Tucked away in the prestigious Luo Hong Photography Art Museum in Beijing, China, BLACKSWAN Restaurant recently opened its doors this past June, introducing a unique dining experience that sets a new standard for culinary and artistic eminence. Orchestrated by Executive Chef and founder Vianney Massot, the opulent space marries exquisite French cuisine with an ambiance inspired by the grace and elegance of swans, featuring a contemporary design that transitions from day to night by renowned interior artist Chris Shao.
An ode to its muse, the concept of BLACKSWAN Restaurant was inspired by Swans by Gary Hume, an art piece featuring continuous lines forming intersecting swans that embody grace and light. This painting explores creating art that changes with the day’s light.
“There’s no illusion of three-dimensional space in the works, but there is plenty of time: light time, because they change throughout the day.” — Gary Hume on Swans (2022).
Chris Shao, an artistic interior designer and founder of Chris Shao Studio, was captivated by Hume’s work and sought to translate this concept into the restaurant’s design. Shao, who boasts an impressive background with a double degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris, and a Master of Fine Arts from the New York School of Interior Design, has crafted a space where nature and art effortlessly converge.
Located on the first floor of the Luo Hong Photography Art Museum in Beijing, the main dining area of BLACKSWAN Restaurant overlooks a serene oriental landscape garden, where live swans glide across the garden’s waters, and graceful koi fish swim below.
In Chinese culture, the black swan symbolizes something rare. Similarly, the design of BLACKSWAN Restaurant embodies this notion through its meticulous attention to detail, inviting guests to not only dine but to pause and admire the setting. Its interior palette mirrors the elegance of the bird, with muted colors and a blend of materials like stone, plaster, velvet, and metals.
Curved walls lead to intricately carved ceiling panels, where a stunning chandelier designed by Caroline Sarkozy features cascading feathers reminiscent of swans. The swan motif weaves through every corner of the Beijing restaurant, creating intersecting forms akin to Hume’s Swans painting. Like the artwork, BLACKSWAN Restaurant offers two distinct atmospheres depending on the time. By day, the setting exudes purity and quiet luxury, but by night, it transforms into an elegant space that captures the allure and mystery of the black swan.
Drawing inspiration from the timeless elegance of swans, Chef Vianney Massot, celebrated for his focus on natural flavors and seasonal ingredients, has crafted a menu featuring two exquisite culinary experiences: Harmony and Freedom.
Harmony is a six-course venture inspired by white swans, showcasing the artistry of French cuisine while incorporating elements of local culture in every dish. In contrast, Freedom, inspired by the rare black swan, presents three French courses accompanied by a dessert designed to celebrate the diversity of flavors. Each experience is complemented by two selected vintage wine pairings from the restaurant’s sommeliers.
BLACKSWAN Restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday, at 6 p.m. For more information, visit restaurantblackswan.com.