Ctrip Insider Prices Leaked: Foodie Witch and Shanghai Hotel Epicures Spoil the Must–Stock-Up List for You!
[ Secret ]
I rarely hand out perks, but once I do, it’s unstoppable! As a foodie, I’m very blunt about high-end hotels: they gotta serve great food! When people recommend a hotel because of its Instagrammable bathtub or seductive infinity pool, I half-listen with a skeptical side-eye and then coldly say, “Oh.”
But this time, I couldn’t hold back. I had a hush-hush chat with the Ctrip boss, mainly about: what if the livestream gets too hot and I want to sneak in an insider deal? When I saw the list, my heart raced.
1. Convenient – close to where I need to go.
2. Comfort – the overall feel of design, service, and bedding.
3. Good food – the in-house dining, or if not, nearby dining options.
And an extra rule: if #3 is truly outstanding, I can overlook #1 and #2. And one more: if it’s ridiculously cheap, I’ll just hoard it first and think later!
Take Mandarin Oriental for example. During this livestream, the Shanghai location actually offered a 60% off deal! Across Asia, Mandarin Oriental’s dining quality is always outstanding. I once went out of my way for a meal at Sala Rim Naam in Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, spending half a day and even taking a boat across the river. That Thai feast was as enchanting as a stage dancer, leaving me spellbound. The sommelier service at Mandarin Oriental is top-notch; that’s where I first tasted a Thaijito, with its refreshing lemongrass flavor. Time flies. Back then at the Hong Kong Mandarin Oriental, the 7th-floor Amber— a favorite of Leslie Cheung— the oyster with French ice foam won my heart, but the most exquisite detail was the custom Christofle and Nontron tableware, revealing quality in the smallest touches. Due to the pandemic, I’ve had to shrink my global gourmet map to domestic ones, but for me, that’s a fragrant stroke of luck! Because the same brand’s high-end hotel dining, no matter the outpost worldwide, rarely disappoints— with their teams, expertise, and vision, you’re unlikely to get a nasty surprise.
Before the Ctrip boss’ livestream, I secretly snagged an insider leaked list of super deals—once sold out, they’re gone. Here for your choosing:
Shanghai Mandarin Oriental · 58° Grill Single Lunch
The Bund Waldorf Astoria · Twin Lobster & Red Wine Set
Huating Hotel Weekend Single Lunch Buffet
Shanghai Jing An Kunlun · Jin Yan Double Set Menu
Shanghai Pudong Regent · Shang Xi Double Dinner Set
Shanghai Park Hyatt · 100 Century Avenue Weekend Brunch
Shanghai Bund Hyatt on the Bund · China Kitchen Four-Person Set
Shanghai Peace Hotel · Victor’s Deli Selection
Shanghai Westin Hotel · Stage Restaurant Single Lunch Buffet
Shanghai Skyway Pullman Double Afternoon Tea Buffet
Anandi Garden Peacock Double Afternoon Tea with Champagne
Also, I’ve checked out the reviews from foodie influencers on Ctrip—they’re spot-on and to the point. I think they’re way better than my gushing praise here. If you agree, let me know!
I’m already weak-kneed with excitement before even snatching them!
Shanghai Mandarin Oriental · 58° Grill
Single Premium Lunch
Travel-obsessed foodie photographer Olivia_GE: The 58° Grill carries on classic French tradition. The charcoal-grilled sirloin steak is stunning, and the chocolate soufflé is soft and sweet.
Diamond VIP Lonely Wanderer: The consulting chef for the grill is Michelin-starred chef Richard Ekkebus. The 58° refers to the ideal temperature for charcoal-grilled medium-rare steak. Under the leadership of Chef Mandy Goh, they use exquisite culinary skills to perfectly blend top-quality ingredients, creating exceptional dishes. The grill room is artistically decorated; through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the garden view is a fresh green scene.
Diamond VIP v****un: The 58° Steakhouse at Pudong Mandarin Oriental stems from authentic Michelin-starred French flavor. You can experience the refined French cuisine of Amber without flying to Hong Kong. A dream team of Michelin-starred chef and head sommelier, elegant and comfortable setting, a luxurious steakhouse experience.
