FAB HOTELS ASIA 100

With a host of fabulous hotels both old and new, plus restaurants to sate all appetites, here’s why Shenzhen should be on your list of places to visit next.  Set aside as the first special economic zone in China in 1979, Shenzhen today has a population of around 18 million. It boasts one of the largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, a GDP that surpassed even that of Hong Kong, and a host of other achievements like its record numbers of billionaires, skyscrapers, and Fortune 500 headquarters.  And if these are not reasons enough for a visit, a host of fabulous hotels and restaurants raised to challenge and redefine the hospitality yardstick of the region should suffice for an initiation into this expanding metropolis. Here is a curation of fabulous restaurants and hotels new and old in the rising metropolis that is Shenzhen China. 

The Launchpads

 

Shangri-La Nanshan Shenzhen 

Touted as the definitive Shangri-La of the immediate future, Nanshan Shang has many attractions that are matchless in the city — its rooms and suites are some of the most opulently raised, the views they afford are second to none, and the air of newness circulating through the property is rejuvenating the chain’s branding, as it best can. 

The lofty atrium and the spectacular height of its entrance and lobby are just some examples of its wonderful aspects and the details of its Lingnan style furnishings are also refined and alluring. The plush bathrooms of its executive suits, which feature white marble bathtubs and green marble shower rooms parked next to stunning views, are some of the most impressive and intimate spaces we’ve inhabited in recent years. Pity the astounding proliferation of fake and plastic flora all across the property, from the roof of the entrance to the alcoves of the lobby. They do nothing for the property except cancel out the resplendence of the architecture.

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MGM Shenzhen 

One of the latest openings in the city, MGM Shenzhen was raised next to a serene and scenic bay along the coastal outskirts an hour away by car from the city’s CBD. The newness of the property is palpable, with interiors that are invested with modish lightings and stark modern lines. The cavernous lobby is well-suited for family and group check-ins, but that is not to say that intimacy craving couples do not belong here.

Many of the rooms and suites are drenched in contemporary plushness and are designed for self-contained mini breaks, with sizable balconies that point towards the bay and many an impending sunset. A beach resort is something of a rarity in Shenzhen, and one that is enveloped by such splendid natural elements is doubly rare. There are plenty of activities here for in-house guests too, from nightly outdoor performances to an inviting expanse of pools and playgrounds. A splendid club lounge and four food and beverage outlets cater to the culinary expectations of guests. 

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JEN Shenzhen Qianhai by Shangri-la 

Qianhai is a new development in the city and from the looks of things, this sliver of reclaimed land is on its way to become the hottest rising hub for technological innovations and other economic initiatives in the Pearl River Delta region. Arriving faster and earlier than anyone else is the Shangri-la Group, which boasted three other Shangri-la properties in Shenzhen even prior to building the first JEN hotel in this part of town. 

A spanking new address is dime a dozen in this city, but not many can balance hospitality and lifestyle quite as well as this flourishing offshoot from Robert Kuok’s hotel empire. A singular sea-front tower harbouring 369 rooms, two outdoor swimming pools and four restaurants, JEN Shenzhen proffers options aplenty for the globe-trotting traveller. Notable establishments include Openhouse, which features surprisingly good renditions of Southeast Asian staples like laksa and chicken rice, and Qianhai Brewery Co., which is all beer and comforting continental nosh served with a side of rousing live music. Hotel JEN Qianhai is designed with the modern sojourner in mind and is suitable for long stays and short adventures alike. 

 

Andaz Shenzhen Bay 

Situated next to the ‘Spring Bamboo’ of the city, Andaz Shenzhen is one of the newest hotels to emerge within the Shenzhen Bay area right next to the iconic CRC tower. Bathed in modishly dark and petulantly moody tones, the Tony Chi showpiece strikes a glittering silhouette against the cityscape, with the rooms of the boutique hotel marking its chief allure. Markedly bright (even the tea pot and cups appear cheerful), roomy (starts from 50 sqm), and raised with ample glass walls, guests can expect scenes of the picturesque bay and city vistas as they lay their heads down for the night. 

 

Marriott Hotel Nanshan Shenzhen 
 

The Nanshan Marriott features a welcome edge in design, with accents and fittings resulting in an uncommonly opulent and unexpected Marriott flagship that reaches for the stars within the rising metropolis of Shenzhen. The tower that houses the hotel commands a good vantage from within the emerging CBD zone of Nanshan, an area in command of a GDP higher than those of countries like Cuba or Oman. Such a locality requires furnishings that are sophisticated, accoutrements that scintillate and views that inspire, and Nanshan Marriott does not disappoint on those counts. Unsurprisingly, this hotel commands one of the highest average daily rates (ADR) of the district despite new hotels breaking ground every other second within the vicinity. 

