Lost Heaven is one of Beijing’s most talked about restaurants with an eclectic menu to match the stylish design.
Opened in May last year, Lost Heaven occupies a prestgious location in Ch’ien Men 23, a refined lifestyle complex housing high end stores such as Patek Philippe and Johnnie Walker House, the renowned Maison Boulud, an art gallery and theatre.
The quadrangle of neo-classical buildings was home to the US embassy in the Qing dynasty (between 1903 and 1949) and is close to the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. By contrast, Lost Heaven is in a slick, contemporary building with an expansive dining room, bar and second floor outdoor terrace.
Lost Heaven is inspired by James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon and there are already two outlets in Shanghai. The Beijing restaurant’s stunning design features hand-carved wooden chairs with jewel tone cushions, decorative orange lanterns, embroidered bar seats, colourful tiles and photographs of Yunnan Province. The surroundings are so striking that Lost Heaven won Best Interior Design 2013 in Time Out Beijing Food & Drink Awards.
Chef Li Zhire’s menu references the ethnic cultures along the Ancient Tea Horse Trail through Yunnan, Burma and Tibet. Some of the tribal-style dishes from Yunnan Province are folk classics, while others are innovative interpretations exclusive to Lost Heaven.
We visited for a late lunch and enjoyed the chef’s selection of signature dishes and chilled glasses of lemongrass lemonade.
We started with a delicious string beans salad with a peanut, dried shrimp and red chilli topping. This was swiftly followed by Ji-zong mushrooms, stir-fried kale, stir-fried broccoli with garlic and some tasty vegetable spring rolls. All of the dishes were beautifully presented in terracotta or hand-painted dishes and were decorated with pretty purple and white flowers atop a bed of fresh kale.
For the meat dishes, we tried braised bamboo shoots with chicken, Da Li-style stir-fried chicken with Jiao Tou and Huayao Dai-style sauteed beef tenderloin. The chicken and beef were both served in long minced strands and had a springy, light texture.
Other delicious dishes that we tried included Yunnan scrambled eggs with white mushrooms, spicy cod steamed in banana leaves, Yunnan-style hot and spicy tofu, and fried rice with vegetables. My favourite dish was the Miao Tribe hot and sour prawns in a rich, spicy tomato and chilli sauce.
Most of the dishes we tried were very spicy and hot, with a delicately fragrant taste. If you prefer milder tastes, ask the attentive staff to make some menu recommendations.
We finished with a luscious fresh fruit platter of watermelon, strawberry, orange, apple and dragon fruit.
Lost Heaven is perfect for a delicious lunch after sightseeing in Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, or for an elegant evening meal in grand surroundings. Sampling authentic dishes from Yunnan Province is a rare opportunity that is not to be missed when visiting Beijing.
For more Beijing travel ideas, read my reviews of
- A Luxury Stay at China World Summit Wing Beijing, A Shangri-La Hotel
- Dining at China World Summit Wing Beijing
- A Stylish Stay at Kerry Hotel Beijing by Shangri-La Hotels
- An Indulgent Brunch at Temple Beijing
- A Tour of the 798 Art District Beijing
Chérie City was a guest of Shangri-La Hotels
All photos by Chérie City
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