Upscale Restaurants in Shanghai

Three on the Bund (外滩3号)

Telephone: 021-63233355; website: www. threeonthebund.com

There is a collection of first class Chinese restaurants in the Bund's seven storey build-ing number Three, including the Whampoa Club, Laris, and New Heights. Three on the Bund is also home to the worlds second Evion Spa, China's first Armani flagship store, and Three fashion store. The Third Degree Music Lounge and Shanghai Gallery of Art give this building an extra degree of cultural depth. Three on the Bund is located at 3 Zhongshan Dongyilu on the fourth floor of the Bund's building number three. (Near the Guangdong Lu intersection.)

Jean Georges

Fourth floor, telephone: 021-63217733 Jean Georges was opened by the innovative world-famous chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Recommended Dishes: Frogs legs and mustard greens fried in thyme and tender garlic, black sea bass with sweet and sour sauce (specialty dish), lobster tartine and lemon grass, and pea flour cakes with tomatoes.

The restaurant's wine cellar has private rooms with enough table space to fit 30 people.

Whampoa Club(黄埔会俱乐部)

Fifth floor; telephone: 021-63213737; open from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm to 10 pm.

Fee: Expect to pay 600 RMB per person.

The Whampoa Club is set in an expan-sive 1,800 square meter interior designed by famed Hong Kong designer, Chen Youjian. Made with ornate and extravagant colors and building materials, the Whampoa Club exudes a enthusiastic charm and is considered a modem masterpiece of art deco design. Once ranked one of the twenty-five most expensive restaurants in the world, the food here is exquisite.

Recommended Dishes: Smoked fish, silver cod baked with onions, goose liver, drunken chicken, goose liver with glutinous rice and dates, mustard shrimp balls, and goose liver pate.

Laris (陆唯轩)

Sixth floor; telephone 021-63219922; hours of operation 11:30 am to 2:30 pm and 6 pm to 11 pm.

Fee: Expect to pay 500 RMB to 800 RMB per person. Martini Night will cost you around 150 RMB.

Established by world-renowned Australian chef, David Laris. One of Laris's most eye-catching sights is the seafood bar, Fins, Claws & Wings, where patrons can sample elegant fresh seafood. Fins, Claws & Wings has a large seafood display where you can see mussels, clams, frogs, oysters, large lobsters, local and imported fois gras, and caviar resplendently on show. You can also choose to sit across from the chef and watch as your seafood selections get transformed into delectable entrees. At Laris, you can choose you order entrees off of the traditional menu or create your own personalized menu together with the chef. Not surprisingly, in 2005 Laris was rated one of the best restaurants in Shanghai.

Every Thurday, Laris holds Martini Night in its bar, the Vault. The event lasts from 9pm to 2am. Prices are not too expensive and it is definitely worth an evening of your time.

New Heights(新视角餐厅酒廊)

Seventh floor; telephone: 021-63210909; hours of operation: 11:30 am-3:30 pm and 6 pm to dawn.

Sitting on the top floor of Three on the Bund, New Heights has a full 180 degree panoramic view of Pudong and the Bund. The 1850 square meter restaurant can fit 100 people, and off to the side is a bar that seats 45. Glass walls completely draw the scenery into the restaurant making New Heights a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. Recommended Dishes: The ever popular fried fish in hot sauce, Thai-style red curry pork, grill-fired tuna and fennel, and a delicious fish and chips.

Third Degree Music Lounge

Located on the building's highest floor, the salon is open from 7pm to 2am and is famous for its rare spirits, comfortable and extravagant surroundings, and elegant but diverse selection of music. But, the prize spot in the Third Degree is the open terrace under the stars. Treat yourself to a glass of cognac brandy or a nice glass of Champaign as you enjoy the splendorous panoramic view of the northern Bund showcases the glorious silhouettes of historical architecture. Third Degree Music Salon has prepared a selection of great food, like oysters and fois gras, all put together with unique colors and flavors.