 

Raffles Shenzhen 
 

Tall, striking, and impossibly exclusive, The Raffles Shenzhen makes an unforgettable impression from the top levels of One Shenzhen Bay, a mixed-use cluster of skyscrapers with impressive heights. The aspirations of Mainland China’s second and newest Raffles property are clearly lofty — the designs are suitably modern (think muted colour schemes, bright roomy accommodations and contemporary lightings throughout) with just the right dosage of oriental references via the well-placed ornaments and tasteful embellishments. The views from the rooms are stratospheric to say the least, and on any given day no one will check-out unimpressed. 

 

Four Seasons Shenzhen 

 

Centrally located within the busy CBD of Futian, the Four Seasons Shenzhen was ostensibly raised with the preferences of the business crowd in mind. The rooms are spacious (entry category rooms occupy 43 square metres of space) and comfortably appointed, with the bathtub of the Club Grand Rooms cleverly parked next to a window wall that peers out into the busy streets below. There are four restaurants as well as a club lounge that cater to the exacting tastes of the corporate honchos circulating in and out of the hotel with agendas to meet and people to impress. 

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The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen 
 

Another beauty staking out in the heart of Futian, The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen was conceptualised in an era that conforms to different expectations and aesthetic preferences. but that does not mean it is irrelevant and out-of-date. While an extensive renovation has begun in the spirit of updating its design, the rarefied service delivered by the ladies and gentlemen of this outstanding hospitality address is nothing short of impressive.

The welcome a guest receives here is thoughtful and well-orchestrated, as the staff, from the greeters at the entrance and lifts to the restaurant and duty managers, know exactly what to say and do. The seriousness and pride they exhibit are somewhat absent from most luxury properties today, and their kind considerations are often 3-steps ahead, like how the Ritz-Carltons of yore used to deliver it. Such uncommon dedication to service not only deserves to be lauded but should likewise be earnestly replicated across the service landscape. 

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Shangri-La Shenzhen 

One of the first luxury hotels to rise up in the special economic zone, Shangri-La Shenzhen is still slaying it on so many levels — the adherence to old-school service standards, the familiarity of a well-loved hospitality mould, and the signature efficiency that is key to operating a 522-keys property all contribute to the longevity of this 43-year-old hotel raised right across from the city’s first immigration check-point of Luohu. 

Those who harbour a soft spot for nostalgia would invariably find the traditional accents of this property charming. For one, the rolling greens that spill into Hong Kong from the mainland is a vista of yore one cannot easily enjoy from a hotel room anywhere else in the zone. 

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The Langham Shenzhen 

Sharing the turf amongst the glass skyscrapers along Shennan Boulevard is The Langham, Shenzhen, a 352-room luxury address that capitalises on its central location with an elevated atmosphere that one can easily get used to — think white marbles, tufted headboards, splashes of the brand’s signature pink and colourful whimsical artworks splattered all round. Meanwhile, the easy access to Futian’s shopping centres, restaurants and art galleries will not be lost to both the business and leisure clientele the property is well-poised to receive. Within the hotel are two pools, a well-equipped spa and seven bars and restaurants serving everything from Cantonese fine dining to a signature British high tea and Sunday brunches. The well-oiled Langham Club Lounge is a particularly impressive outfit that greatly adds to a stay here.

 

The Culinary Stalwarts

 

East Room, Andaz Shenzhen

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Executive Chef of East Room, Chen Zhenrui now brings his flare for rich Cantonese classics to this relatively new entrant in Shenzhen’s fine dining scene. The local, who hails from Yunfu, Guangdong, has been honing his skills in Cantonese cuisine for more than 20 years and his focus lies in healthy cooking methods and ingredients, tempering the versatile cuisine with this ethos that caters to a rising demand for pared down versions of traditionally hearty fares.

The dim sums here are thus light yet old school, while the soups and stir-fried dishes are delectable, though simply prepared. The decor of the restaurant sets the tone for the new premises of the chef’s culinary innovations — delightfully Chinoiserie yet bright and airy courtesy of the ample glass walls that let in the stunning bay views across the entire restaurant. 

 

Summer Palace Nanshan at Shangri-La Nanshan Shenzhen 

Summer Palace is one of Shenzhen’s latest fine dining venues that serves comforting and elevated Cantonese cuisine within exquisite and elegant interiors as imagined by Chef Lin Yue Chu from Qingyuan, Guangdong Province. Young as he may be (41 to be exact), Lin has been dedicated to Cantonese cooking for over 20 years, circulating around the top Chinese restaurants of the region and developing his superb grasp on the techniques and tastes of the genre’s classics. 

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Over a sitting, we sampled his delightfully flavoursome double boiled soups and other innovative renditions of old school favourites roasted, braised and wok fried. The appetisers alone were impressive — the delicately presented Shandong cucumber salad and zesty tree tomatoes in berries juice really set the tone for a succession of delicious surprises ahead. 

