TOP 10: best restaurants in Shanghai

Conceived by Paul Pairet since 1996 and opened in May 2012, Ultraviolet is the first restaurant of its kind uniting food with multi-sensorial technologies A single table of ten seats only. A dining room of high-end technology. A 20-course “Avant-Garde” set menu. 3 Michelin stars. All guests sit together. The experience unfolds as a play. Food leads. Each course is enhanced with its own taste-tailored atmosphere: lights, sounds, music, scents, projection, images and imagination… And food.

Rising up from the punch room via the grand spiral staircase, the guests pass through a privet hedge lined passageway to be met with one of the most spectacular panoramic views of Pudong from the Bund. The bar and high seating is enclosed within a wooden trellis intertwined with climbing ivy, where an open-air lounge area offers guests a comfortable and intimate setting for casual drinks with a view.

YICAFE provides a vast variety of cuisines such as Southeast Asian, European, Indian and Middle Eastern put together by an international chef team from around the world to ensure diners can taste the authentic food. The restaurant presents a unique atmosphere by having open kitchens with live cooking for the diners to see as they walk through the buffet in order to ensure fresh food is served.

“You Breakfast, Feast & Sit & Sip & Eat… Snack, Grab, Grub, Munch, Crunch, Nibble… Late-Lunch, Early-Dine… Nip a cup or raid a jeroboam of Champagne, by yourself, with friends… with a stranger… A sanctuary of freedom – of anytime – of any indulgence, code-less… Eternally untrendy and forever in fashion. I love French Café.” – Paul Pairet Born French and Shanghai raised, Polux is Paul Pairet’s simplest joint so far, in the heart of Xintiandi.

Seeking a “return to basics”, the RAW menu is based on quality produce and the use of cooking methods that respect the natural properties and flavors of the ingredients. The use of firewood and the high operating temperature of our Josper Charcoal Oven preserves the original taste and texture of the produce while enhancing traditional flavors. RAW aims to merge our Spanish roots with the influence of very different cuisines.

In October 2020, Hakkasan Shanghai reopened in its original location inside the illustrious landmark of Bund18, with an elevated dining experience. Adhering to Chinese tradition, Hakkasan emphasizes the concept of “modern and authentic” about its Cantonese cuisine, set in a modern atmosphere full sensory experiences, while striving to return to the original flavor of its ingredients with a contemporary flair. 

The very stylish and contemporary Flair Restaurant & Bar takes pride of place at the very top of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong on the 58th floor – making it the highest al fresco dining venue in China. Designed by Super Potato, the indoor decor is a warm blend of rustic and contemporary designs creating a loft-like lounge ambience, while the outdoor setting is casually elegant and relaxed with lounge sofas offering breathtaking views of the Huangpu River and across Shanghai.

A former police station circa 1910 is home to this tapas bar exuding minimalist chic that also comes with a terrace. The chef reinvents classics with modern techniques and exotic flavours, such as the use of African spices in grilled pumpkin with cheese and nuts. Ibérico pork and foie gras burger also evokes much love. Daily specials are offered at dinner.

Perched atop the 27th floor of The Shanghai EDITION, YONE is a vibrant culinary endeavor that harmoniously blends tradition and innovation, where two masters unite to create a transcendent gastronomic experience. Shingo Gokan, renowned mixologist and founder of the SG Group, celebrated for his numerous accolades, including “International Bartender of the Year” and the visionary behind eight pioneering establishments worldwide, deftly curates a cocktail menu spot lighting’s sake and shochu.

Italian Michelin-Star Chef Angelo Aglianó has been invited as the head chef, inviting everyone to enjoy the refreshing flavors of the Mediterranean and the stunning views of the Bund, continuously enhancing the Italian dining experience.