Bavarian escape in Beijing

One does not have to travel a long way to get a sense of being away from Beijing. Newly opened club and restaurant Villa Castanea, built in the style of a European garden, serves that purpose well.

Villa Castanea is located next to the Summer Palace, between Yuquan Mountain, and the Fragrant Hill. Designed by German Jens Weber, the establishment takes up 16,000 square meters, in between woods and fruit trees.

The main dining area offers German and European foods, as well as a whole set of imported equipment to brew fresh homemade German draft beer. A German beer master will brew authentic lager, black rye and wheat beer according to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, which stipulates that beer made in Bavarian may contain only malt, water, hops and yeast.

The spacious main dining hall is flanked by six private VIP rooms, which are named after places in Germany. The private rooms are decorated in European style, with chandeliers, and pleasantly upscale furniture. Each of the private rooms has a nice outdoor space with a good view of the beautifully forested neighborhood.

Castanea Cafe is an outdoor space under the shade of Castanea trees, where people can gather together for a BBQ. It is designed to organize large-scale outdoor events, such as evening shows, auctions or parties.

The club has a garden view hut that can seat 24 people, which is located at a high vantage point with views of the nearby mountains. The Perfume Garden can host a wedding ceremony for as many as 400 guests. The place is big enough for a bonfire party, and a huge display of fireworks.

(China Daily 10/16/2010 page12)