On Beijing’s oldest downtown street inQianmen, the entertainment centre of Old Peking, Capital M presides over one the most picturesque restaurant locations in the city located at the Zhengyang Gate on the south end of Tiananmen Square.

The grand entrance is all about new Beijing design from the gold foil-colored walls ignited by modernist red starburst light fixtures to the geometric marble floors and walls of glass that face a magnificent terrace overlooking the Forbidden City. The main dining room drops the jaw with floating sofas that replace the usual banquette clad in red leather near columns illuminated by a flaming gas fireplace. A stylish bar includes a small cocktail lounge with additional fireplace and terrace for gorging on the truly incredible views of suited-up professionals singles and sexy dealmakers with a Forbidden City backdrop.

Capital M offers diners an unforgettable combination of delicious, simply good food that is a collection of classics and nostalgic favorites; an iconic view of Beijing; a stunning ambience and warm service.

Greek specialties such as the spanikopita (spinach pie), lamb skewers and tender grilled octopus, among others, appear in a giant starter platter for dinner (128 RMB). The tempting main of citrusy Moroccan chicken tagine (218 RMB) is also worth a look. Lunchtime offers a fantastic beetroot soup (68 RMB) lightly daubed with tarragon cream, with just a slight hint of herbal caraway. Greece is also found in the fresh-prawn saganaki (68 RMB), a sautéed shrimp mix with plenty of tomatoes, garlic and creamy feta cheese.

Open: 11.30 am – 10:30 pm daily.

Add: 3/F, 2 Qianmen Buxingjie, Dongcheng District, Beijing