VIBE

The CourtYard’s luxe take on East-meets-West is palpable from the first step in the door, as delicate period detailings in the elegant Qing Dynasty mansion setting are matched with airy black-on-white minimalist interiors and a contemporary art gallery. In the dining room, the international haute cuisine menu transports diners to cosmopolitan hotspots around the globe, while breathtaking panoramas of the Forbidden City connect them with the splendor of Beijing’s imperial past.

CROWD

Back in the day, when this was the only fine dining spot in town, this is where the business power set and celebs came to see and be seen. Things have calmed down as Beijing’s restaurant scene has taken off and the city’s deep-pocketed diners have dispersed, though it’s still a very well-heeled jetsetter crowd that trots in.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

It’s upscale casual at the absolute minimum–we’d pair black pants or a skirt with an ultra chic top. If you’re dining for a special occasion, take things up a notch to a little black dress.

GO HERE WITH

A date; clients or colleagues; friends; family

WHY WE LIKE IT

The setting is truly stunning–we especially dig the mix of ancient and modern, Western and Chinese. A good pick for atmospheric upscale dining.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

No longer on top of their game, the team at The CourtYard have started to slip on the details–servers need to be flagged down, seasoning on the dishes is forgettable, and even the temperature control in the main dining room is iffy, sometimes leaving guests shivering. Once a consistently flawless fine dining experience, these days The CourtYard sometimes leaves us wondering what happened.

GOOD TO KNOW

A downstairs lounge and cigar den provides a post-dinner retreat, while the top-floor private dining salon offers unparalleled views of the former imperial palaces. The CourtYard is owned by local restaurant mogul Handel Lee, who is also involved with the Ch’ienmen 23 (aka Legation Quarter) complex south of Tiananmen Square and Three on the Bund in Shanghai.

CLOSEST COMPS

Maison Boulud (Beijing); Alameda (Beijing)