Banyan Tree

About Banyan Tree

Private dining rooms are the draw here for anyone entertaining clients — a discreet alternative to the main floor, with table service throughout and valet parking at the door on Gongping Road. The kitchen works in a Spanish register, and the drinks list runs to bottle service and VIP booths for groups who want to settle in for the evening rather than pass through. Music stays in the lounge and chill-house range, low enough to talk over, with live sets adding some texture on the busier nights. Fridays and Saturdays bring the heaviest turnout — a mix of socialites, corporate professionals and hotel guests, largely in the 25 to 45 bracket, with visitors from further afield filling out the room. Smart casual is enforced, and the $$$$ pricing reflects both the address in Hongkou, just north of the Bund, and the level of service. Open year-round.