上海Hill & XING 142家庭旅馆，靠近淮海路和1号线常熟路站的两卧室

This oasis in the bustling city centre serves traditional Cantonese cooking, and its chef is particular about every detail. The signature fried chicken with sand ginger in claypot smells and tastes divine, and every piece of meat and condiment is diced in uniform sizes. Tea-smoked pigeon seduces with juicy flesh and smoky depth from pu erh tea leaves. Ask the sommelier to pair your food with wine from their well-curated selection.

中餐

Despite expansion all over Asia, this chain’s quality control is strictly imposed to ensure all dim sum, roast meats and double-boiled soups achieve the same high standard as that of the parent restaurant. ‘Crossing-the-bridge’ geoduck is blanched tableside in a hot seafood stock that takes six hours to make. Claypot rice with preserved meat is made to order. Seafood can be prepared to suit your tastes. Pre-ordering dishes is recommended.

餐厅

Once the property of IM Pei's family, this historical mansion is now home to the Shanghai flagship of this upmarket dining group. Adorned with Pei's original drawings and architectural motifs in the Suzhou style, the space befits the class of the brand. Book ahead and customise the all-inclusive, seafood-forward menu to your party's liking. Your maître d' ensures top-notch, detailed service. Ask the sommelier about wine or Chinese liquor pairing options.

Dim yellow lights, 1930s memorabilia, golden oldies performed by singers dressed in qipao… but, surprisingly, the ambiance doesn't steal the show. It's the first-rate Shanghainese fare at bargain prices that keeps the place packed. One highlight of the fish-focused menu is crab, as the owner picks the best from his own farm; the crabmeat and roe on rice is a must. Fried shredded eel with water bamboo affords a nice contrast of textures.

Tou Zao is the highest ranking chef responsible for wok-fried dishes in a kitchen. The chef is justly proud of his deft control of heat, remarkable wok-frying skills and wok hei that are the hallmarks of his culinary score. The single prix-fixe menu is served omakase style and in a chef’s table setting for an intimate experience. Specific dishes spin with the seasons, but signatures like crispy chicken and spring rolls are firm fixtures all year round.