Ten restaurants we have recently reviewed

Located on the Bund, this Hilton International luxury restaurant aims to “…celebrate the culinary heritage of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts”, a heritage rightly worth celebrating, considering numerous culinary classics such as Red Velvet Cake, Waldorf Salad and Eggs Benedict were all invented at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

The atmospheric traditional-meets-modern attic restaurant offers a 10-course tasting menu perfectly designed to sample these varied cuisine. The drinks on offer are also note-worthy; the restaurant features a wine cellar of around 500 bottles in addition to Chinese liqueurs and spirits.

The bar and Grill located on the 29th and 30th floors both boast inside dining and terraces with incredible views across the Huangpu River and to the skyscrapers of Pudong, accentuated by dark wood floors and ceiling.

The detailed seasonally- changing menu offers an impressive range and quality of steaks, as well as a memorable selection of oysters from around the globe to precede the main dish.

Modern in style with glossy tables illuminated by spotlights, this open- plan restaurant offers signature cocktails, a four-course Taste of Italy menu, as well as a modest selection of Italian starters and mains.

The food tends to lean of the side of the safe rather than the inspiring, but in general is a well-located and handy place to dine as a solo businessperson.

Designed with millennial business travellers in mind, this funky, fun and relaxed restaurant is refreshingly unlike a typical formal hotel restaurant. The industrial-chic aesthetic, hand-painted graffiti murals, and “kitchen theatre experience” with open food prepping stations mean you won’t be short of visual stimulation.

Serving an extensive international buffet ranging from Turkish pizza to foie gras, the seafood counter and irresistible dessert station are particularly superb. The exceptional food means you can forgive the fairly limited drinks selection; PLAYT altogether provides a unique experience.

Termed a “modern day classic”, the 34’s doormen welcome you into a glamorous Neverland in which everyone and everything is polished and coiffed, without radiating any air of snootiness. Enjoy soft jazz bumbling in the background whilst sipping on one of the many champagnes, wines, or cocktails made with interestingly innovative ingredients such as lavender bitter and geranium purée.

The contemporary European open kitchen serves an a la carte menu divided into sections covering asparagus, raw, salads, steak and fish, as well as individual starters and mains.

Located in the Left Bank quarter of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the tropical greenery in this bright, galleried restaurant means it appears to be more of a botanical garden than Parisian bistro, creating a relaxed vibe.

The good-looking restaurant stands out from others in the area; traditional dishes are infused with Asian cuisine. These Asian twists are weaved into the mains using various pickles and broths, while the desserts on offer (such as Millefeuille and chocolate tart) remain very beautifully and classically French.

Searcys champagne bar has introduced an Italian “street-dining” menu with meatballs as the signature dish. Within the art deco inspired interior, a large circular bar dominates, with low tables and armchairs surrounding, on which you can sip and eat simultaneously, the meatballs being accompanied by an ample selection of sauces, sides and toppings.

Searcys is a great option for casual meetings and light bites, and the informality of street food contrasted with the glamour of champagne makes for an intriguing mix.

Sitting in Cavendish Square, the restaurant’s concept is ‘ the ultimate in food and wine matching’, with each dish on the menu (including desserts) paired with a choice of four wines at four different price points.

Les 110 successfully does this, with surprising yet pleasing pairings between the myriad of wines and the classic bistro dishes on the menu. The elegant design of the room with its rich oak and bottle green velvet accents create an atmospheric dining experience, as well as enhancing the sense of viticulture.

The latest in an international chain of mozzarella bars, Obica makes a good place to come for a quick bite with both colleagues and clients, provided you are comfortable with the concept of ‘sharing plates’.

Despite the mozzarella di bufala (directly imported from Italy twice weekly) featuring prominently, many other salumi, antipasti, salads, soups, pastas, meats, fish are on offer. And not forgetting the pizzas, all cooked in an authentic copper pizza oven. Cocktails are fashioned with house-made syrups, juices and purées, and all wines are Italian.

Formerly the site of the legendary Marquee club, the venue has now been launched as a stylish and relaxed bar (upstairs) and restaurant, club and live music venue downstairs. The Mediterranean- inspired menu features a selection of small plates- plus mains, seafood platters and signature sharing dishes like Chateaubriand and suckling pig.

Many of these dishes are cooked on an open robata grill and Josper oven. The music (genre is dependent on the night) is played and performed at a good volume for conversation and creates a leisurely dining atmosphere.