The Cupola (望江阁)

Located on the top floor; telephone: 021-63233355 and 13817876975. This was once the building's bell tower,

commanding the highest point in all theBund. Today it has been transformed into Shanghai's most exclusive and original din-ing room. The Cupola's first floor has only eight seats and the second floor has only two. The second floor is a most extraordi-nary dining room with an eight meter tall vaulted ceiling that radiates neoclassical warmth. The room has a 360 degree view of the surrounding skyline and only has one table and one two-person sofa. This is certainly one of the most romantic spots in China. Naturally, the Cupola requires that you reserve a table in advance. Not a full restaurant on its own, the Cupola will have you choose from set menus offered by La-ris, Jean Georges, or the Whampoa Club.

M on the Bund(米氏西餐厅)

Located in the Huangpu District at 20 Guangdong Lu, on the seventh floor of the Nissin Shipping Building. There are a number of buses you can take to get here including lines 20, 22, 37, 55, 71, 135and 921. Guangdong Lu is also the final stop on bus line 42 and the Tunnel Line number Nine; telephone: 021-63509988.

Fee: Expect to pay between 300 and 800 RMB per person

Some people say that the view from this restaurant's terrace out onto the Huangpu River and the Bund is Shanghai's most beautiful and most picturesque sight. As the London's Sunday Daily once said, at M on the Bund "nothing is more satisfying than a stroll on the terrace with a full glass of Champaign or chardonnay." Once selected as one of Shanghai's best spots for a wedding proposal, M on the Bund is considered one of the Pacific region's most fashionable and expensive restaurants.

Recommended Dishes: The souffles, roasted leg of lamb, and all kinds of desserts.

Sens & Bund(雅德西餐厅)

Located at 18 Shandong Yilu, on the sixth floor of Eighteen on the Bund (at the intersection of Nanjin Donlu); telephone: 021-63239898.

Fee: Expect to pay 250 RMB to 400 RMB per person for lunch (mainly set meals); dinner runs round 300 to 800 RMB per person.

Opened by the fabulous French brothers, chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel, Sens & Bund selects seasonings and ingredients according to season. The Pourcels are ex-tremely particular about the ingredients they use, and frequently mix local and imported items. Their goose liver, beef and some special vegetables are imported from France. Fish and seafood are bought locally.

Recommended Dishes: Duck breast and lobster terrine with wild herbs and vanilla flavored oil, classic roasted pigeon with western celery and bitter cocoa sauce, and French style flaky bitter chocolate cake.

Xintiandi's Fine Cuisine

Xintiandi (新天地) is a great place to dine. Passing by the Starbucks will take you to Shanghai's most fashionable res-taurant, La Villa Rouge, where Shanghai's neuveau riche and young upstarts come to splurge. For more information about Xin-tiandi please visit this book's chapter on Xintiandi and Shikumen.

La Villa Rouge (小红楼)

Located at 811 Hengshan Lu (inside Xu-jiahui Park); to get there take the subway number one line to the Xujiahui Station; telephone: 021-64316639; hours of operation: 11 am to 2 am.

Fee: Expect to pay 200 RMB per person for lunch and 550 per person for dinner. After 9 pm, the action at La Villa Rouge's bar picks up and you can enjoy live music performances. La Villa Rouge has a wide selection of spirits and cocktails. Drinks run 50 RMB and up.

La Villa Rouge seems to have thought of everything with both buffet and menu din-ing options. Their dishes show a lot of innovation, and their Japanese chef puts together quite daring creations.

Recommended Dishes: Some of the best options on the menu are the Italian meat and potato wrap, mutton, and cod which are all cooked to perfection and the fish dishes seem to just melt in your mouth. A few people have noted that the food here can be quite salty.

Sasha's (萨莎餐厅)

Located at 11 Dongping Lu (at the comer of Hengshan Lu); telephone: 021 -64746628; happy hour is held from Monday to Friday, 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Happy hour drinks are half price. Wednesday and Thursday have live music in the evening, and dart competitions are held on Tuesday.

Fee: Expect to pay between 150 to 300 RMB per person.

