shanghai | Sugared & Spiced

2012/02/112015/10/09

[Shanghai] Malt Fun

Malt Fun

Add: 123 Hunan Lu, near Yongfu Lu / 湖南路123号，近永福路
Tel: 6212 8728
Hours: 6pm~2am
Price: 80~500 RMB/single malt, 70~80/cocktail
Visited: Feb 2012

An evening of single malts and cigars at Malt Fun, a Taiwanese-run, Japanese-inspired whisky bar on Hunan Lu.

On a side note – Taiwan, though tiny, is among the top 5 export markets for Scotch whisky (via), after USA, France, Singapore, and Spain. Wowee! (By the way…Singapore? Even tinier, I’m impressed.)

James Bond has a bottle of Balvenie at Malt Fun from a past visit, and that’s what we had for the evening.

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2012/02/062015/10/10

[Shanghai] The Ritz-Carlton Pudong: Checking Out

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The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

Add: Shanghai IFC, 8 Century Avenue, near Lujiazui Huan Lu / 上海IFC，世紀大道8號，近陸家嘴環路
Tel: 2020 1888
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ShanghaiPudong
Visited: Jan 2012

Waking up to this view, feeling on top of the world (albeit a gloomy and drizzling one). Good morning Shanghai!

Though I already mentioned this in the previous post, I do feel the need to stress the point again – the bathrobe at Ritz-Carlton Pudong is so very very comfortable.

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2012/02/052015/10/10

[Shanghai] The Ritz-Carlton Pudong: Checking In

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The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

The Ritz-Carlton Pudong, opened in June 2010, is located on the top 18 floors of Shanghai’s IFC Tower. It’s got 258 guest rooms, all in sleek and modern design with hints of Shanghai Art Deco from the 1930s, and I was able to see the inside of it for a birthday celebration!

After checking-in at the Club Lounge reception, we were shown to our Club Bund View Suite, a luxurious 807 square feet space. A combination of velvet fabrics in vivid colors and clear-cut geometric shapes, the design is simultaneously sharp and soft. As we entered the room, the curtains automatically opened to a sweeping view of the bund – an especially impressive welcome on a clear day.

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2012/01/242015/10/09

[Shanghai] Ricco Cafe Rainbow Cake

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Ricco Cafe

Add: 107 Wuchuan Lu, near Wudong Lu / 武川路107号, 近武东路
Tel: 3531 2558
Hours: 10:30am~10:30pm
Price: 88 RMB/rainbow cake
Visited: Jan 2012

I’m not a fan of artificially-colored food either, but you have to agree that this rainbow cake from Ricco Cafe would please a 4-year-old on his birthday. And no, Howard is not my son, but his mom was kind enough to let me have a piece of his birthday cake.

Frosting

And what does the cake taste like? Well, each layer is of a different story: strawberry, apricot, lemon, taro…etc. The taste isn’t exactly impressive (and quite artificial), but after all, this cake is all about the looks.

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2012/01/112015/10/10

[Shanghai] Evian Spa

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Evian Spa (venue closed)

Add: 2/F, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu / 中山东一路3号二楼, 近广东路
Tel: 6321 6622
Hours: 10:30am~10:30pm
Website: www.threeonthebund.com
Price: Lomi Lomi Hawaii Therapy 980 RMB, 90 minutes
Visited: Dec 2011

Evian Spa at Three on the Bund is Evian‘s first and only spa outside of France, so naturally I was quite curious to see what it’s like. Upon entering Evian Spa’s 35 metre high atrium, with its zen garden-like decor of grey carpet and large granite rocks, it’s not difficult to image its glory when it first opened 7 years ago. Now, however, the space seems quite worn, and I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed especially after having been to some newer spas in town like ESPA at The Ritz-Carlton Pudong and Anantara Spa at The PuLi Hotel. I soon found out, however, that what Evian Spa lacks in hardware is made up for by the professionalism of their very experienced spa therapists.

At the waiting area, I was served a cup of hot tea and of course, Evian water.

