Archive for the ‘lounge’ Category
[SHANGHAI] VUE at Hyatt on the Bund
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VUE Restaurant & Bar
Add: Hyatt on the Bund, 30/F, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu 黄浦路199号, 外滩茂悦大酒店30楼, 近武昌路
Tel: 6393 1234
Hours: 6~11pm
Website: www.shanghai.bund.hyatt.com
Price: [dinner] 450+ RMB + 15%/person
Visited on: 2012-08
Please note that this is an arranged tasting.
There’s nothing mind-blowingly inventive about the dishes at VUE at Hyatt on the Bund, but old time favorites like Caesar salad, lobster bisque, sirloin steak, and crepe suzette are done very, very well. The cherry on top? A ridiculous view of the Bund and the Lujiazui financial district.
City Weekend Readers’ Choice Awards
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Dropped by the recently reopened Bar Rouge last Friday for the 2012 City Weekend Readers’ Choice Dining & Nightlight Awards. Can’t say I agree with everything on the list, but a few of my favorite venues did get recognition for the wonderful things they’ve brought to Shanghai. Here are a few for you to sample: Cuivre for “Restaurant of the Year” and “Best Newcomer”, Table No. 1 for “Best European”, Madison for “Best Brunch”, Mr & Mrs Bund for “Best Business Lunch” and “Best French”, 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo for “Best Italian” and “Best Newcomer” (editor’s picks), Hof for “Best Desserts”, and El Coctel for “Best Cocktail”.
For the full list, click here.
[SHANGHAI] Sunday Fried Chicken at The Public
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The Public
Address: Sinan Mansions, Block 2, 4/F, Lane 507 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Chongqing Lu / 复兴中路507弄2号楼4楼, 近重庆路
Tel: 3368 9419
Hours: [Wed-Sun] 6:00pm~late
Price: [food] 100~200 RMB/person [drinks] 65~80 RMB/cocktail
Visited on: 2012-02-26
I was so curious about The Public’s Sunday Fried Chicken that I came back within a week of my last visit - a very rare occurrence to see on Sugared & Spiced. The fried chickens here have been garnering great reviews since their Apothecary days, and many diners – despite bashing the place for its strict rules and unsatisfactory service (both have been effectively remedied since the restaurant’s rebranding) – reluctantly admitted that the chickens are a hit. What’s the deal?
The Public
Bar
Here it is, a glorious plate of Whey-Poached Fried Chicken with Buttermilk Biscuits & Coleslaw (half chix w/ 2 biscuits 125 RMB, whole chix w/ 4 biscuits 240 RMB). Free-range, organic chickens that grew up on honey-fermented grains are seasoned (they say it takes 24 hours), battered, then deep fried to a satisfying golden brown. Under the crackling crunch is fragrant, juicy, and tender meat filled with flavor. It is a memorable bird indeed.
Whey-Poached Fried Chicken with Buttermilk Biscuits & Coleslaw
On a separate plate came the coleslaw…
Coleslaw
…and buttermilk biscuits, which weren’t too shabby at all, but the restaurant staff still assured us that they are working on the recipe and will soon come out with a leveled up version of these buttery goodness.
[SHANGHAI] The Public
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The Public
Address: Sinan Mansions, Block 2, 4/F, Lane 507 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Chongqing Lu / 复兴中路507弄2号楼4楼, 近重庆路
Tel: 3368 9419
Hours: [Wed-Sun] 6:00pm~late
Price: 65~80 RMB/cocktail
Visited on: 2012-02-17
The Public, recently rebranded from The Apothecary, is a stylish and relaxed cocktail lounge in the Sinan Mansions neighborhood. It’s my preferred type of place where the music isn’t so loud – you can actually have a conversation. The drinks menu features fine cocktails that are hand-crafted from house-infused spirits and bitters, fresh juices, fruits and syrups, while the food menu lists an appealing selection of some all-time favorite comfort foods (think charcuterie and sweet potato fries). All these is held together with smooth and efficient service. A good night guaranteed.
The Public
Interior
For those who are overwhelmed by the extensive drinks menu, take a look at their list of “Auspicious Eight”, an abridged collection of eight of The Public’s most popular cocktails.
Menu
Here are a few we sampled, starting with my favorite for the evening - The Kind (70 RMB): Ketel One vodka, grapefruit and lime juice, a tad of black pepper, cinnamon and lime syrups, house-made ginger beer, soda. “This Tiki-style Moscow Mule variation takes the too-easy original and pumps up the spice and fruit variables for a pungent, dry drink that’ll tickle your taste buds.”
[SHANGHAI] Malt Fun
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Malt Fun
Address: 123 Hunan Lu, near Yongfu Lu / 湖南路123号，近永福路
Tel: 6212 8728
Hours: 6:00pm~2:00am
Price: 80~500 RMB/single malt, 70~80/cocktail
Visited on: 2012-02-03
Not sure what you did on your Friday night, but I had a very macho evening drinking single malts and smoking cigars at Malt Fun, a Taiwanese-run, Japanese-inspired whisky bar on Hunan Lu.
Malt Fun
On a side note – Taiwan, though tiny, is among the top 5 export markets for Scotch whisky (via), after USA, France, Singapore, and Spain. Wowee! (By the way…Singapore? Even tinier, I’m impressed.)
Bar
James Bond has a bottle of Balvenie 14 years at Malt Fun from a past visit, and that’s what we had for the evening.
