New Year, New Eats: Zest Urban To Open in March

Hot on the heels of Modo’s announcement of Modo Urban Deli comes another foray into urban dining – and from one of Beijing's best-known restaurant entrepreneurial teams, at that. Zest Urban – from the folks that brought us Zest, SALT and Terra – is set to open in early March at Xingfu Sancun. It’s become clear to us that going “urban” is shaping up as a big theme for 2013's dining scene, but what exactly does it mean?

In the case of Zest Urban, it’s a move away from the polished brightness of Zest’s previous premises in the Volkswagen building. Proprietor Jen Eden tells us that this reinvention will deliver “a cool, industrial, urban look and some brilliant food and drink choices.” Thus far, this means an industrial gray and black palette, upcycled furniture and handmade decorations. They've also revealed some other details that separate Zest Urban from its former incarnation:

• 7-day, late-night opening hours
• Simple alcoholic drinks
• Grab-and-go breakfast
• A late-night menu with delicious unhealthy bites

It's no accident that Zest Urban will be situated in a more local Chinese neighborhood – the proprietors are keen to develop community ties. A local vendor will sell vegetables on the front steps every afternoon, and Zest Urban is collaborating with their neighbors to develop other projects. Furthermore, there are two small rooms suitable for group meetings, meaning that the space could well become a community hub for everyone in the area.

We’ll have more info for you about Zest Urban as soon as we get a chance to check out the new space.

Photo: Josh Ong