New Tapas and Summer Dishes at Niajo in Nali Patio Will Bring Sunshine to Your Day

Niajo, located on the third floor of Nali Patio, has guaranteed that we won't have to weather the Beijing summer without at least some sunshine; their updated tapas menu a radiating mix of Spanish cheer and fresh flavors.

A plate of Spanish Machego cheese (RMB 98), don't mind if we do! Doused in olive oil and black pepper the cheese was soft upon arrival, only to then melt in our mouths, the nuttiness of the olive oil cleaning the palate with each bite. The grilled squid, imported directly from Spain, with aioli (RMB 98) was also a treat, and looked beautiful, highlighting that plating a presentation is also a priority at Niajo, not just the high standard of ingredients used.

Continuing the seafood theme, the smoked salmon (RMB 80), rolled around a generous dollop of sour scream, white truffle oil, and truffles, was also incredible, the truffles adding just a little earthy kick to round off the smoothness of salmon and sour cream.

Also new on the a la carte menu is the fideua de marisco (RMB 168), a short traditional pasta prepared with oodles of seafood. The pasta came laden with scallops, shrimp, king prawns, and cuttlefish, all caught fresh from the sea and sure to be a hit with those who balk that Beijing can only deliver sub-par seafood.

If you're heading in alone or as a pair at lunch time, the business lunch at RMB 78 per person may be a more affordable option. That price gets you two courses, with the option of adding a dessert or a drink for an additional RMB 20. The menu changes frequently to keep things interesting, too.

Erring on the higher end of the price scale, these tapas are worth forking out a little extra. If nothing else, the combination of seafood and fresh, local produce will help transport you to a Spanish coastal town, well away from the lingering gray.

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Photos: Margaux Schreurs