The third outpost of this luxe East Asian eatery follows on from success in Dubai and Doha.
Following its success in Dubai and Doha, Shanghai Me has arrived in London, marking its third and most ambitious outpost to date. Taking over the rooftop space at the Hilton on Park Lane, previously home to Galvin at Windows for nearly two decades, the latest opening from Dubai's Fundamental Hospitality fuses East Asian flavours with a Mayfair postcode and 360-degree skyline views.
Shanghai Me sits proudly in what is the highest restaurant in Mayfair, and the views are as much a part of the experience as the food. Terraces wrap around the 28th-floor dining room, offering cinematic vistas that sweep across Buckingham Palace Gardens, Hyde Park, and the River Thames, taking in some of the capital's most recognisable landmarks from Battersea Power Station to the BT Tower and London Eye.
Inside, the design draws on the glamour of 1930s Shanghai. Art Deco flourishes are paired with plush red velvet, glinting gold accents, and large urns overflowing with flowers. Pop Art details lend a modern edge, while the adjacent Bund Lounge pulses with low-lit energy, offering cocktails, bar snacks, and DJ sets well into the night. It's theatrical without tipping into cliché, offering an atmosphere that manages to feel both elevated and intimate.
Chef Izu Ani leads the culinary direction, weaving together Chinese, Japanese, and broader Pan-Asian influences with characteristic finesse. The menu plays with tradition and texture, honouring time-honoured techniques while offering plenty of contemporary flair. Signature dishes span seafood for an increase in prosperity, a dim sum library for wealth, as well as noodles for happiness and longevity. Influenced by centuries-old recipes, a playful twist is imbued in traditional dishes such as Braised Beef Short Rib Shanghai Style, Sesame Prawns on Toast, Tiger Prawns in Chilli Sauce, and Yellowtail Carpaccio with Black Truffle.
To begin, the Short Rib Gyoza with Sudachi Ponzu (£22) are wonderfully moreish. The gyoza wrappers are delicate and crisped at the edges, giving way to a rich, slow-cooked filling and a citrus-forward ponzu that cuts beautifully through the fat. For a lighter touch, the Avocado, Salted Cucumber & Roasted Nuts Salad (£18) brings freshness and crunch, while the Evgeny's Wagyu Beef Sub (£42), a riff on the Wagyu Sando and named for Fundamental co-founder Evgeny Kuzin, is rich, compact, and unapologetically decadent.
The Szechuan Beef with Mixed Vegetables (£40) is fiery but balanced, with lacquered slices of beef nestled among chunky pieces of peppers and onions, offering an elevated take on a classic dish that doesn't shy away from heat.
Seafood is a standout, particularly the Silver Cod with Yuzu Miso Sauce (£48), which is a beautiful rendition of the ever-popular black cod. Beautifully flaky and served with a sweet sauce that further enhances the dish, providing as good an iteration of the popular dish as you are likely to find in London. Likewise, the Spicy Bluefin Tuna Oshizushi (£41) offers a playful hit of heat and umami and is shaped as one piece, like an elongated mille-feuille, in which you need to pull off each tuna and gold-flake-topped piece.
One of the more extravagant plates, Roast Duck with Foie Gras and Caviar (£110), is bold and indulgent. This standout dish layers richness upon richness, featuring tender, lacquered duck and buttery foie gras, crowned with a generous spoonful of caviar for a touch of salinity and luxury. The result is a harmonious blend of textures and deep umami flavours, and a centrepiece dish that embodies the restaurant's East-meets-West philosophy while offering an opulent twist on a time-honoured classic.
Desserts continue the theme. The Coconut Flan with Ginger Ice Cream is gently spiced and comforting, while the Matcha Tiramisu and Wasabi Truffles flirt with fusion territory. The Shanghai Me Fortune Cookie is the showstopper. It features a delicate tuile biscuit, shaped like an oversized fortune cookie and filled with chocolate and matcha mousse. Coated in hazelnut-studded chocolate, adding a delightful crunch and nutty flavour, the cookie is a playful and indulgent dessert that's perfect for sharing.
Service is polished and attentive throughout, confident without being overbearing. Staff move seamlessly between courses and take time to explain the stories behind each dish, reinforcing the narrative that Shanghai Me is as much about experience as it is about cuisine.
Backed by Chef Izu Ani and Evgeny Kuzin's ever-expanding Fundamental Hospitality group, which also counts GAIA and La Maison Ani among its London ventures, Shanghai Me feels like a confident addition to the capital's high-end dining scene. It's luxurious but grounded.
Aside from the food, Shanghai ME London lives up to its reputation of "Art Deco elegance" with a buzzing atmosphere, sheer sense of occasion and unrivalled views that set the bar at this sky-high venue. With superb service and a focus on quality, it's easy to see why Fundamental Hospitality’s latest opening is likely to become the talk of the town.
GO: Follow @shanghaimelondon on Instagram for more information.