Waldorf Astoria’s Culinary Innovation and Excellence Celebrated by Michelin Guide

BEIJING, China - Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, part of Hilton’s (NYSE: HLT) Luxury Group, has received top recognition by the world-renowned Michelin Guide for its culinary innovation and excellence in China. In an awards ceremony that took place on Nov. 16, 2020, Waldorf Astoria Beijing’s Cantonese restaurant Zijin Mansion was presented with one Michelin star, adding to the accolades that the hotel picked up this year, which includes the top spot in the “Condé Nast Traveler’s” Reader’s Choice 2020 list in China, as well as the 17^th Best Hotel in the World and No. 1 as China’s Leading Hotel 2020 in the World Travel Awards.

Nils-Arne Schroeder, Vice President, Luxury & Lifestyle, Asia Pacific, Hilton, said, "Waldorf Astoria hotels around the world feature inspirational environments that offer timeless luxury combined with signature True Waldorf Service. Since the opening of the first Waldorf Astoria in New York in 1893, Waldorf Astoria's footprint has been expanding in iconic landmark locations around the world, from London and Beijing to Bangkok and the Maldives, with each and every hotel committed to providing unforgettable experiences for discerning travelers around the world.” 

Adding to the brand’s accolades in China, the contemporary French restaurant Brasserie 1893 in Waldorf Astoria Beijing obtained the Michelin Plate Award for 2021. Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund’s Wei Jing Ge and Pelham’s were also recognized with the Shanghai Michelin Plate Award again, whilst the Limited Edition - Grill at Waldorf Astoria Chengdu recently won the "2020 Golden Indus Sichuan - Chongqing Region Restaurant Guide - Annual Restaurant of the Year"  award from "IFENG.COM- Food Festival". 

“Our three Waldorf Astoria hotels in China are exemplary of what true Waldorf Astoria hotels are and more. This year we have witnessed how the teams adapted to the evolving climate with an unyielding spirit of innovation and it gives me great pleasure to celebrate the award of one Michelin star to Zijin Mansion and the range of accolades picked up by its sister restaurants in the hotel and across the brand in the country. It is truly testament to the passion and dedication of the culinary teams to constantly invigorate the culinary journey for all our guests to ensure they have unforgettable experiences at their restaurants,” Schroeder added. 

The team at Zijin Mansion is led by Chinese Executive Chef James Wang. With 18 years of experience in fine dining restaurants, Wang has worked with a number of prestigious Cantonese restaurants in Seoul, Bejing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. He was also part of the opening team of two luxury hotels. Since joining Waldorf Astoria Beijing, Wang and his team have merged traditional Cantonese cooking with ingenuity in creating new menus and dishes.

Inspired by Zijin Mansion’s four seasons, Wang and his team combine mindfully selected ingredients with the local food culture to develop a specially curated menu which includes Zijin Metropolitan: a signature dish of the restaurant’s comprising South African dried abalone, fish maw, Liaoshen from Guandong, selected fish lips, scallop and other fine ingredients – all cooked with a thick soup and simmered over slow fire. The result is a hearty sense of satisfaction for diners. Another signature dish is roasted pigeon with crispy skin. After the meat is seasoned, the pigeon is boiled, air dried and hung roasted in a special oven before a quick fry until golden brown. The glossy exterior, which belies the crispy skin and tender meat, has won the hearts of many diners.

Hilton’s iconic luxury hotel brand, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, has an esteemed history of delivering unparalleled and unforgettable experiences across its hotels. Each Waldorf Astoria hotel creates a unique sense of place with a relentless commitment to personal service and culinary excellence in landmark locations around the world. 

Brasserie 1893, Waldorf Astoria Beijing’s top choice for relaxed, contemporary luxury French dining, which features innovative and trendy French cuisine, is renowned for its candid chef-and-guest interactions to create an unforgettable gastronomical indulgence for guests.

Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund’s Wei Jing Ge is a modern Chinese restaurant widely praised for providing guests with a variety of classic Cantonese and modern dishes, while the prestigious modern Western restaurant Pelham‘s will reopen next year with new concepts to diners with its luxurious and elegant gourmet feasts.

Limited Edition - Grill in Waldorf Astoria Chengdu, is an authentic American steak house designed by the famous New York master Jeffrey Beers, inspired by the American industrial style in the 1920s and 1930s. The open kitchen allows guests to admire the high-altitude scenery in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 51st floor while watching the chef's creative concoction of delicious dishes.

Since its inception, Waldorf Astoria has a long and storied history in the culinary world developing innovative dishes like red velvet cake, eggs Benedict and the Waldorf Salad. Today, these delicacies still bring pleasure to the taste buds of diners. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts have repeatedly received professional recognition for its restaurants from Michelin all over the world: Gordon Ramsay au Trianon at the Waldorf Astoria Trianon in Versailles was awarded one Michelin Star; the Spectrum restaurant of the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam received two Michelin stars; and La Pergola of the Cavalli Waldorf Astoria Rome was awarded three Michelin stars. 

Before the close of 2020, Waldorf Astoria will usher in another development milestone in China with the launch of Waldorf Astoria hotel in Xiamen, one of China’s most livable cities. The hotel evokes a romantic and elegant garden mansion set in the backdrop of Xiamen’s rich seaside traditions and unique cultural history. When it opens, it will feature exquisite culinary offerings complemented by True Waldorf Service, raising the bar of fine dining in the city.

About Zijin Mansion, Waldorf Astoria Beijing

Zijin Mansion is the perfect occasion to blend exquisite traditional Cantonese cuisine with western wines. A living testimony to poetic luxury, guests walks out of the elevator on the 3rd floor and view our impressive wine cellar. About 400 different wines from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Napa Valley, Italy, and France are on offer. Our legendary, rare and classic wine collection includes not only first-growth Bordeaux like Grand Cru or Premier Cru but also many undiscovered labels we would like our guests to try with the local food. 

Zijin Mansion is a visual feast. Walk deeper into the restaurant and find luxurious decorations with a traditional Chinese pattern and a persimmon color scheme. The famous canary paintings on the walls bring in the natural beauty of spring blossoms, summer shades, autumn leaves and winter snows. To align with the paintings, 'Legle' design plates and red sandalwood chopsticks are custom-made for diners. The renowned French-designed porcelain used for this exclusive Chinese dining venue represents the integration of Western and Eastern cultures. 

Zijin Mansion provides an exceptional dining experience with five private dining rooms, the largest seats 24 guests. The hotel's main dining room seats 40 guests. The restaurant specializes in authentic Cantonese cuisine and some of Beijing's favorite delicacies.