Dining Dining Out
Head in the T Clouds Nuage offers spectacular views in a dreamy ambiance
he area around Houhai forms a bustling tableau during the summer. Rickshaw drivers beckon loudly to tourists, young couples amble along the banks of the lake, and flocks of amateur photographers set up on Yinding Bridge. Right around the corner is Nuage, one of Beijing’s most underrated spots for rooftop dining. Although Nuage isn’t new to the dining scene, this Vietnamese restaurant is worth revisiting for its French colonial atmosphere (complete with rickshaw-inspired tables and waitresses dressed in aodai) and stellar view of Houhai. There are plenty of kid-friendly dishes on the menu, including the ever-popular Classic Vietnamese Spring Rolls (RMB 42 for six), Coconut Onion Beef (RMB 78) – served in an actual coconut – and Sweet Sugarcane Prawn (RMB 88 for three), easy-to-grasp shrimp drumsticks wrapped around sugarcane stalks. The menu also includes soups, salads, vegetables, seafood and meat dishes, Vietnamese standards like pho, and a small selection of desserts. However, Nuage isn’t cheap; a meal for a family of three will cost at least RMB 300. In addition, there’s a 15 percent surcharge for patio eating and drinking. That being said, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more romantic spot to watch the sunset. Sijia Chen
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10.30pm. Nuage, 22 Qianhai Dongyan, Xicheng District (6401 9581) www.nuage.com.cn 庆云楼，西城区前海东沿22号
photo: mitchell pe masilun
Aldo Pires (age 3, attends the Western Academy of Beijing) tucks into Sweet Sugarcane beijingkids 2013 August Prawn, Classic Vietnamese Spring Rolls, and fresh-squeezed strawberry juice
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