The Verdict
YI LONG COURT occupies the second floor of The Peninsula Shanghai, a building that represents the architectural apex of 1930s Bund glamour — the neo-classical facade facing the Huangpu River, the lobby that was designed to signal imperial ambition in the years before the revolution changed everything. The restaurant's interior reflects the same period: jade-green accents, lacquered panels, and a ceiling height that communicates the particular authority of Cantonese fine dining at its most ceremonially correct.
The kitchen programme is built around live seafood sourced from Peninsula-designated suppliers across China's southern coast, and the simplicity of the preparation philosophy — do as little as possible to the best possible ingredient — produces results that consistently justify the Michelin star. The steamed lobster arrives with a ginger and spring onion preparation that requires nothing else. The suckling pig — ordered in advance — is lacquered to a crispness that the kitchen has spent decades calibrating. The dim sum brunch, served on weekends, is among the finest available on the Bund.
Yi Long Court also serves as the signature dining venue for Peninsula hotel guests arriving from around the world, which means the service team is experienced in managing multiple languages, dietary requirements, and occasion types simultaneously. Private dining rooms are available for groups of eight to twenty-four with full AV equipment for business use. The wine and Chinese spirits programme includes rare baijiu selections assembled specifically for international guests encountering the spirit for the first time.
Why It Works for Impressing Clients
The combination of The Peninsula address, the Bund setting, and the Michelin star provides the trifecta that business entertainment in Shanghai requires. Any client with international experience will recognise the Peninsula brand and understand the significance of the invitation. The Cantonese format — sharing dishes, sequential seafood courses, dim sum to begin — creates a collaborative dynamic that facilitates rather than interrupts conversation. Private rooms with harbour-adjacent views are available for the most important meetings.
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