Napa Set to Close at Chaoyang Park; Will Open a Shunyi Location
The already-long list of shuttered Beijing venues just keeps growing in 2017, but this time it's happening in a surprising locale. Though Gulou and Sanlitun's streetside businesses have been the hardest hit, Chaoyang Park-adjacent brunch joint and former pizzeria Napa is sadly not immune, despite its quieter setting.
The news isn't all bad, though: Napa's owners announced via WeChat on September 7 that their last day of operation will be September 15. Their post went on to say: "The good news is we are opening a brand-new Napa full-service restaurant in Shunyi in the coming months, with all-day brunch, wood-fired pizzas, char-grilled steaks and seafood, small plates, handmade pasta, cocktails and much more. Stay tuned for more details!"
Exciting as that will be for Shunyi dwellers, anyone who calls the Chaoyang Park area home will surely miss having this quality eatery nearby, rather than having to hike to ever-saturated Sanlitun for eats of the same caliber. But while the Chaoyang Napa had recently been going strong as a hot brunch spot and healthy eats destination (their huge salads being particular winners), it had seen even better days when they were able to make their flavorful and smoky wood-fired pizzas on site (a practice that they unfortunately had to cease). Thankfully, patrons will be able to grab a slice or more of those glory days as the Chaoyang restaurant brings its delectable wood-fired pizzas back for a limited time at dinner on September 9-10.
The restaurant is bringing back their wood fired pizzas for a limited time
When asked about the change in location, chef and co-owner Colin Smith didn't give any specifics about why Chaoyang Park will no longer work, or why Shunyi is a good place to make a new home. He did, however, give one succinct reason: "Redevelopment. Simple as that. Fortunately for us, we were already running ahead of the storm."
So while this marks yet another huge shift in an already tumultuous year, any Beijing foodie will be happy to see these artisan restaurateurs make a fresh start in a more stable neighborhood, rather than being down for the count.
Here's the owners' official statement, in full:
Sadly, our Napa location near Chaoyang Park is officially closing, our last operating day is September 15, 2017.
The good news is we are opening a brand new Napa full-service restaurant in Shunyi in the coming months, with all-day brunch, wood-fired pizzas, chargrilled steaks and seafood, small plates, handmade pasta, cocktails, and much more. Stay tuned for more details!
To cheer everyone up in these uncertain times, we are bringing our wood-fired pizzas back for two days only at our Chaoyang location! Pizzas will be available during dinner service on Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10.
Come enjoy our pizzas before temperatures drop!
Photos: Margaux Schreurs, Preston
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