With gorgeous slate brick walls, antique furniture, koi ponds and high skylight-ceilings, Tiandi Yijia stuns both the eyes and the palate. It’s no wonder this is a top destination for government officials and Chinese celebrities—every table and dish is a work of art. The braised spare ribs in soy sauce (¥78) melt in the mouth. Served in a crisp, paper-thin batter, the stir-fried prawns (¥138) are sweet and succulent. The sliced goose liver (¥78) is a soft, non-oily paté, one of master chef Zhang Shaogang’s twists on French cuisine. End the meal with Tiandi Yijia’s refreshing house-made “imperial yogurt” (¥28).

Blake Stone-Banks

Find it: 140 Nan Chi Zi Street, 南池子大街140 号, Tel: 8511-5556