on the Bund in Shanghai? I think is owned by the same person.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Hi Edward. Yes I am lucky enough to have been there twice. Great views. Yes you are right it’s owned by same lady.
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