Sweet Treats & BBQ on the Terrace of Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing

It’s getting hot in Beijing these days if the past weekend is anything to go by, which can mean only one thing: it’s time for summer barbecues outdoors and cooling treats and drinks to keep the heat at bay.

One place worth a gander is the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, whose Summer Terrace Experience has the BBQ and cooling elements covered in spades – with some marvelous views of the surrounding area, including the Forbidden City, to boot.

Hidden in plain sight just west of Wangfujing Pedestrian Street, once you enter Mandarin Oriental you escape the hustle and bustle of that thoroughfare and enter into an immaculately designed paradise. From the lobby to the main elevator and up to the fifth floor you’ll be whisked further into this paradise, and closer to your final destination.

Walking through the hotel’s quiet and thoughtful library, you’ll catch glimpses of it through the windows: the Mandarin Oriental terrace. Then, you reach it. Over 400 sqm of outdoor space glistening in the sun, complete with ample patio chairs and couches, umbrellas, and other bells and whistles.

One of these bells and whistles, unveiled just for summer, is the Mandarin Oriental Ice Cream Trolley. The little white kiosk offers up seven different delectable flavors (RMB 48 for one scoop, RMB 68 for two, and RMB 88 for three), including two signature flavors crafted in partnership with world-class pastry chef Pierre Herme: Blueberry and Vanilla, and Double Belgian Chocolate.

We tried the latter of the duo on a recent visit to the terrace and were greatly impressed. Each bite is a ticket to rich milk chocolate, with the added surprise of crispy chocolate cookie bits nestled here and there; lending extra chocolate heft and a nice texture as well.

For something a little more decadant – and sharable, we must add – there’s Coupes Glacées (RMB 158/glass), the French version of the ice cream sundae. Mandarin Oriental offers their coupes glacées in four flavors: Berry, Chocolate, Matcha, and Tropical Fruits.

Much like a typical sundae, each comes with added elements to elevate the eating experience. These include bits of fruit, chocolate, and, in the case of the matcha coupes glacées, candied glutinous rice balls on a stick.

Let’s say you’re looking for something a little boozy, though. What’s on offer on the terrace? Lots of fine wine, plus some new signature cocktails from MO Bar, Mandarin Oriental’s award-winning cocktail bar.

First off, the wine selection has three worth mentioning. Sparkling comes in the form of a brut, the Perrier Jouët Grand Brut (RMB 198/glass), and a rosé, the Château d'Esclans Côtes de Provence Rosé “Whispering Angel” (RMB 150/glass). The former is a lively and cheerful champagne, with a mineral taste on the palate and a surprisingly silky and mature finish; while the latter is a medium-bodied rosé with notes of lemon, cantaloupe, orange peel and peaches. It’s fruity yet not over the top, crispy, creamy, and a guaranteed summer hit.

Continuing the wine selection is the Longting Vineyard “Lan” Marselan (RMB 888/bottle). This full and balanced offering with medium body, silky tannins, and balanced acidity carries aromas of blackberry jam, a faint sweetness of vanilla, and hints of roots in the soil.

The cocktail department is in the hands of the aforementioned MO Bar, renowned for its ability to create craft cocktails that blend Western and Chinese elements to great effect. Two to try are the Time Lapse (RMB 128), a drink inspired by historical restoration projects like 798 which sees Earl Gray milk-washed baijiu combined with genever, honey, and lemon; and the Old Beijing (RMB 138), which sees “hutong spice”-infused Jingye Ergoutou combined with dark rum and hawthorne-infused Cherry Heering.

Then, as the sun sets over the hotel’s terrace, that’s when the good eats come into the equation a la the Sunset Bistro at Cafe Zi terrace and the Sunset BBQ at the Mandarin Grill terrace.

The recommended dishes from both establishments? Seafood for a lighter touch to start the evening! Cafe Zi offers Marinated Giant River Prawn with Aged Yellow Wine – aka huangjiu (RMB 398); whereas Mandarin Grill has a great many treats on one platter with the Mixed Grilled Seafood Platter (RMB 888; serves two), featuring Boston lobster, jumbo prawns, and savory garlic-citrus-herb butter French oysters.

Side note on the yellow wine: Mandarin Oriental has its own special Huangjiu, made in partnership with Winter Poems, a prestigious Shaoxing huangjiu brand. Bottled in 2007, this limited edition wine can be enjoyed at all three outlets for RMB 1,388.

Of course, if you’re game for a little more turf with your surf, we’d recommend a few more Mandarin Grill options. These are the Australian Grain Fed Wagyu Beef 500 Days Filet Mignon M4-5 Skewer (RMB 588), grilled to perfection with rosemary and garlic; and the BBQ Iberico Spare Rib (RMB 388), which comes cooked in a bourbon BBQ glaze and falls right off the bone.

The Mandarin Oriental’s Terrace is the place to be this summer. In the heat of the day, you can cool off with their signature ice creams and Coupes Glacées. As the sun sets you can clink glasses of wine or a cocktail or two while taking in views of the Forbidden City, all while feasting with friends and family on grilled specialties from Cafe Zi and Mandarin Grill. Your perfect summer afternoon and evening in Beijing, sorted.

Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing
269 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
东城区王府井大街269号

Café Zi
Hours: Breakfast: 6:30-10:30am, Lunch: 11:30am-2:30pm, Afternoon Tea 3-5pm, Dinner: 5:30-10pm
Phone:  010 8509 8820

Mandarin Grill
Hours: Tue-Sun 11:30am-2pm and 6-10pm (closed on Mondays) 
Phone: 010 8509 8810

MO Bar
Hours: Sun-Tue 4pm-midnight, Wed-Sat 4pm-1am 
Phone: 010 8509 8850

mages courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing
Paid for by the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing