All of Shanghai has been waiting expectantly for Ultraviolet, Paul Pairet’s ultra high-end dining concept, and after two years of delays, it’s finally open and it’s spectacular.
The restaurant was conceived as a full-on assault of the senses, a 10-person private dining venue that would pair every ... Read More
The best thing about the Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA is the facilities. You’re missing out if you don’t arrive 30 minutes early to enjoy the top-notch sauna and steam room and peer down on Shanghai from the 55th floor in the buff. It all serves to set the ... Read More
This crass wine bar gets key things wrong. We strolled up on a warm spring evening to be greeted by the sweet sounds of Lil’ Wayne at ear-splitting decibels. While the outdoor terrace is a fantastic venue for afternoon leisure on a sunny summer day, it’s obvious that very ... Read More
Nestled in a corner of Shanghai Centre, Crêpes & Co is a relaxed and friendly café serving up great dessert pancakes and some passable savoury ones too. Their 40-strong savoury menu (ranging from RMB45 to RMB93) offers variations of what is a perfectly thin crêpe wrapped around almost any combination of ... Read More
Did you know that the historic Park Hotel has a bakery? No, not the Park Hyatt, the Park Hotel: that towering Art Deco surprise that has overlooked People’s Square since, well, since way back when Nanjing Xi Lu was called Bubbling Well Road and there were race tracks where ... Read More
Located in Bund 22 just across from L’Ecallier, The Martini Bar is tucked away behind a deli, making it feel like a speakeasy. The third floor lounge brings us back to the ’30s with classical music, dark wood, ceiling fans and fake books on the walls. A rare open-air ... Read More
With nine branches spread all around town, Dragonfly Retreat is hands-down one of the most popular beauty salons and massage parlors in Shanghai. If you live in Jing’an like we do, try the lymphatic drainage aroma oil massage (RMB420 / 90 minutes) at the newly opened Jiaozhou Lu branch. The ... Read More
Unlike other street dessert joints, Xianyuxian uses premium quality natural ingredients that are also preservative-free. Hailing from Taiwan, everything at this taro dessert specialist is freshly prepared and made-to-order. There are tons of flavors and types to choose from, but we suggest sticking to the handmade taro balls (芋圆, yuyuan ... Read More
Until recently, Sushi’O was little more than a delivery stand on Yanqing Lu with a few seats at the sushi bar. It’s now moved its operations into a much bigger venue on Yongkang Lu, and the early returns are promising.
The new Sushi’O is a full-fledged restaurant ... Read More
Need to satisfy that Mexican craving? We've rounded up three of the best burritos in Shanghai. From the cheap, to the chic; there's a little something for everyone.
Pistolera | Mexican & Tex-Mex
Pistolera may be off the beaten path, but a trip out to Jinqiao is well worth it ... Read More
While Pyongyang Tangun does not have the best North Korean food in Shanghai, we had a decent dining experience. If you have an obsession with North Korea—and we know a few people like that—or are looking for a novel venue to take visiting tourists for dinner, this is ... Read More
Our colorless, unruly locks were putting a damper on the arrival of summer. We are pretty picky when it comes to coloring our hair, and fortunately, I.D. Hair top stylist Terry Grau did not disappoint. Although the prices are a bit steep, the welcoming salon staff and laid back ... Read More
Jiu Jiu is a Japanese restaurant buried under a Mount Fuji of mid-upper range all-you-can-eats in Shanghai so large that it will take a couple more stars than snow crab and foie gras to help it rise above.
A RMB298 ticket provides unlimited supplies of sashimi, sushi, tempura, grilled meats ... Read More
The new Windows gives us exactly what we’ve come to expect from the wonderfully grungy chain of dives. This version, like the others, is already packed with young Chinese clientele, who can’t resist the cheap pitchers, pool tables and cheesy pop bleating from the speakers. It’s tough ... Read More
There are two things we want from a bánh mì shop: good prices and authenticity. Mr. V satisfies on both counts at his wee sandwich stand.
Simplicity is king here, with a sparse menu of five Vietnamese sandwiches and seating for two diners, tops. You can choose from meatball, skin ... Read More
Noodle Bull made its name with value eats in a trendy environment, but its new upscale offering, Grill Bull, is still working its way there.
Set in the new extension to the always quaint Ferguson Lane, Grill Bull is nonetheless set up to feel a world away. They’ve taken ... Read More
One of the things we look forward to most about summer is eating xiaolongxia (小龙虾). The crayfish, a Shanghai specialty, come out as the mercury rises, and we’ve capped many a night down on Shouning Lu with Tsingtao, sauce-covered hands and several jin of the addictive suckers. Street food ... Read More
Linjiangmen’s named after a famed hot pot area in Chongqing, and if you can ignore the stained ceilings and cracked tabletops here, this joint in Qibao will surprise you with its authenticity. Start with the medium-spicy yuanyang soup (鸳鸯锅底, RMB38): it’s the key to everything here. The red ... Read More
Robatayaki Ryunosuke celebrates fire with its two sweating, red-faced chefs hunched over charcoal grills, ready to grab skewers at the right moment while their colleagues (and you) watch them. This tableau of drama—the dragon-breath plumes from industrial butane torches, the chefs balancing, delivering food and ice-cold beers (Asahi or ... Read More
Sandwiched between a cheap hotel and a massage parlor, this unpretentious lounge-club serves as an intimate haunt where you can get sweaty on the dance floor or pre-game with friends before clubbing. Deep red lighting and square leather couches makes it reminiscent of Bar Rouge while the open layout feels ... Read More
The 90-minute full body hot stone massage (RMB480) at Diva Life is the most relaxing that we’ve experienced in the city so far. The natural volcanic stones used here are pre-heated in water and massage oil in order to retain heat and release more healing minerals during the therapy ... Read More
From Lady Gaga to Hong Kong model Angelababy, celebrities around the world have all gone crazy for Minx nail stickers. Ride the wave and get yourself Minxed at the newly opened Doll Nail Lounge, the one and only nail salon in Shanghai we’ve found that offers sticker manicures using ... Read More
There's nothing more decadent than sipping on Champagne over a long and lazy weekend brunch. There are plenty of Champagne brunch options available around town, so here we picked out three of the best. Check them out below.
The COOK | Global
The COOK’s made itself a family dining ... Read More
Village du Chocolat is, at best, a work in progress at this point. The three-floor complex has a brightly lit first floor showing a glass case of desserts, an oddly colorful second floor with salon-like seating and a third floor wiht a surprisingly lovely open patio with a bar and ... Read More
Every year we release our al fresco issue and round up some of Shanghai's best outdoor venues. Last year we showed you where to drink, but this year we're showing you where to eat. Next time you feel like grabbing a bite, take a trip to one of ... Read More