Sasha's is split into three levels. English style bar can be found on Sasha's first floor; the second floor has a western restaurant serving excellent French entrees and Swiss fondue; a tidy Havana cigar and spirits bar is on the third floor and is loaded with 120 different European wines. This building was once home to Song Ziwen of the powerful Song family and its exterior has been featured in many films. Sasha's frequently attracts celebrities and VTP guests such as tennis star Andre Agassi, fashion and make-up designer Anna Sui, Zhang Zhi, and Gu Juji.

Recommended Dishes: Fried Shrimp with Mango, Papaya and Shasha (a warm roasted Pacific salad prawn), rack of lamb, and desserts and cakes.

Paulaner Brauhaus(宝莱纳餐厅)

Both Ambrosia and Paulaner Brauhaus are located at 150 Fenyang Lu. Too get there take bus line 42 or 96 and get off at the Fenyang Lu. You can also take the subway to the Hengshan Lu station and walk over. Telephone: 021-64745700; Hours of Operation: 11 am to 2 am.

Fee: Expect to pay about 200 RMB per person including drinks. Paulaner Brauhaus offers three types of buffets: the Bavarian buffet, European-style buffet, and Euro-pean-Asian buffet. All three buffets include two drinks (Paulaner Brauhaus's own beer, soft drinks, fruit juice, coffee, and tea.) An extra 70 RMB will get you three hours of free refills.

One of Paulaner Brauhaus's main attrac-tions is its beer, freshly brewed on location. The brew master adheres to the strict Ger-man brewing methods set down in 1516. Paulaner Brauhaus's beer comes in three types: the Paulaner Lager, Paulaner Weissbier, and the Munich Dark. A half liter will set you back 68 RMB and a full liter 105 RMB.

Recommended Dishes: Pig elbow, a basket of assorted Bavarian dishes (both entrees are served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut); and a beef and vegetable stew made with lots of beef and served with crackers and bread.

Ambrosia(仙炙轩)

Hours of Operation: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, and 5:30pm to midnight.

Fee: Expect to pay between 128 RMB to 500 RMB per person.

Set inside a French style villa commonly referred to as "Shanghai's Little White House", Ambrosia is the place to come to for some serious Japanese barbeque. The restaurant is split into three levels, the first and second floors serve items on the set menus, and the third floor serves a la carte items from the regular restaurant menu. Barbequed meat is Ambrosia's calling card. While serving excellent renditions of the usual barbequed beef, chicken and fish options, at Ambrosia you can roast pretty much anything else you can imagine. Try the conch which is prepared by slicing the snail meat, marinating it in a soup of dried cod and ginger, and cooking it for three minutes on the grill. The conch comes out with a distinct but delicious flavor. Ambrosia's set meals give you a lot of bang for your buck, but, be warned, the set meals are portioned for not one, but two people. With 128 RMB, 188 RMB, and 200 RMB varieties, the set meals serve up plenty of meat, all cooked on an iron skillet. The 188 and 200 RMB varieties include thin slices of Australian beef, and the 200 RMB ver-sions also have dried scallops and shrimp. For most people, the 128 RMB set meal is more than enough to satisfy. It comes with mushroom soup, bread, vegetable salad, tennbura, rice, fish, chicken, and iron skil-let items such as beef and fish. Considering the size of the portions, the price is not bad at all. If you come alone, we recommend ordering a la carte off the menu.

Recommend Dishes: Roasted thin slices of salmon. It tastes great even without any seasonings. The tempura is served fresh, and is delightfully crisp on the inside.

Aside from its saki, Ambrosia also serves Paulaner Brauhaus beer off the tap. If you order off the menu, expect to pay between 200 and 500 RMB.

The Yongfoo Elite(雍福会)

Located at 200 Yongfu Lu. You can get there on bus lines 328, 506, and 548. Be sure to get off the bus at the Fuxing Xilu stop; telephone: 021-54662727; hours of operation: lunch: 11:30 am to 2 pm; after-noon tea from 2 pm to 5:30 pm; dinner from 6 pm to 10 pm. The bar is open from 6 pm to midnight.

