Pilot's view vistas at Flair
In Shanghai, a city of almost 20 million and counting, open spaces are becoming scarcer than hen’s teeth. But with the slew of new hangouts that have burst onto the scene in time for the World Expo (just one week left!), you can thank your lucky stars, as many sport brilliant alfresco spaces and blockbuster views. Eat, drink and be airy? Yes, xie xie. Here’s our pick of the newest bunch.
A red welcome
Old Shanghai hands now often refer to things in the city as ‘pre-Expo’ or ‘since the Expo’. Pre-Expo, if you wanted the unique package of piquant Yunnanese dishes and a sultry sip n’ sup spot, you’d have to head out west to Lost Heaven in Shanghai’s Xuhui district. Since the Expo, they’ve opened a four-storey flagship on the Bund, so you can pop in after sightseeing along the expanded walkway (another ‘since the Expo’ plus, huzzah!) or post-retail if you’ve been following LUXE Shanghai‘s Shopping Itinerary for the Bund.
Squid Caramelized, Onion Puree and Ink Croutons
Hot on Shanghai‘s foodies’ lips aren’t Sichuan chillis, but the opening of casual, convivial Mod Euro resto Table No. 1 by Jason Atherton. Why? Well, it’s in The Waterhouse at South Bund, one of the city’s newest design hotels, but it’s Jase’s name that’s tickling gastronomes’ palates. He’s done the rounds in the kitchens of Pierre Koffman, Marco Pierre White, Ferran Adrià, and most recently was Gordon Ramsay’s man for maze and maze Grill, as Executive Chef for this gastro empire that spans London, Prague, New York, Cape Town, Melbourne and Dubai.
If you’ve got it, flaunt it [Photo by LingZhi-小智。-Suzuki-/Flickr]
Sure, you’re in Shanghai for the World Expo, and while you could gorge yourself silly on the edible chocolate replicas of Chinese landmarks in the Belgian Pavilion, or imbibe even sillier quantities of rum in the specially crafted cocktails at the Cuban Pavilion, the city itself has always been one of China’s most international, and it shows in its culinary offerings. So after you’ve toured the globe within the Expo’s confines, you can do it again when supping in town.
Slow and spicy wins the race at Bo.lan
With Arctic conditions still sweeping across the northern hemisphere, it’s all we can do to keep our nips from freezing and breaking off. Our first post a few weeks back on our favourite spice dens was a fiery hit, so here then, are five more places close to home or in dream destinations guaranteed to warm up the cockles of your heart.
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