Exploring total luxury

Finally I visited SKP the Beijing super mall, on 9 January 2021.
You could call it the temple of capitalism, luxury shopping, extravagant consumerism.
It houses about any famous international brand, clothing, shoes, kitchen ware, watches, jewelry, anything. Bring your credit card…

We had dinner in the Macau Taste restaurant, in the connected China Central Mall, through underground level 1. Nice food!
You also find around there an Apple store and many banks.
We did not visit SKP-S.

I also had the experience to buy a small kitchen knife. Indeed normally NO ANY SHOP sells knives. If you need knives for your kitchen in Beijing, good luck. Hey, it is a weapon!
I did find exactly what I wanted, though super expensive. I succeeded to buy it after filling out forms, contact data and copy of my Green Card. Tip from the shop: do not take the subway with it… We went by Didi…

About SKP and the new SKP-S (Select)

One of the most upscale malls in Beijing, SKP is filled with shops selling pricey designer goods. Shop in comfort then have lunch at one of the many restaurants, many in China Central Mall connected to SKP.
Located on Jianguo Road, West Dawang Road and near Dawang Bridge. See the maps.
See this website with many great pictures: https://superfuture.com/2020/01/new-shops/beijing-skp-s-mall-opening/

Says the website:
As the planet’s biggest luxury market, you’d say China is the holy grail for any self-discerning brand operating in fashion’s upper echelon. The SKP mall in Beijing has long been the home of glittering trophies from the realm of fashion and lifestyle, featuring a myriad of flagship stores of relevant brands from across the planet. Interestingly, SKP is state-owned, and it looks like the venture’s raison d’être is aligned with the harsh government crackdown on illegally imported luxury goods in recent years. As a consequence of local market conditions, SKP mall in Beijing is slowly transforming into a department store, aiming to offer a more cohesive shopping experience to the Chinese capital’s most discerning shoppers, and which is able to rival some of planet’s most prestigious shopping grounds along the way.

The opening of SKP-S (SKP Select), a distinctly design-led south wing is part of this newly adopted strategy. In a bold move, the company has teamed up with Gentle Monster, the Seoul-based eyewear brand known for its bold and highly evocative retail design, to create premises fit for today’s generation of digital-savvy shoppers.

Cocottine by Flo

Some of my experience in exploring food in Beijing. Sadly many restaurants disappear after some time as dispute about rent and other are a market killer. That was also the case with Flo in Taikoo Li… Gone…
This Flo outlet is in Parkview Green, the impressive glass building in Dongdaqiao Lu.
Date of visit: 18 December 2020.
Nice surrounding, good service. Cost for the Osso Bucco and Risotto Seafood Chicken was RMB 416, not cheap but still reasonable, it was too much for two persons. Yeah, doggy bag.

The architecture of Parkview Green is unique and the shopping center has a bit of everything. Mandatory shopping with my guide Sophie who works there and finally convinced me to explore the building.

HULU TRB

On Saturday 14 September 2019 another visit to HULU in Taikoo Li, I am never disappointed by the dishes and service. Good management by Ignace.

During September 13 – 18: a special week “Best of Brussels & Guest Chef Maxime Maziers”.
In celebration of 25th friendly city anniversary of Beijing and Brussels, the Belgian culinary luminary, Maxime Maziers, has embarked on an extraordinary dining journey in Beijing, to uncover the Best of Brussels for the gastronomic aficionados from the Far East at Hulu by TRB.
Prior to taking over the previous three Michelin starred Restaurant Bruneau, where Chef Maxime Maziers worked closely with the founder of Restaurant Bruneau, Jean-Pierre Bruneau for 5 years, the young talented Maxime humbly decided to delve into his later incomparably audacious cooking identity from numerous highly regarded establishments. Now he returns back to his root, being elected as “Young Chef of the Year 2019” by Gault & Millau, Chef Maxime Maziers is ready to sprinkle his gastronomic wisdom into a series of meticulously cultivated dishes in combination with the iconic Lindeman Beer that best capture the Best of Brussels.

See some of the special dishes!

O’Steak, French Bistro

The restaurant is well know, as it name says, for its steaks. Location is in front of April Gourmet near Chunxiu Lu. Overall tasty, nice presentation. Simple but cozy environment; rather small in size.
I still prefer Morel’s for steak as I am suspicious about those steaks in other restaurants that are a bit too tender … because of tenderizer and other stuff.

I chose the mushroom risotto and duck leg. Both very tasty. Date: 9 November 2020.