The Shanghai Tavern is a new and fresh concept featuring British cuisine and part of new global hotel brand EDITION Hotels brought to us by Ian Schrager. The décor, designed by Neri & Hu, features elegant tones of coffee, caramel, and cream, and also an underlying “Parisian” feel. Unlike most high-end restaurants, the Shanghai Tavern features a beautiful open kitchen that creates a warm and heavenly scented atmosphere.
According to Executive Chef Scott Melvin, the Shanghai Tavern menu aims to bring more credibility to the perception of British cuisine, as even natives moan about it from time to time. With the intention of rebuilding the reputation of British dishes, the Shanghai Tavern has a varied menu with a definitive British theme. Its delightful trolley of traditional pork pies served table side with English piccalilli and pickled vegetables (128 RMB) is superb!
For the main course, we recommend the roast chicken breast, leg chasseur, mushroom and tarragon (248 RMB) accompanied with delicious gravy. For lunch, try the salt baked beetroot, goats curd and pea salad (98 RMB) and the Cerviche of Hamachi with avocado, daikon and wasabi sunflower seeds (128 RMB).
For winter comforts, try the macaroni cheese (158 RMB) or the classic British dish of fish and chips. The Shanghai Tavern’s battered cod with mushy peas and mint, for 148 RMB, will have you so stuffed you may even skip dessert! However, if you do still have room, round off a delectable meal with a strawberry éclair with mascarpone cream and caramel ice cream (68 RMB), or to add that little bit of je ne sais quoi to your experience try the flaming Alaska shortbread!
The comfort and simplicity of this location make it both accessible for families and an impressive place to bring guests or clients. And by being only a stone’s throw away from The Bund, it is an ideal stop for breakfast or lunch.
Find it: 199 East Nanjing Road, near Middle Jiangxi Road (南京东路199号近江西中路)
Reservations: 021 5368 9511 Opening hours: 6:00am-11:00pm daily
Borage
Like its herb namesake suggests there is more to Borage restaurant than meets the eye. Not only does it have excellent areas for family birthdays and corporate gatherings, but it also serves up a large, gorgeous terrace complete with umbrellas and even heaters for the winter. Borage features a unique décor that instantly makes you feel at home and a massive space of over 3,000 square metres! For added comfort, the second floor comes complete with couches guaranteeing that once you're sat down, you won’t want to get back up.
As the holiday season is now upon us, we all have the perfect excuse to indulge, and Borage has an excellent splendor of luxurious and comforting tasty treats just waiting to be savoured. We would highly recommend the creamy chestnut and pumpkin soup which is perfect for oncoming cold weather. For a main course, try the fried chicken and waffles (105 RMB), the sausage plate (68 RMB), and mini burgers (78 RMB). But the best dish by far has got to be the Australian premium marbled cube roll M5 (290 RMB) which is served with a ginormous fork. Looking to spice up the afternoon? Then try out the cosmopolitan, or a coffee infused martini. Having one or two can certainly make parenting more fun, especially if your spouse is sober.
If you are visiting with your children fear not! The brunch has a variety of child friendly props that will keep them far too amused to become restless. There is a wonderful popcorn machine that contains fish and chips and the pièce de résistance is the Captain Jack’s treasure chest (98 RMB) that contains home made vanilla ice cream and Valrhona Chocolate Brownies; but in order to eat the children need to first dig around for a key in the cocoa!
But don’t take our word for it, rouse the kids from their Lego missions and steal your partner away from their yoga class, and enjoy an afternoon of great food!
Find it: 5th floor, 759 Middle Longhua Road, near Dong'an Road(龙华中路759号5楼, 近东安路) Christmas Menu: Adults 788 RMB/2, Kids 158 RMB
Reservations: 021 3363 7188 Opening hours: 10:00am-11:30pm (11:00pm Sat)
Mercato
For those of us who don’t speak fluent Italian, this particular restaurant’s name quite simply translates to ‘market’, and, like a market, Mercato combines the freshest ingredients and best flavours to bring you a truly spectacular dining experience.
Mercato is located at Three on the Bund and housed in a very grandiose building, and you can still see remnants of the original 1916 decadence. However, compliments must go to the designers, Neri & Hu, for bringing real industrial chic to the restaurant’s interior through exposed steel and rustic wood flooring. There is even a genuine wood fire oven in which pizzas can be cooked in unbelievable 90 seconds!
