解香楼 - Jiexianglou at Seven Villas Hangzhou.

Tucked away within the bamboo-thick grounds of the Seven Villas resort, Jiexianglou offers a refined retreat from the West Lake crowds. The kitchen specializes in Jiangnan cuisine, though it avoids rigid traditionalism by integrating modern Western techniques and plating styles. The menu evolves monthly to reflect the local micro-seasons, relying on fresh pulls from the East China Sea, such as the baby yellow croakers used in the signature Mrs. Song’s fish soup. Other standout offerings include the pork jowl with caviar and a meticulously layered smoked fish terrine. While the dining room and small banquet hall are sophisticated, the true draw remains the floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding forest, which ground the innovative fusion cooking in a distinctly serene Hangzhou setting.