[Shanghai] Sunday Champagne Brunch at Vue, 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 [brunch] 588 RMB + 15%
Visited: Sep 2011

Vue at Hyatt on the Bund is now my favorite hotel brunch spot in Shanghai. Yes, the free flow of Perrier Jouët is nice, and the victorious view of Lujiazui is no doubt a plus, but it’s the quality of food that differentiated Vue from its league. Made-to-order lobster bisque with cognac and chive, poached eggs with soft polenta and black truffles, lobster risotto, steak in red wine and bacon sauce, poached peach with champagne peach sorbet…delicious overload.

The restaurant is designed based on the concept of a residence – there’s a living room, dining area, library, and kitchen, all whimsically decorated with related knickknacks. Bright, airy, inviting.

Brunch at Vue (588 RMB + 15%) consists of stations after stations of fancy things. Oysters, king crabs, foie gras, steaks, truffles, lobsters…Here are just a few examples:

Freshly shucked oysters.

Steak station.

Risotto station.

Foie gras with figs.

Tiger prawn with Pernod, bell pepper, zucchini, and cream.

Beef steak tartar.

Poached egg, soft polenta, black truffle, demi-glace.

Boston lobster soup with cognac and chive.

Boston lobster risotto.

Steak with red wine and bacon sauce.

I was surprised by how impressed I was with the food, especially because I’m not a fan of all-you-can-eat affairs. Brunch at Vue actually didn’t feel like a buffet since most dishes were made to order, and the quality of food much exceeded most other hotel brunches I’ve had. Of course, not everything was perfect – there was a bland champagne and truffle risotto, a distasteful pea soup,  and a rather dry roast – but all in all, I was very happy person by the end of the meal.

Pre-made desserts (as shown above) are not so memorable, but the made-to-order desserts – poached peach with champagne peach sorbet, chocolate souffle – were delicious. I heard they also make a delightful crepe suzette. Next time, I told myself, next time.

Other than the food, the champagne, and the view, service at Vue was also one of the best I’ve experienced in Shanghai. Plates were cleared away promptly, champagne glasses were refilled at the right pace, and everyone served with a warm politeness – this is something you’d expect at any five-star hotel, but it’s so often missing in Shanghai.

Come hungry.

15 thoughts on “[Shanghai] Sunday Champagne Brunch at Vue, Hyatt on the Bund

  1. OK, you sold me for brunch tomorrow at Vue. They don’t have tables available by the window, only the “normal” tables. Do you suggest that I hold out for another time that we can have a proper table by the window, or does it not really matter? – Felix

    1. Window tables are obviously the best, if you are not in a hurry you can wait till next week – it all depends on how much you value the view. Food should be delicious either way!

  2. Thanks Sugared. I value the view as part of the overall experience. Fortunately, they have since called back and confirmed a table by the window. Now the challenge is to wake up in time for the Brunch.

  3. The brunch was excellent. It was my first free-flow hotel brunch in Shanghai, where I’m now curious how it compares to the other brunches offered in town. My last such brunch was at the Fairmont hotel in Singapore, which was a much more crowded / mass consumption affair. The Hyatt today was definitely more intimate, where there were only about 25 patrons — which I consider a great thing. We were the first to arrive at 11:30am and among the last to leave at 3:15pm. At 676 RMB net per person, the brunch was excellent value considering how high the quality of food was, and how much champagne we drank. A pleasant surprise was that Bloody Mary’s were also available. There was not an overwhelmingly large selection of food which is also good – they went for quality, not quantity. I will wait at least a half year to go back so that I won’t tire of the selection. About the service, yes, it was excellent — why don’t more of these restaurants pay their staff a bit more, train their staff, and correct them when they are wrong or being lazy — it makes such a different to the overall customer experience. Yes, the lobster risotto was excellent. Thanks for the tip on this excellent brunch spot. :-)

  4. Awesome photos and the food looks delicious! I’ve love to check it out one day, hopefully soon! Is the brunch only available on Sundays?

  5. the view was awesome ,food and service was great! but the booking process was a nightmare! Called first time for booking table for 4 ,they had to called back to confirm my email address, and then sent me a email with a reservation form and asking me to fill in my credit card no. and HAVE TO SEND BACK BY FAX!…end it up we need added one more person into our booking and I wanted to go somewhere else coz its just too much to do for going to eat a sunday brunch. Finally,my french friend jumped in ,make 4 TIMES! back and forth phone calls FINALLY FINALLY confirmed the table…U did drank a lot champagne that day,coz we had been sweating a lot for just booking a table, ,phew….

    1. Oh wow, I’m sorry to hear about the booking process! I didn’t know that VUE even needs credit card number to secure the reservation. I hope the awesome food and service experience made up for the hassle.

  6. looks great! I’m contemplating Sunday brunch between the vue or le bistrot at the le royal meridien. Have you been to le bistrot? If so how does it compare to the vue?

  7. Best brunch I’ve ever had….
    Afterwards, head up to the Vue bar on the 32nd floor for more amazing views.

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