Romantic treats for you lovebirds this Valentine’s
Whoever was responsible for scheduling this years calender was clearly on medication, or perhaps not enough....
As you probably already know, this years Valentine's Day falls exactly on the same day as Chinese New Year, which poses a variety of difficult problems for those living in China. Who are you supposed to spend time with this New Year's? Are you the romantic to anything for your other half and defy the family celebrations to spend the special day with your partner? Or do you feel obliged to carry on with tradition and family, and spend the day with them? How on earth do you choose between a traditional family reunion dinner and a romantic night with your loved one??
Why not spend the daytime doing all the traditional family gathering stuff, leaving the evening free for you to cozy up with your lover for a candlelit dinner? We at ShanghaiExpat have kept an eye on the best romantic dining destinations around town, and to save you some time, we've compiled a list of a selection of restaurants to make it a special night. Make sure you book in advance (Gentlemen we're referring to you here.....) and don't be surprised if your first choice is booked out should you call too late. Should you be unfortunate to miss out on your first choice, there is always the other 364 days in the year to make an excuse to visit one of these great places....
JB House
JB House is actually set in a renovated old house enveloped by greenery. Its spacious venue inside is set with enormous windows to allow you to appreciate the natural scenery outside, and a simple but graceful décor just gives you the time to focus on the delicately-cooked cuisines. The menu is teemed with seafood dishes and other delicacies, including traditional Shanghai-styled eats as well as some attempts at Western fusion. It will both satisfy your stomach and deeply touch your Juliet without lightening up your wallet.
Opening Hours: 5pm - 10pm
Address: 336 Xinhua Road, near Fanyu Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6283 2360/4398
Transport: No. 48, 76 Bus
Price: RMB 150 pp (Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 988 + 15% for tips)
Lapis Lazuli
A tranquil and quaint retreat with a tree-filled garden that will work wonders on your romantic night. The menu offers a solid selection of Mediterranean-inspired fusion dishes set to down-tempo beats and trickling fountains. The window-side table on 2/F comes highly recommended, both for its quiet Zen-like atmosphere inside and for the green view outside. Its tiramisu and chocolate will intensify your sweet night.
Opening Hours: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
Address: 9 Dongping Road, near Hengshan Road
Contact Tel: 021-6473 1021
Transport: Line 1 - Changshu Road Station
Price: RMB 200 - 300 pp (Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 599)
Website: www.lapiscasa.com
Palladio
Fine marbled floors and a romantic Roman garden are the settings for a dinner rich with finely prepared Italian classics like carpaccio and antipasti, fun-filled, hearty, but not too sophisticated. Food-wise, with un-faulted execution...Bringing your date there is a sure bet to impress her, and for her to enjoy herself.
Opening Hours: 6.00pm - 10.30pm
Address: 1/F Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1376 W. Nanjing Road, near Xikang Road
Contact Tel: 021-6279 7188/8888
Transport: Line 2 - Jing'an Temple Station
Price: RMB 350 pp
(Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 888)
Cucina
This stylish Italian trattoria features an open kitchen and a brick oven. Try booking early for a window seat with a panoramic view of the glitzy night in town and order some wood-fired pizzas and signature Italian classics to make your night special and memorable. The vibe is upscale but not stuffy, though the prices are as high as the location. Still it's worthwhile for a special occasion.
Opening Hours: Sun - Thur 5.30pm - 10.30pm; Fri - Sat 5.30pm - 11pm
Address: 56/F Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Avenue, near Fucheng Road
Contact Tel: 021-5049 1234
Transport: Line 2 - Lujiazui Road Station
Price: RMB 400 - 500 pp (Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 988 + 15% for tips)
Nadaman
One of the premier Japanese restaurants in Shanghai, with an established reputation for serving superior Japanese-styled cuisine made from only the freshest and most authentic ingredients imported from Japan. Its specialty is Kaiseki Cuisine, meticulously prepared and well versed in the art of Japanese fine dining. With choices of teppanyaki counter, two private dining rooms and main dining areas, you can whisper with your Juliet in the comfort of your own privacy whilst savoring on the delicious food.
