Sugared & Spiced

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Hai Pai at Andaz

Address: Andaz Shanghai, 88 Songshan Lu, near Taicang Lu / 嵩山路88号上海安达仕酒店1楼, 近太仓路
Tel: 2310 1720
Hours: [afternoon tea] 2:30~5:30pm
Website: www.andazshanghai.com
Price: 258 RMB + 15%/set for two
Visited on: 2012-02-12

Fellow afternoon tea-ers, here’s a new spot for you in Xintiandi. Andaz Hotel’s Hai Pai, a fusion restaurant with a modern Shanghainese spirit, recently launched afternoon tea service in both of its compartments. The right side is of a modern Shanghainese decor, while the left is in the style of a French bistro. I chose the right side for its floor-to-ceiling windows, though the music selection was curiously eclectic…Jay Chou + Lenka mix?

Hai Pai 

Colorful chopsticks

Roast chickens on display

Hai Pai afternoon tea (258 RMB + 15%/set for two) is definitely one of the more affordable hotel afternoon tea sets out there. What it includes: the savory – 6 small dim sums, 2 cheese and ham sandwiches, 2 smoked salmon sandwiches and 2 mini lobster tarts; the sweet – 4 flavors of eclairs, 2 green tea madeleines, and 2 honey lemon madeleines. The size is about just right – it won’t leave you stuffed, but you probably won’t be needing a full dinner after this either.

Hai Pai afternoon tea

Starting with the savories, we quite enjoyed the trio of dim sums: shrimp dumpling, vegetarian siew mai, and mixed steamed dumpling.

Dim sum

The finger sandwiches and tarts were fine, not too shabby.

Ham & cheese sandwich

Smoked salmon sandwich 

Lobster salad tart

As for the sweets, both the fresh fruits with vanilla cream and crème brûlée were simple but up to par. I especially liked the vanilla cream topping the berries, and the crème brûlée was quite lovely too, though it probably could’ve used a thicker caramelized crust.

Fresh fruits with vanilla cream

crème brûlée

The eclairs and madeleines are the same ones you can find at Eclair. As I mentioned last time, I preferred the tarts at Eclair more than its eclairs, but these sweet tidbits make for a nice finishing along with the accompanying tea or coffee.

Madeleines and éclairs 

Latte

Menu

This is the other side of Hai Pai, which is very nicely designed but somehow a tad bit chilly both times I visited. Heating system?

The other side

Interior

Interior

Semi private room 

Afternoon Tea at Hai Pai wasn’t mind-blowing, but it’s a nicely put together set that can keep you entertained for an afternoon. It can also be enjoyed in the sleek hotel lobby lounge. Take your pick!

Lobby