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There’s no al fresco establishment in China quite like Flair Rooftop Restaurant & Bar.
Not only is Flair home to the country’s highest outdoor terrace, the Shanghai venue also serves up a full-blown wining and dining experience that lingers long after the final cocktail is poured or tapas bite consumed.
From its lofty position on the 58th floor of the swanky Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong hotel that sits proudly in the vibrant International Financial Centre district, Flair – which stands for Fashionable, Life, Attractive, Inspire, and Romanic – is all about the ‘high’ life, in fact, during the past decade the five-star venue has become such an institution in China’s most populous city that there’s often a line to get in (entry is free).
“The stunning view from the outdoor terrace is just unbeatable,” Ivan Li, the venue’s assistant manager and one of its talented bartenders, tells me.
Li, who has been a Flair team member for the past three years and prior to that was Head Bartender at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, is right-on. The 270-degree vistas guests are afforded from the sky-high outdoor terrace rank among the region’s best.
If it’s not the landmark Oriental Pearl Tower – the 468-metre-tall photographic gem that sparkles in a colourful rotation after dark – patrons are oohing and aahing over, they’re admiring the historic Bund waterfront that’s packed with clock towers, magnificent dome structures, and column architecture, and the Hongkou shor bordering the Huangpu River, the last significant tributary of the Yangtze before it empties into the East China Sea.
“Flair definitely escalates the city’s dining scene,” adds Li. “We focus on delivering delicious dishes and have genuine care for each guest. With the choice of indoor or outdoor seating, guests can enjoy a cool, casual vibe here.”
Aside from the spectacular panoramic views that can be appreciated from the split-level terrace or through the floor-to-ceiling windows inside, the sophisticated clientele are just as enamoured by the establishment’s design, its creative cocktail list, and tapas-style food selection that celebrates Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Indian, China, and Thai cuisine.
“Flair’s got excellent service and really nice food. A great wine selection and a breathtaking view of the city. I highly recommend it,” one patron said after a recent visit.
The 154-seat restaurant and 62-seat terrace was designed by globally-renowned Japanese company, Super Potato, which was founded by Takashi Sugimoto and has had a hand in designing the Grand Hyatt Singapore hotel and the Park Hyatt Seoul, and has distributed its designs to properties in China, India and the United States,
Flair’s cosy interior exudes a comfortable blend of rustic and modern appeal, successfully creating a loft-lounge style atmosphere. The popular outdoor area lends itself to a Miami-style vibe thanks to a colourful backdrop that shines brightly as a result of the city’s twinkling LED lights and glistening high-rises that line the river.
Sections of the interior walls are made from oya stones from the riverbed of Japan while others are made from Japanese mud. These are complemented by original hard maple beams and pillars collected from China’s ancient wooden residences, an element that adds to the cultural appeal.
Flamboyant red sofas, dim mood lighting, and soft candlelight contrast with the inbuilt fireplace, the set-up encouraging intimacy and interaction in equal measure. On the terrace, the vibe is electric and full of ‘flair’ – a great place to enjoy an aperitif or go the whole hog and indulge in a selection of sharing bites from the venue’s reputable Asian-fusion tapas menu.
There’s a regular Brazilian music maestro, DJ Luana, who ups the ante and keeps the beat pumping in the evenings, spinning the decks between 8pm and 12am from Tuesday to Sunday and a refreshed weekend brunch for that added day-time gastronomic flair.
Menu favourites include Kungpao chicken (RMB 178 [$37]), wok stir-fried seafood ($68), Chinese rice wine chilli king prawn ($71), and its range of assorted sushi platters (from $123), see below.
The bar’s elaborate drinks menu is packed with tasty creations too, boasting as many as 40 different types of vodka, an impressive selection of fashionable small distillery rums, signature cocktails, and a handful of unique concoctions aptly named ‘Flair Creations’.
Signature Shanghai-inspired cocktails include the gin-based Shanghai Pearl that blends an aperitif wine, egg white, berries, and sparkling wine, and the Huangpu Cooler that combines Chinese rice wine, Chamomile-inspired aperitif wine, tea syrup and lemon (all $31).
And according to Li, the Flair Creation with the broadest appeal is a twist on a classic, one that blends aged rum, Asian spice, and champagne.
“The Ritz Mojito ($36), was created by the team here and was promoted to other Ritz-Carlton hotels a few years ago,” says Li proudly. “You can now find this cocktail on the menu at The Ritz-Carlton hotels in Tianjin, Chengdu, and Beijing.”
So, what does it cost and is it worth it? Being that Flair is part of the five-star Ritz-Carlton stable you’d expect the prices to be almost as high as the venue itself, but the food is delicious and the drinks superlative.
As for whether it’s worth the splurge, if you’re an Instagram junkie with a taste for the finer things in life, my advice is, it’s high time you took your travel and dining ventures to new heights in ‘Shang-high’.
For as long as I can remember I have loved to write. Combine that creativity with an inquisitive mind and a desire for adventure and what you get is a career wordsmith whose prose is her craft.
