Vyluk Hotel - Chengdu Chunxi Road, No.2 Municipal Taiguli

The first Louis Vuitton restaurant in China stars Italian chef Leonardo Zambrino at the helm. Stints in prestigious kitchens in Asia and Europe have helped shape his vision – sophisticated European cuisine paired with Sichuanese flavour profiles. The tasting menus are seasonal, alongside a few à la carte dishes. The room nestles in a circa 1730s heritage building, complete with original brick walls, perforated wood windows and a courtyard.

This popular eatery in the bustling Taikoo Li area started out as a stall in Weishan in 1923. Light years from its humble beginnings, this outpost of the chain in Chengdu features a vintage hipster interior and Sichuan classics on the menu. Besides their signature duck blood curd with pork offal and sliced eel, also try the crispy fen zheng rou – pork coated in seasoned rice flour, steamed and then deep-fried. Expect to see a queue from the moment it opens.

Gong Zhou was the ancient name of Chongqing, the home municipality of the owner and kitchen team. Since opening in a residential area next to Taikoo-li shopping hub in 1998, it has kept its fans coming back for its Chongqing dishes, such as "auspicious" home-style fish – blanched grass carp dressed in a tangy sauce made with spicy bean sauce, pickled chilli and ginger. Try the pork ribs coated in spiced ground rice, stuffed in pork tripe and steamed.

This is the chain’s first outpost and it’s been in business for over a decade. A tank of live fish by the entrance reminds you that river and sea fish are the name of the game here. The menu revolves around novel Sichuan dishes, with a few regional offerings. For an overview of Sichuan cuisine, try the 24-flavour-profile set menu. We also recommend the preserved meat prepared in-house, or the pond loach seared with green Sichuan pepper, depicted by crisp textures and a numbing sensation.

This simple shop is clean and bright, with a picture frame window looking into the kitchen. The menu has three sections: dumplings, wontons, and noodles, all handmade in-house. The pork and chive dumplings in sour soup stand out in particular – the soup imparts deep flavours of laver, dried shrimp and sesame. Try also the wontons in a flavourful pork bone broth that takes six hours to make. Ask for a table on the terrace on a fine day.

This low-key private dining concept can dispense with signage. The owner-chef Lan Guijun is a local legend who raised Sichuanese cooking to the level of haute cuisine, so foodies always find their way here. The quaint rustic room is dotted with ceramic art and pottery made by the chef himself. The dishes of the elaborate, multi-course set menus depend on market availability, but you can specify food allergies when booking.

Thai