Tea And Tapas

A new cafe in Beijing's Houhai offers diners a chance to experience what happens when foods with different textures and flavors come together. Xing Yi reports.

Beijing's Houhai area is always crowded with tourists, but the new luxury hotel VUE offers sophisticated diners a place away from the hustle and bustle to sip afternoon tea and savor Spanish tapas.

The noise of the crowds and honking horns fade away as I stroll down the hutong (alleyway) in front of the Prince Gong's Mansion.