Festive fare at the Peninsula. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Beijing

The Peninsula Beijing

At perhaps the capital's most-talked-about hotel opening of the year, the Peninsula offers some appealing menus for the holidays at the Jing, The Lobby and Huang Ting restaurants. Our choice: the Krug brunch. Jing, the only official Krug ambassador in China, will be pouring that chic bubbly on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, while live cooking stations serve market-fresh delicacies such as homemade pate, duck foie gras terrine, French oysters, Brittany blue lobster and seafood. Diners can also choose from Jing's signature rice dishes and festive main courses. A jazz trio serenades diners at this distinctive gourmet event. 1,980 yuan ($287) per person, including unlimited Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne, wine, beer and soft drinks. Or 980 yuan per person, including unlimited Peninsula Champagne by Deutz, wine, beer and soft drinks.

Dec 25 and Jan 1; 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing area, Dongcheng district. 010-8516-2888.

N'Joy at Nuo

Beijing's grand dame of brunches features more than 10 buffet stations helmed by chefs from different countries－and lobster and champagne offerings unmatched elsewhere. For Christmas Day, expect everything from hearty traditional mains to festive desserts, plus free-flow juice, beer and house wine.

Dec 25; 588 yuan, add 268 yuan for free-flow Champagne. 1/F, Nuo Hotel Beijing, No 2A, Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang district. 010-5926-8888 Ext 8238.