Mercato’s seasonally inspired menu reflects Michelin starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s signature flair and talent for balancing flavours and textures. For the Christmas season this year, we highly recommend Mercato’s burrata cheese juxtaposed with strawberry jam along with the iridescent king fish Carpaccio, or the porcini crusted salmon with warm leek vinaigrette and herbs. These delightful dishes will likely have you attempting to lick your plate, however, please remember that such behaviour should probably be kept in your own kitchen! If you wish to try a dish that is more a signature of Shanghai, try the crispy short beef rib with polenta fries. This dish has been made to incorporate the best of Shanghai and Italy and guaranteed to make you return in the near future.
If you visit Mercato with a craving for pizza, then why not try black truffle pizza with three cheese, and farm egg. We promise your tastebuds will thank you, just be careful that your little ones don’t swipe up all your slices whilst you aren’t looking! According to Chef Kelvin Chai all of Mercato’s pizzas start with a special dough, made daily in-house with the finest Italian semolina flour, and roasted in the wood burning oven which imparts a crackling texture and satisfying char.
For dessert, we recommend the homemade salted caramel gelato sundae with caramelised peanuts and candied popcorn, it is simply heavenly. Or for something a little more Italiano try the tiramisu, but we insist you ask your partner and little ones for help finishing this, as it is gargantuan and gluttonously rich. To avoid disappointment we recommend booking a week in advance of your special occasion, particularly during the festive period.
Details: 6th floor, Three on The Bund, 3 East Zhongshan Yi Road, near Guangdong Road(中山东一路,3号,外滩3号6楼,近广东路)
Reservation: 021 6321 9922
Christmas menu: 698 RMB per person
Opening hours: 5:30pm-11:00pm
Sir Elly's Restaurant & Bar
Set on the 13th floor of the five-star Peninsula Shanghai, Sir Elly’s Restaurant combines a luxe 1920s art deco interior, with a magnificent view of The Bund and fine modern French European cuisine. If, surprisingly, during this season the weather is to your liking, then another great thing you are privy to is one of the best roof terraces in all of Shanghai. This panoramic view will have you snapping shots like an Instagram fanatic!
Be assured Sir Elly's is an elegant dining experience and ideal for a special occasion. We highly advocate the Aged Acquerello Rissoto with sweet peas, black pepper oil and cured egg yolk. It is wonderfully light and fluffy in texture; a real treat for the tastebuds. For the main course, try the herb grilled flank steak accompanied with baby king oyster mushrooms. Not only is the presentation worthy of serving to royalty, but the steak is cooked to perfection. To finish, curb your sugar cravings with the mango and guava cheesecake with passion fruit jelly. This sweet treat manages to blend just the right amount of tart to sweetness, and has a sublimely creamy texture.
With Christmas steadily approaching, Sir Elly's have even planned a delicious six-course traditional dinner that will be served in the days leading up to Christmas day (from 22nd to 24th December, 2,888 RMB per person). And if, like many of us, the idea of cooking/ preparing a Christmas dinner on the big day itself fills you with dread, why not give yourself the day off from cooking and instead treat the family to a five-course meal (2,088 RMB per person). There will even be a festive afternoon tea for kids held every Saturday in December, complete with a special kids’ buffet, games room and Christmas activities (388 RMB per adult including a glass of Champagne and 388 RMB per child aged 5-12 years old). Sundays will offer an equally wonderful Festive Family brunch with a selection of Christmas-inspired dishes (498 RMB per person).
Compared to other dining experiences the big difference you will notice with Sir Elly's is the attention detail, Michelin starred presentation, and impeccable service that you receive. For an afternoon or evening it can provide a serene place to relax, whilst watching the cargo ships floating along the Huangpu river. It truly is an excellent escape from the menial office or chaotic household!
Details: The Peninsula Shanghai Hotel, 13th floor, 32 East Zhongshan Yi Road, near East Beijing Road (中山东路32号, 半岛酒店, 13楼, 近北京东路)
Reservations: 021 2327 6756
Opening hours: 12:00pm-2:30pm/ 6:00pm-11:00pm Weekdays, 11:30am-2:30pm Weekends
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