Opening Hours: 6.00 pm - 11.00 pm
Address: 2/F Pudong Shangri-la Hotel, 33 Fucheng Road, near Mingshang Road
Contact Tel: 021-6882 8888 Ext.2610
Transport: Line 2 - Lujiazui Road Station
Price: RMB 400 pp (Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 988 - Kaiseki Cuisine)
Website: www.nadaman.co.jp
Should you feel that the restaurants listed are a bit too flash, and your looking for something a bit more quiet and romantic, then we have listed some other restaurants that you might prefer:
Wuminosachi
Category: Japanese Cuisine
Opening Hours: 5.30pm - 11pm
Address: 123 Nanyang Road, near Xikang Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6279 3777
Transport: Line 2 - Jing'an Temple Station
Price: Valentine's Day: RMB 198 pp (18 dishes with free flow of drinks)
Venexia
Category: Italian Cuisine
Opening Hours: 6pm - 10.30pm
Address: 127 Panyu Road, near Pingwu Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6282 2220
Transport: No. 76 Bus
Price: Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 976
Jean Georges
Category: French Cuisine
Opening Hours: 6pm - 11pm
Address: 4/F, 3 Three on the Bund, E. Zhongshan No.1 Road, near Guangdong Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6323 3355 Ext. 8308
Transport: No. 42, 62, 71, 251, 928 Bus
Price: Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 498/998
Banana Leaf
Category: Thai Cuisine
Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm
Address: 4/F, 283 Hongkong Plaza, M. Huaihai Road, near S. Huangpi Road
Contact Tel: 021- 5383 3333
Transport: Line 1 - S. Huangpi Road Station
Price: Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 399/499
Red House Restaurant
Category: Western Cuisine in Old Shanghai fashion
Opening Hours: 5pm - 11pm
Address: 845 M. Huaihai Road, near S. Maoming Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6445 6291
Transport: Line 1 - S. Shanxi Road Station
Price: Valentine's Day: Couple's package at RMB 888
Fragrant Camphor Garden
Category: Cantonese/Shanghainese-styled Cuisine
Opening Hours: 10am - 10.30pm
Address: 2A Hengshan Lu, near Taojiang Lu
Contact Tel: 021- 6433 4385
Transport: Line 1 - Hengshan Road Station
Price: RMB 150 (at least)
ICEASON
Category: Ice-cream
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm
Address: 1/F, Metro City, 1111 Zhaojiabang Road, near N. Caoxi Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6426 7155
Transport: Line 1 - Xujiahui Station
Price: Valentine's Day: RMB 99 (ice-cream cake and 2 hot drinks); RMB 199 (6-inch ice-cream pizza and 2 hot drinks)
Awfully Chocolate
Category: Chocolate and Cake Specialist
Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm
Address: Unit 113, InPoint, 169 Wujiang Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6267 9390
Transport: Line 2 - W. Nanjing Station
Price: Valentine's Day: 6-inch RMB 140 - 180; 8-inch RMB 280 - 360 chocolate cake
Unfortunately the restaurants listed below have confirmed that they will be closed for Valentine's Day. We have listed them below to make sure you aren't given a nasty surprise should you have been planning to go! Definitely worth making the time to visit in the future though .....
People Six
People Six is a Shanghainese-style restaurant. The appeal of that place is not the flavor, but its range of innovative concept dishes and exquisitely featured interior design. Don't expect to leave feeling full, the focus is more to introduce the delicate and innovative flavors rather focusing on quantity, a typical Shanghainese characteristic. You definitely can't help but appreciate each dish as a piece of art before taking tucking in. A tour around is like a venture into a maze, making it difficult to guess what is in store for you at every turn... Its washroom is a must-see, full of tricks. Just share the surprise here with your loved one?
Opening Hours: 6pm - 12.30pm (closed Feb 13th - 17th)
Address: 150 Yueyang Road, near Yongjia Road
Contact Tel: 021-6466 0505
Transport: Line 1 - Hengshan Lu Station
Price: RMB 150 pp (without drinks)
M on The Bund
This world-renowned Bund-side restaurant should be on the "must-eat" list of many lovebirds in Shanghai on Valentine's Day. M's inspired menu offers a wide range of European, Middle Eastern and North African dishes. Its delicate dishes and graceful silverware at this fine-dining establishment will give your special day a big delight. Whether it's the highly praised salted leg of lamb, or M's signature pavlova - you'll find a piece of heaven and unbeatable Bund views to boot.
Opening Hours: 6.15pm - 10.30pm (closed Feb 14th - 17th)
Address: 7/F, Bund 5, 20 Guangdong Road, near E. Zhongshan No.1 Road
Contact Tel: 021-6350 9988
Transport: No. 71, 42, 62, 251, 928 Bus
Price: RMB 300 pp
Website: www.m-onthebund.com
Bali Laguna
The exotic interior design in Indonesian style graces the tables at this restaurant, with the plethora of heavenly inspired cuisine in a traditional Indonesian fare; from the sweet (to sweeten your love) to the spicy (to stimulate your enthusiasm). With a myriad choice of spaces, share both the exotic flavors and intimate conversations with you loved ones, with the choice from the breezy veranda, overlooking night-view, to the plush private parlor upstairs.
Opening Hours: 6pm - 10pm (dinner); 10pm - 1am (drinks) (closed Feb 13th - 16th)
Address: 189 Huashan Road, near W. Nanjing Road
Contact Tel: 021-6248 6970
Transport: Line 2 - Jing'an Temple Station
Price: RMB 130 pp
Website: www.balilaguna.com
TMSK
It features the daring glass and light accents, which grace the entire establishment: furnished with the lights built into each of the tables, the crystal-like dining wares on hand and the colored glaze in every nook and cranny. But here the food is pricey and petit, due to its focus on innovation. It's definitely worth your visit especially if you want to add a fresh touch to your date this year.
Opening Hours: 6.10pm - 11.30pm (closed Feb 13th -15th)
Address: Unit 2, House 11, North Block Xintiandi, 181 Taicang Road, near Madang Road
Contact Tel: 021- 6326 2227
Transport: Line 1 - South Huangpi Lu
Price: RMB 150 pp (Chinese cuisine); RMB 500 pp (Western cuisine)
Website: www.tmsk.com
Shintori
For lack of a sign in the entrance, this wide-open, minimalist-styled warehouse of a Japanese restaurant is easy to miss. Wind along the grey-walled doorway and follow the bamboo-lined path beyond, you can't help but be wowed when entering its main dining area with the lofty ceilings, the fully-open kitchen, and the polished concrete warehouse interior. Most told, it's one of the few Japanese restaurants boasting a full package of ambience, style and sushi. Whether it's true or not, it won't be a bad treat for your lover. (Grilled cod, sashimi and cheese prawn roll come highly recommended)
Opening Hours: 5.30pm - 12pm (closed Feb 13th - 17th)
Address: 803 Julu Road, near Fumin Road
Contact Tel: 021-5404 5252
Transport: Line 2 - Jing'an Station
Price: RMB 300 - 350 pp (excluding drinks)
Website: www.shintori.com.tw
Info source: www.fantong.com
- 7777 reads