Capital Bites: Spanish Steps Up

Last night at the top of Nali Patio, Migas threw open its doors in the pouring rain to celebrate its opening. While the restaurant will not be open for another 10 days or so, the stylish rooftop lounge is now receiving customers, and will be serving them all manner of libations as well as tapas. The tapas dished out last night were enormous, and included a tasty selection of salmon cakes, burgers, anchovies and ham served on crostini.

The roof was empty due to the rain, but the fun egg-shaped chairs and looming cacti will provide a fun setting to enjoy a glass of wine once it clears ups. Also, once open, the restaurant will serve a larger variety of Spanish and Mediterranean dishes ... exactly what will be on the menu remains to be seen. Chef Aitor Olabegoya from Barcelona is currently training up the staff, and looks to return to Beijing in December.

Downstairs on the fourth floor, the much-praised Agua will reopen it's doors in late October according to their PR. Agua was formerly located in the Legation Quarter, and fans have been eagerly awaiting it's return to the Beijing dining scene. Chef Jordi Valles, also from Barcelona, and his team will once again be cooking up contemporary Spanish cuisine, and in the meantime Agua fans can receive information and an invitation to Chef Jordi’s Private Kitchen by calling 6559 6266.

Moving east on the Continent to the Italian front, the new restaurant River Club has soft opened and is dishing up high-end Italian fare on Maizidian. Opened by the Sacco family, whom also operate a two-Michelin star restaurant Piccolo Lago in Italy, River Club's menu is currently in the hands of Chef Andrea Tranchero, previously of Armani Tokyo and Sadler Tokyo.

Budapest Hungarian, the only Hungarian joint in town, has shut temporarily to revamp their menu and positioning. Stay posted for more news.