 

Fiamma at MGM Shenzhen

A charming dining venue that blends contemporary interiors with resort elements, FIAMMA brings to the coast of Shenzhen a feast of Mediterranean flavours. The restaurant is formal yet cosy, with arched ceilings complementing dark walls and large floor-to-ceiling windows that let in both natural light and vistas of the splendid bay. 

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The menu showcases traditional cuisines from the Mediterranean region, including classic dishes from Italy, Spain, Greece, and more, offering guests an authentic Mediterranean culinary experience with fresh ingredients and time-honoured European techniques. From Italian pizzas to Spanish seafood paella to prime cuts from the grill, each dish exudes the rich flavours that complement the expectations one might harbour for a culinary address so close to the sea. Fabulous stalwarts in the hotel scene 
 

Shang Palace at Shangri-La Shenzhen 

 

A culinary institution of over 30 years, Shang Palace is one of the city’s most cherished spots for weekend brunches and milestone celebrations, having offered some of the most delectable Cantonese delicacies since it first opened its door. There is an old school milieu here that one doesn’t quite expect from Shenzhen, but finding it triggers a sense of nostalgia that can take one back decades, an experience that is complemented by modern creature comforts of course. Dim Sum chef Zeng Yue recently celebrated his 30th year at the helm of his corner of the kitchen, and the traditional and innovative dim sums he sends out are just utter perfection, with fillings of classics like har kow and siew mai still minced by hand, sans machines. The homemade selections here are extensive, and the familiar old school tastes are heavenly. When in Shenzhen, a yum char sitting here is absolutely essential. 

 

Man Ho at JW Marriot Shenzhen 

Cantonese is one of the most versatile of Chinese cuisines which really accounts for its extreme popularity across the globe. The classics are constantly reinvented to fit differing palates and expectations, and this is why it has such an impressive repertoire that goes from commonplace to haute dining. 

Man Ho in Shenzhen is a small outfit that takes Cantonese fares into the inventive genre, with prettily presented dishes taking centre stage in its menu consisting largely of updated classics curated from thoroughfares. As such, the roasted goose here is wood smoked and plated with its own smoke screen, while dumplings take on the shape of whimsical gold fishes and cheerful tomatoes. Purists of the cuisine may balk at the departure of familiar and cherished forms, but as with all things in life, variety never really gets old. 

 

Xing Li Chinese Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen 

Another old culinary address in Shenzhen, Xing Li occupies an entire floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen, and features a menu that reads like an odyssey into Teochew cuisine. Executive chef Lo Yu Fei is of course a venerated chef who has been honing his skills for decades, and his mastery of the classics is evident from the superb renditions of classics like dry-braised sea cucumber, double boiled shops and the roasted medleys that arrive fastidiously presented from out of his kitchen. A culinary hall for dignitaries and gourmands alike, the milieu here is not only elegant and distinguished, they are also delivered with some of the best dining refinements of the city.  

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Yun Jing at Raffles Shenzhen 

Reflecting its namesake, Yun Jing is a gorgeous culinary retreat set amongst the clouds. It occupies the 70th floor of One Shenzhen Bay and has a splendid view of the rising metropolis all around. On a clear day, the views are breathtaking; on a sullen one the vistas turn grey and poetic. Needless to say, the restaurant is renowned for both its views and its masterful Cantonese classics and delectable innovative dishes rendered by chef Gordon Guo. 

Two of the chef’s recommended signature dishes are sunflower chicken (raised cage free) and roast baby duck with caviar (a more robust alternative to roast pigeon). Yun Jing features the best of Cantonese classics in an elevated form, from classical and creative dim sums to inventive contemporary dishes retaining the essence of the cuisine, presenting impressive epicurean experience from the lofty heights of the city’s culinary firmament. 

 

Zhuo Yue Xuan at Four Seasons Shenzhen 

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A favourite haunt of the business crowds in Shenzhen, Zhuo Yue Xuan is helmed by Cantonese master chef Alan Sun. Guests can expect modern Cantonese dishes with regional Chinese influences at this elegant restaurant, which offers 10 private-dining rooms that caters to discreet entertaining in the city. Guided by Chef Alan’s profound culinary philosophy, the dishes here elegantly intertwine the classical favourites of Chinese cuisine with inventive contemporary twists and vibrant seasonal ingredients. Savour Chef Alan’s signature Steamed Lobster with Egg White and Seafood Sauce and Braised Fish Maw with Crab Roe, which emerge as an intricate mosaic of flavours. An immersive gastronomic experience that transcends the tried and tested, Zhuo Yue Xuan is well worth a visit on any trip to Shenzhen.