Calling all gluttons! When it comes to chowing down, Shanghai's restaurants know how to put on a buffet. Weekend brunches (mostly held in the big hotels Sun 11am-2:30pm) are not necessarily cheap (and a 15% gratuity is added to your tab), but they are sumptuous events and extremely popular among expatriates and Shanghai residents alike. Here's a sampling of the best hotel brunches:
Yi Cafe at the Shangri-La (Fucheng Lu 33, second floor; tel. 021/6882-8888) sets the standard high with the most extensive international brunch in town. Surely you can find something to eat from 10 food stations that span the globe's cuisine. Or maybe you'd like to try them all. The cost is ¥258 ($37/£19), with champagne costing extra. The Stage in the Westin Hotel (Henan Zhong Lu 88; tel. 021/6335-1888) has garnered raves for its kids' corner; parents can now feast the afternoon away (¥468/$67/£34 with free-flowing champagne) while their children play under supervision. Cafe Studio in the Four Seasons (Weihai Lu 500; tel. 021/6256-8888) is another popular choice with its full international spread of Boston lobsters, Chinese dim sum, a sushi and sashimi counter, carved meats, sumptuous desserts, and more, with as much Moet and Chandon as you want for ¥438 ($63/£32). The Marriott Cafe at the JW Marriott (Nanjing Xi Lu 399; tel. 021/5359-4969, ext. 6422) outdoes the competition with its 360-degree bubbly brunch: a feast of sushi, oysters, lobsters, and unlimited champagne (¥458/$65/£33) against a backdrop of stunning city views and live jazz.
Outside the hotels, M on the Bund offers the best views to go with your Bloody Mary and eggs Benedict; and Mesa offers the best healthy brunch around.