The Balvenie
James Bond ;)
[SHANGHAI] Afternoon Tea at Flair, Ritz-Carlton
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Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
Address: Ritz-Carlton Pudong, 58/F, 8 Shiji Da Dao, near Lujiazui Huan Lu
. 世纪大道8号, 上海浦东丽思卡尔顿酒店58楼, 近陆家嘴环路
Tel: 2020 1778
Hours: Sat & Sun 2:00pm~5:00pm (afternoon tea)
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ShanghaiPudong/Default.htm
Price: 228 RMB + 15%/set
Please note that this is an arranged tasting, so my experience is possibly more positive than a regular visit.
Every five-star hotel has its own version of the traditional English High Tea, but Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Pudong is doing something quite uniquely Asian. Prawn dumplings and California roll? Yes ma’am, they’ve got them. Let’s take a look at what else is on the plate.
Flair Hi Tea Set, 228 RMB
[SHANGHAI] The Living Room at Park Hyatt
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The Living Room at Park Hyatt
Add: 87/F, Park Hyatt Shanghai, 100 Century Avenue, near Dongtai Lu 世纪大道100号, 上海柏悅酒店87楼, 近东泰路
Tel: 6888 1234
Hours: [Afternoon Tea] 2:00pm~6:00pm
Price: [Afternoon Tea Set] 218 RMB + 15%, [Tea/Coffee] 60~65 RMB + 15%
Website: www.parkhyattshanghai.com
Instead of going up to the 100th floor of Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) for a view of the Bund and be tortured by the clutter and clamor of rowdy tour groups, do yourself a favor and spend the time and money on an afternoon tea set at The Living Room at Park Hyatt. This bright and airy residential style lounge, located on the 87th floor of SWFC, offers a commanding view of the city that changes as the sun sets. This is the way Shanghai should be experienced: equal parts ease and panache.
Living Room at the Park Hyatt
Living Room at the Park Hyatt
View from the 87th floor
View from the 87th floor
Living Room at the Park Hyatt
Ultra comfy sofa that just draws you in
Tarts, pies, and eclairs
Daily tarts, 65 RMB each
[SHANGHAI] Yucca
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Yucca
Address: 3/F, 26F Sinan Mansions, 45 Sinan Lu, near Fuxing Lu 思南路45弄26F号3楼, 近复兴路
Tel: 3368 9525
Hours: 6:00pm~
Website: www.yuccashanghai.com
Price: [Drinks] 65~70 RMB, [Bar Bites] 60~70 RMB
Please note that this is an arranged tasting, so my experience is possibly more positive than a regular visit.
Exactly as the pictures depict, Yucca is anything but subtle. This small cocktail lounge is dramatic with shocking color blocks, elaborate geometric mosaic floor, bar stools in fuchsia and bright yellow, candelabras, Catholic crucifixes, and the likes. The decor is an attraction in itself, and when paired with house special cocktails and bar bites, Yucca makes for an ideal spot for those looking for a theatrical night.
Vibrant colors
Mosaic tiles
Bar
From Yucca’s tequila-focused cocktail list, I chose the house special Mexican Mule (65 RMB), a playful variation of the Moscow Mule made with Sauza blanco tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice, passion fruit, NZ Manuka honey, cucumber, ginger beer. Do know that I’m not a cocktail connoisseur – I usually just like whatever that tastes fruity and not very strong – but the Mexican Mule seemed like an easy pleaser (for girls, at least).
[SHANGHAI] Downstairs
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Downstairs
Address: 1/F, Urbn Hotel, 183 Jiaozhou Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu / 膠州路183號, 近北京西路
Tel: 5172 1300
Website: www.urbnhotels.com
Price: ~50 RMB/drink, ~50 RMB/dessert
Downstairs by David Laris, a stylish dining/lounge area on the first floor of Urbn Hotel, is a good go-to place for a cup of coffee if I’m in the area. A cool oasis away from the Jing’an traffic, this place is perfect for a casual afternoon gathering or after work drinks. Take advantage of their drinks specials after 5pm on Thursdays (35 RMB martinis), Fridays (25 RMB beer), and Sundays (25 RMB frozen margaritas). Call to double check on the deals before you head over.
Downstairs in the evening
Leading to the lobby
Thursday martini specials, 35 RMB
From left to right: Mint/Cucumber, Chili/Chocolate, Strawberry/Basil
Woks on the wall
[SHANGHAI] Sir Elly’s at The Peninsula
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Sir Elly’s at The Peninsula
Address: 13/F, The Peninsula, 32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu
. 中山东一路32号13楼, 近北京东路
Tel: 2327 6756
Hours: [Lunch] 12:00pm-2:30pm, [Dinner] Sun-Thu, 6:00-10:30pm Fri-Sat, 6:00-11:00pm
Website: www.peninsula.com/Shanghai/en/Dining/Sir_Ellys_Restaurant/default.aspx
Price: Business lunch 280 RMB + 15%/person; Dinner 500+ RMB/person
Restaurant Week Stop # 3: Sir Elly’s at The Peninsula. The lunch, unsurprisingly, turned out to be the best out of all my restaurant week meals.
A grand Art Deco dining room
Window seats for parties of 4 and round tables for bigger groups
Red Chinese lacquer, black walls, polished wood
Excellent bread basket
The Restaurant Week lunch was a 3-course affair – appetizer, main dish, and dessert. Both the appetizers and the desserts were served in sampler sizes, allowing guests to try a variety of what the restaurant has to offer. Even something as simple as the tomato salad was thoughtfully put together – the cherry tomatoes were briefly cooked, skinned, chilled, and served with orange and ginger confit and a splash of olive oil. Perfect for a hot summer day.