Fee: Expect to pay 300 RMB per person for lunch, 180 RMB for afternoon tea, and 500 RMB for dinner. Women must pay a three year membership fee of 10,000 RMB and men pay 20,000 RMB for a three year gold card. Members must also pay an addi-tional 2,400 RMB annual membership fee. Non-members are required to pay a 15% service fee when dining at the restaurant.

This mysterious but romantic early-twentieth century villa on Yongfu Lu, is drenched in neo-classical luxury. According to the Asian Wall Street Journal, Yon-goo Elite "gives you a true understanding of the luxury experienced by the powerful Chinese families of the 1920's and 1930's". Its remarkable design earned it Wallpaper's runner-up award for Best Club of 2004. The Yongfoo Elite house was built in the 1930's, and was turned into the British Consulate in 1980. Because of the building's advanced state of dilapidation, it was eventually abandoned by the consulate members. It took over two and a half years of renovation to restore the building to its original majesty and rum it into the sumptuous and exclusive club of today. The list of Yongfoo Elite's distinguished guests include: French first lady, Burna-dette Chirac, Luxemburg Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Junker, Vice Chairman of the European Commission, Loyola de Palacio, Microsoft China CEO, Chen Yongzheng, golf master, Gary Player, French maestro, William Chrisite, and NBA basketball star, Yao Ming. Yongfoo Elite is also a favorite haunt of celebrity watchers as it has hosted such stars as The English Patient male lead, Ralf Fiennes, mega star, Tom Hanks, action hero, Jackie Chan, legendary Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung and many others.

Ding Yongqiang, Yongfoo Elite's head chef, is a pupil of master chef, Chen Borong, and specializes in local Shanghai delicacies. Cantonese flavors and innovative cuisines often show up on the menu as well.

Recommend Dishes: The house specialty made with chicken and shrimp cooked in brown sauce, scallops, and gingko nuts. The menu also features meat cakes, Feng-gang duck, cold vegetables with raw fish, scallops in white sauce, crab roe with bean curd pan-browned with scallions and garlic, shrimp roe with water-oat shoots, smoked fish, Xueyu fish stir fried in sauce and water, a pig's feet and soybean soup, cookies with date paste, and mango pudding.

Grand Hall(大公馆)

Located in the Xujiahui District at 7 Don-ghu Lu (near Xiangyang Park); you can get here on the subway number one line, or bus lines: 926, 911, 920, 02, and 42; telephone: 021-64157777 and 64156666.

Fee: Expect to pay over 200 RMB per person for lunch or dinner and 68 RMB per person for afternoon tea. This is a nice place to sit and let the time fly.

Jewish businessman, Ray Joseph, hired architects Davis & Brooke to build the Grand Hall in 1921. The construction is an old Shanghai-style French manor, and after its completion, it became the center of Ray Joseph's trade and cultural activities in Shanghai. For a while, the manor became a hot spot for gossip and social affairs. In the 1930's the Grand Hall was purchased for a large fee and given as a gift to Shang-hai bigwig, Du Yuesheng. The manor was passed along yet again in 1946 to Du Li, a secret agent for one of China's warlords. Du Li, liked to play fast and loose with his money, and almost immediately transferred the property to one of his contemporaries, a popular celebrity, and the manor eventually became a gathering point for Kuomintang personnel and famous Chinese and international guests. When World War Two ended, the Chinese governor leased the manor to the occupying American military, and in the 1950's it was converted into the Consulate of the Soviet Union. Shanghai's first post-war mayer, Chen Yi, frequently used the Grand Hall to entertain important guests.

The Grand Hall's first floor has a cigar bar where famous jazz bands perform live music Monday through Friday, and a restaurant on the second floor serves local Shanghai cuisine. This is a hot spot for celebrities who you can occasionally see here mingling with other important Shanghai figures.

Recommended dishes: Pork braised in soy sauce, braised Chinese mitten crab, roast fish, and goose liver. Some of the other options on the menu still leave plenty of room for improvement.