Gillman(Moon Harbour)

Gillman's interior is impossible to ignore. Rather than relying on generic European-inspired décor, the owners sourced chandeliers, oil paintings, furniture, ornaments and decorative pieces from Europe to create an extraordinarily lavish collection of spaces.

Different rooms have their own character, but the same sense of grandeur runs throughout. Chandeliers, gilded details, elaborate furnishings and artwork cover seemingly every available surface. It's unapologetically extravagant and a major part of the Gillman experience.

For anyone looking for an impressive restaurant in Suzhou for a date, celebration, business dinner or visiting guests, the surroundings alone make Gillman memorable.

French cuisine forms an important part of Gillman's menu, with recognisable classics including foie gras, escargots and French onion soup.

The French influence extends to the wine list too, which includes Carruades de Lafite, the second wine of the legendary Château Lafite Rothschild, alongside more accessible choices.

Russian cuisine adds another dimension to Gillman’s European menu, with favourites including borscht and shashlik, alongside an elaborately presented Russian-style salad that fits perfectly with Gillman’s flair for presentation.

The Russian selection is currently relatively small, but Gillman plans to introduce more Russian dishes as the menu develops.

Upstairs, Gillman has a collection of lavish private dining rooms in various sizes, including substantial spaces capable of accommodating larger groups.

The combination of privacy, extravagant surroundings and Gillman's full-service approach makes these spaces particularly well suited to business dinners, entertaining clients, birthdays, family celebrations and other special occasions where the setting matters as much as the meal.

Gillman's Moon Harbour location puts it beside Jinji Lake, with attractive views across the surrounding waterfront.

The terrace includes both covered and open-air seating, providing a more relaxed alternative to the grandeur indoors. It's an appealing spot for dinner or drinks while enjoying the lakeside setting.

Here's something we didn't expect from Gillman: ¥20–30 beers. In fact, the prices looked so out of place in such grand surroundings that we double-checked with the boss that they weren't a mistake. They aren't.

Tsingtao is ¥20, 1664 ¥28 and Kirin Ichiban ¥30 — making Gillman's terrace a surprisingly affordable spot for a casual beer in Moon Harbour. You don't need the full Gillman experience every time. Sometimes a ¥20 beer by the lake will do nicely.

The cocktail menu includes both classics and house creations, while there's also a substantial selection of alcohol-free cocktails.

Live music every weekend adds another layer to the Gillman experience, bringing some extra atmosphere to the restaurant while keeping the focus firmly on dining, drinks and conversation.
Dance performances are also staged regularly, adding another theatrical element to a venue that already has plenty of visual drama.

Gillman extends beyond the main restaurant with its adjoining patisserie and gelateria. Guests can finish dinner with something sweet or stop by separately for pastries, desserts or gelato.

Together, the restaurant, private dining rooms, terrace, entertainment, patisserie and gelateria make Gillman much more than somewhere to simply have dinner. It's one of Suzhou's most distinctive dining experiences — and somewhere designed to make an impression.