Inspired by Shanghai, Developed in Hong Kong, yè shanghai Finally Crosses the Hong Kong Harbour

The name yè shanghai has come to signify a unique dining adventure. Food lovers all over Asia have been talking about the distinctive interpretations of the cuisine of Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which have already swept Shanghai and Hong Kong Island. Now Elite Concepts’ yè shanghai has crossed the Harbour to arrive at the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel.

yè shanghai Kowloon celebrates Shanghai in its heyday, when it was known as the Paris of the East. It brings to Kowloon the superb taste that has been acclaimed in Hong Kong and Shanghai, while adding some singular style touches of its own.

Art Deco Inspirations in an Inviting Modern Ambience

Just as old Shanghai catered to varied tastes, yè shanghai Kowloon has many facets to it. The restaurant features a bar and lounge, main dining room, and several private dining rooms. Guests enter through a Chinese-style wrought iron gate.

Taking its cue from the 1930’s, the bar and lounge blends Chinese and Art Deco influences. Wooden floors, a semi-circular bar made from Arabescato Italian marble, and heavy wooden chairs with dark red leather make visitors feel they’ve crossed the threshold into a zone that is private and sensuous. Diners can enjoy cocktails and a wide range of fine wines while relaxing in armchairs that are originals from the Art Deco period, reupholstered in an Oriental pattern. There are Chinese-style floor lamps and an oversized rug in front of the wine cellar-rack that contribute to an effect that’s so luxurious, it’s almost decadent.

There is more than one-way to dine at yè shanghai Kowloon. One side of the main dining room features tables adjacent to a full-length window overlooking the wrap-around verandah and bamboo garden. The verandah offers impressive views of the former Kowloon Police Headquarters, the Cultural Centre and a glimpse of Victoria Harbour across to Wanchai and Causeway Bay. The other offers six semi-private booths. Cosy and inviting, the booths feature high-backed seating, red wallpaper and paintings by Macau’s Fernanda Dias.

Cuisine – The Traditional Made Very New

yè shanghai offers the vivid tastes of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai cooking, with the region’s legendary cold dishes, meat and poultry dishes, and more. Shanghai also serves dim sum – a rarity for Shanghainese restaurants – and is probably the only Shanghainese restaurant with a pastry chef. Think you’ve sinned today? Try Chef Que Dang’s Black Sesame Crème Brulee with Roasted Peanut Icecream, or Tofu Cheesecake with Strawberries and Five Spice Crumble!

Six Private Dining Rooms

Adjoining the main dining room are four private rooms, all of which have doors opening onto the verandah. At the opposite end of the restaurant are two rooms (338 and 338x) which offer views of Victoria Harbour. Instead of names, the rooms have numbers with various meanings (1928, the year the yè shanghai Shanghai Shikumen (stone gate house) was built; 2002, the year that yè shanghai Kowloon opened and 456 and 369 significant numerical names for Shanghainese restaurants.)

The four adjoining rooms (1928, 2002, 456 and 369) are very flexible, and can be combined into one large space for large corporate events, banquets, wedding or mahjong parties. They can also combine to form rooms of varying sizes to suit the size of the affair. Each of the rooms has its own sliding door, which is unique among Hong Kong freestanding restaurants. Each also has a private bar and stereo system.

Adjoining Private Dining Rooms (338 and 338x) are connected. One is for dining, and the other offers a bar, hi-fi and sofa seating that is ideal for a pre-function setting.

Since yè shanghai Hong Kong opened in 1999, the idea of creatively reinterpreting the sumptuous dishes of Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu has proved a winner. It was only natural that denizens of Kowloon would want their own yè shanghai. Now it’s theirs to enjoy during the many tasty Shanghai nights to come.

yè shanghai Kowloon is located at the 6/F of The Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel, Canton Road, TsimShaTsui. It brings to three the number of yè shanghai locations – the others being in Pacific Place Hong Kong and Shanghai’s Xintiandi district - with expansion planned over the next few years to the lifestyle capitals of Europe and North America.

The restaurant was designed by concept architect, Tony Chi, of New York with interiors by ec studio, a new Hong Kong based design company specializing in the conceptual development and design of restaurants, bars and hospitality venues in Asia Pacific. Heading the ec studio team is designer Noel Bernardo, a protégé of world-renowned designer Tony Chi. Noel’s other Hong Kong designs include Cinecittà, yè shanghai (Hong Kong) and the recently revamped food court at Pacific Place.

yè shanghai Kowloon is operated by Elite Concepts, one of Asia’s leading restaurant groups. Founded in Hong Kong in 1991 by Paul Hsu, Elite Concepts manages a diverse portfolio of restaurants, bars, entertainment complexes and health clubs in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Shanghai. Outlets in Hong Kong include yè shanghai and La Cité in Pacific Place; Cinecittà, Kokage and One-Fifth in Star Street and Klong Bar and Grill at The Broadway, Wanchai with Bebek Bengil 3, also in The Broadway, scheduled for opening in mid-December.