In the golden era of Shanghai, namely, the Roaring 20s, a favourite pastime of the elite was participating in never-ending parties along The Bund. Today, however, a weekend rendezvous at the Hilton Shanghai City Center has become the ‘it’ thing to do in town.
The Hilton Shanghai Jing’an, which opened in 1988, was once Shanghai’s tallest building and the city’s first Hilton hotel, making it dear in the memories of the city’s long-time inhabitants. After years of absence, the Hilton brand has made a joyous return to the city centre. The Hilton Shanghai City Center is back in action.
The newly opened Hilton Shanghai City Center ushers in a mix of classic and contemporary, as traditional luxury meets modern amenities. Check in here for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, and to immerse yourself in an Italian-inspired setting. Taking cue from the iconic land of gastronomy, the hotel offers authentic and classic Italian flavours, so one is in for a feast for the senses in Shanghai.
Aesthetic Spaces
After a seven-year hiatus, this ‘celebrity institution’ is back in business. Comparable to a debonair gentleman suited up in a new tux, the Hilton Shanghai City Center is the same old soul with hundreds of stories to tell, but with a new, sleek look. Shanghai’s unique culture and the Hilton brand’s spirit are interwoven in the recent revamp and transformation.
The hotel’s spaces draw inspiration from ‘haipai’ culture and Shanghai’s wealth of Western-influenced homes. The lobby sees a gorgeous interpretation of the Roman goddess Venus with a cello that melds into the marble floors and conjures imagined music. Noble and elegant elements are exquisitely integrated in this common area, which whispers of low-key luxury and restrained elegance with a modern touch.
In this urban oasis, each space tells its own story. Equal parts elegant and cosy, the Hilton Shanghai City Center’s 381 rooms and suites draw inspiration from Western private residences and Shanghainese culture.
The Executive Lounge serves as an open space that’s perfect for social gatherings. Whether you congregate during breakfast, afternoon tea, or happy hour, the service and privacy here remain unmatched, and its prime location provides the perfect vantage point for looking out over the city.
Flavours to Savour
Known for cultivating culinary talent, the Hilton brand brings high-standard dining to its newest hotel in Shanghai. If your schedule permits, place your reservations for Osteria Twelve 16, the on-site Italian restaurant.
Historical photos of Shanghai adorn the restaurant, which fully embodies Shanghai’s refined style — picture high ceilings and an open design, elegant elements and a chic atmosphere.
Marco Erba, Executive Chef
Classic Italian cuisine comes to the fore at Osteria Twelve 16, where Executive Chef Marco Erba, who hails from the Lombardia region in Northern Italy, brings his exquisite palate and knack for balancing flavours to the following dishes:
Roast-beef carpaccio, cipriani sauce,
arugula pesto, Parmesan
Thinly sliced premium beef, beautifully marbled, is paired with fresh arugula, sprinkled with grated parmesan, and finished with a secret dressing. The tender meat, aromatic greens, and creamy cheese come together like the green, white and red stripes in the Italian flag.
Burrata, watermelon panzanella, basil oil
A must-try for cheese lovers, the burrata literally bursts with flavour! The traditional Italian cheese with high water volume is paired with fresh tomatoes and watermelon, and is further enhanced with basil oil and an onion salad, offering a multi-layered experience.
Homemade spaghetti, whole lobster,
Carbonara sauce, crispy pancetta
Born to be a bestseller, the golden lobster pasta is an olfactory delight and even more impressive on the palate. Its rich flavour comes from a complex recipe for traditional Italian lobster bisque that's blended with crowd-pleasing Carbonara.
The flesh of the shellfish itself is firm and succulent, and the tomato-based pasta strikes the right balance between sweet and robust.
The highlight of this dish, however, is Chef Erba’s handmade pasta, which absorbs the sauce perfectly, maximising the dish overall’s greatness.
Poached Patagonian toothfish,
Mediterranean broth
The Patagonian cod is prepared as one would pesce al cartoccio or ‘fish baked in a parcel,’ a traditional Italian technique of cooking seafood. The thick cod fillet is carefully wrapped in a parcel before being baked, and the accompanying seafood broth with mussels, tomatoes, olives, capers, lemons and other flavourful ingredients seeps into the fish.
The gentlest of touches is enough to flake the fish’s delicate flesh, which we sliced easily without even a knife; we’re happy to report it was tender and tasted immaculate. The snow-white fillet pairs exceptionally well with the Mediterranean broth which had absorbed the natural sweetness of the cod.
TIRAMISU DELLA NONNA
Chef Marco's grandma recipe,
Bailey's mascarpone, coffee
No Italian dessert is more iconic than tiramisu, yet making an authentic one is no easy feat. In the chef’s skilled hands, the coffee-soaked ladyfingers achieve just the right texture. The dessert’s soft layers are complemented by a silky cream with a restrained sweetness, creating a perfectly balanced dessert.
As one of the first hotel groups to enter China, the Hilton has served as an introduction to refined hospitality for many locals. Now, the newly renovated Hilton Shanghai City Center, with its extraordinary spaces and delicious offerings, is ready to welcome a new generation of guests and write a new chapter of stories, including yours.
📍488 Yan'an Road (West),
Changning District, Shanghai
☎️+86 21 3211 9999
All photos were shot by Time Out Shanghai. This article is not to be replicated without prior consent.