Capital M Closing, Serves Last Brunch Sep 17

Capital M, one of Beijing's most highly regarded high-end restaurants, has announced that it will close on September 17.

The official WeChat account for the Qianmen restaurant – which opened eight years ago as the Beijing incarnation of Melbourne-born restaurateur Michelle Garnaut's M restaurants, which also include M on the Fringe in Hong Kong and Shanghai’s M on the Bund – announced the closure "with great sadness" earlier this evening (Sep 14).

No reason was given for the sudden shuttering of the Beijing restaurant, though the WeChat message assures fans that the Shanghai M will stay open. Upon its opening, the Beijinger's then food writer praised Capital M's ambiance, describing a "terrace [that] affords one of the most impressive views in the city," going on to say that "the ornate dining room, with its signature parquet flooring and elegant lighting, is a suitably opulent setting for European culinary indulgence."

Its menu of course didn't disappoint either, from the Danish open-faced sandwiches for lunch, to the hors d'oeuvres and wine list, not to mention the afternoon tea, for which it was named best at the Beijinger 2011 Reader Restaurant Awards. At that ceremony, it was also given plaques for "Best High-End Brunch," "Outstanding Decor," "Outstanding for a Romantic Meal," "Outstanding for Impressing Visitors," and "Outstanding Restaurant of the Year (non-Chinese)."

Aside from winning over the Beijinger and much of its readership, Capital M also received glowing reviews from CNN Traveler, The Financial Times, and numerous other publications.

In its farewell WeChat message, the restaurant's staff said, "We are very proud of what we have achieved together as a team at Capital M, and feel very privileged to have created fond memories and shared many remarkable occasions and special events with our guests over the past eight years." From there, the message announces the restaurant's final brunch on September 17, before adding that reservations between now and the closure can be made via email at reservations@capital-m-beijing.com.

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Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle 

Photo: destinasian.com