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2011/12/182015/10/07

[Shanghai] Song Fang Maison de Thé 宋芳茶館

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Song Fang Maison de Thé 宋芳茶館

Add: 227 Yongjia Lu, near Shanxi Nan Lu /永嘉路277号, 近陝西南路
Tel: 6433 8283
Price: [tea] 40~70 RMB/pot, [cake] ~40 RMB
Website: www.songfangtea.com
Visited: Dec 2011

Song Fang Maison de Thé is an enchanting tea salon located in a converted former French Concession lane house. From the 1st floor retail space, climb up the winding wooden staircase to arrive at its bright and airy tea salon adorned with vintage tin cans, wicker chairs, and nostalgic floral red prints from Northern China – you probably wouldn’t have guessed that this place is opened by a French lady, would you? With light jazz floating in the background, this is a truly stylish retreat.

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2011/12/112015/10/10

[Shanghai] Afternoon Tea at The PuLi

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The PuLi Hotel & Spa

Add: 1 Changde Lu, near Yan’an Zhong Lu / 常德路1号，近延安中路
Tel: 3203 9999
Hours: [afternoon tea] 2:30-5:30pm
Website: www.thepuli.com
Price: [afternoon tea] 240 + 15% RMB/set, +100 RMB for Moet & Chandon Brut NV
Visited: Dec 2011

Please note that this is an arranged tasting.

In this cold weather, there’s not much better than spending a warm and delicious afternoon at The PuLi Hotel & Spa. The sun-filled lobby, an elegant space that feels a world away from the dizzying Shanghai city center, is a most ideal place to enjoy the hotel’s newly launched afternoon tea service.

For a even more secluded experience, head upstairs to Jing’An Restaurant, an understated yet stylish dining room overlooking Jing’An Park. You can also choose to take the tea service out on the terrace, but let’s save that for a warmer day…

Instead of the typical three tier tea stand, we were presented with a gorgeous wooden lacquer box, and instantly I knew PuLi’s afternoon tea would be quite different from anything else I’ve tried in this city. The price: 240 +15% RMB for a set (enough to feed two), or 340 +15% RMB with a glass of champagne.

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2011/11/282015/10/10

[Shanghai] The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA

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The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA

Add: 55F, The Ritz-Carlton Pudong, 8 Century Avenue 世纪大道8号浦东丽思卡尔顿酒店55楼
Tel: 2020 1888
Hours: 9:30am-10pm
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/shanghaipudong
Price: Signature Jade Qi Yun Treatment 1,200 RMB + 15%
Visited: Nov 2011

What does it take to be included in “Conde Nast Traveler Hot List Spas 2011“? Let’s find out by visiting The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA, the one and only spa in Shanghai that made the list.

The decor at ESPA is clean and modern with crisp lines, dramatic angles, and Art Deco finishings. The entire place is done in white, but soft yellow lighting makes the space warm and welcoming.

At the reception, a pot of soothing tea and a simple questionnaire.

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2011/11/262015/10/07

[Shanghai] Hof (2)

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Hof

Add: 30 Sinan Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu 思南路30号, 近淮海中路
Tel: 6093 2058 / 6093 2052
Hours: [Tue-Thu] 11am-midnight [Fri-Sun] 11am-1am
Price: [cakes] 30~42 RMB [truffles] 10-13 RMB [wine] 38-55 RMB/glass
Visited: Nov 2011

Hof is old news, but its selection of chocolate desserts never fails to draw a steady crowd.

I arrived at 2pm sharp to claim my reservation, and was luckily given the innermost sofa seats.

The two of us went a little crazy and ordered 4 cakes and 3 chocolate truffles…but you can’t blame us, everything looked too alluring. And yes, we finished ’em all. Mmhmm.

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2011/11/082015/10/07

[Shanghai] Vienna Cafe

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Vienna Cafe

Add: 25 Shaoxing Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu / 绍兴路25号，近瑞金二路
Tel: 6445 2131
Hours: 8am-8pm
Website: www.viennashanghai.com
Price: [coffee] 25~40 RMB [cakes] 20~45 RMB
Visited: Nov 2011

Vienna Cafe is old news. This cozy little place has been around since 2004, attracting coffee drinkers with its dark wooden decor, marbled tabletops, warm lighting, and a lovely sunroom that’s perfect for lazy afternoons.