Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire
Sophisticated fine dining in Shanghai
Revered chef Pierre Gagnaire has partnered up with Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li for Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire, his first venture in mainland China. Echoing Shanghai in the 1930s, the French fine-dining restaurant also takes a cue from Old World Parisian salons with its polished concrete walls and vintage-style lighting.
Located in the southeastern part of the Xuhui District, the restaurant and all-villa resort sit in some of the last shikumen stone townhouses at the Jian Ye Li estate. With protégé Romain Chapel — son of legendary French chef Alain Chapel — at the helm, the 70-seat eatery on the second floor of the hotel couples the creativity of two prolific chefs in a space just as elegant as the cuisine.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The all-day restaurant, which opened in 2017, serves twists on traditional French cuisine with playful pairings like the beef tartare with bluefin tuna, foie gras and Comté cheese. For a decadent dinner, order the six-course tasting menu that starts with caviar and continues with blue lobster fricassée and veal tenderloin à la Milanaise.
- Head sommelier Shawn Xiao frequently switches up the wine list, bringing in new bottles from around the world. Opt for the seasonal wine pairing for the latest lineup, or step things up a notch with a premium pairing that includes a wide swath of pours hailing everywhere from Chablis to China.
- The sultry, 20-seat Le Bar nods to Shanghai during the French Concession era with champagne cocktails infused with local, seasonal ingredients served alongside Pierre Gagnaire-designed bar snacks like cheese platters with red wine butter.
- Start or end the meal on La Terrace, a lush, vine-encased patio lounge reminiscent of Provence that feels like an urban oasis. Champagne is the star of the show here, but those in the mood for a digestif will find the perfect post-dinner picks.
- You won't want to bypass the creative desserts, like the pinot grigio and genoise cake covered in Italian meringue.
The Food
- While the Shanghai restaurant serves daily breakfast and English-style afternoon tea, it’s worth popping in to La Boulangerie to indulge in traditional French treats baked with butter and flour imported straight from France.
- The menu at Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire may veer on the more traditional side, but the desserts are just the opposite. The soufflé and millefeuille are crafted and served with unexpected ingredients like orange blossom marshmallows and pineapple sorbet.
- One of the fine-dining restaurant's signature dishes is the cocotte of frogs poulette.
Amenities
Breakfast
Dinner
Lunch
Getting There
480 West Jianguo Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200031 China
TEL86-21-5466-6688
NeighborhoodFrench Concession