Gold VIP haishenfrank: The modern French restaurant 58° Grill is led by the brilliant, internationally acclaimed chef Richard Ekkebus. With premium fresh ingredients and exceptional culinary skills, the Grill focuses on the essence of traditional French dining, offering guests the ultimate romantic French gourmet experience. Located on the ground floor, it opens to the outdoors, even offering al fresco garden tables. The entire restaurant exudes the Art Deco vibe of 1920s-30s Shanghai. The open French kitchen presents handmade charcuterie, charcoal-smoked meats, and freshly baked bread; guests also enjoy a full array of French-inspired dishes. Additionally, you can choose from over 250 wine and beverage options.
This Ctrip deal: Single Premium Lunch. Original price: 500 RMB, special price: 198 RMB. Purchase until Sept 1, 2020. Valid Aug 26–Dec 30, 2020. Not valid on Monday, Tuesday, Sunday.
The Bund Waldorf Astoria · Pelham’s & Ba Wei Yuan
Twin Lobster & Red Wine Dinner
Daydreamer Deer who wishes life to be as delicious as food: Love the overall style of Waldorf Astoria, elegant and serene. Brunch highlights include caviar, French foie gras, Spanish Ibérico ham, Australian imported seafood, and chef’s special recommendations. Service is also top-notch.
Pelham’s Restaurant: Renowned food consultant, slow-life advocate, food blogger Stardust Flying: A creative French restaurant that feels new every visit, only open for dinner. Writing the menu on a beautiful French mirror is quite unique. The butter served with bread bears the Waldorf Astoria logo, a notable touch. Amuse-bouche and appetizers are gorgeously plated, like works of art. The lobster soup served in a silver pot releases an aromatic wave when poured. The main courses of beef tenderloin and lobster come with a variety of seasonal vegetables. The desserts always linger in memory.
Gold VIP Lingxi Bingxue’s Rabbit: This location was originally the Shanghai Club, an exclusive Bund club that only accepted white gentlemen. The Long Bar inside was members-only, and even members were seated by seniority—newcomers to the west, veterans to the east, because the east side faces the window with views of the bustling Bund, the masts of ships on the Huangpu River, and birds flying over Pudong. After liberation in 1949, the Shanghai Municipal Government took over the building and reopened it as the International Seamen’s Club. Chef Philippe previously worked at the Michelin one-star Concorde Lafayette in Paris, the two-star Negresco in Nice, and in Japan, so his dishes carry a Japanese touch. Exquisite and tasty, the portions look modest but the main course is very satisfying. The chef creates visually stunning dishes for ladies, almost too beautiful to touch. The foie gras was the most delicious I’ve ever had—it melts in your mouth like ice cream, with no gamey taste.
This Ctrip deal: Ba Wei Yuan (Hundred Flavors Pavilion) Twin Lobster & Red Wine Dinner. Original price: 1,260 RMB, special: 791 RMB. Purchase until Sept 30, 2020. Valid Aug 26–Sept 30, 2020. No unavailable dates.
Huating Hotel · Hua Yuan Restaurant Buffet
Weekend Single Lunch Buffet
Platinum VIP Charming Angela: Huating Hotel keeps getting better; the food is really good, ingredients fresh and well-prepared. Guests are very satisfied, saying even a work lunch can be this good. I’m proud and very happy.
Gold VIP Tian Yi Ren Xin: Conveniently located, reachable by subway. The environment is elegant and quiet. The food selection isn’t huge but is refined and fresh. I quite like the cakes, both in variety and taste. Service-wise, maybe there weren’t many guests, so I didn’t see many servers, but when help was needed, they were patient and detailed.
This Ctrip deal: Weekend Single Lunch Buffet. Original: 208 RMB, special: 99 RMB. Purchase until Dec 31, 2020. Valid Aug 26–Dec 31, 2020. Not valid Mon–Fri, during the CIIE (Nov 1–10), Christmas Eve, or public holidays.
Shanghai Jing An Kunlun · Jin Yan
Double Selected Set Menu
Diamond VIP sAviOr_07: On the 39th floor of the Jing An Kunlun Hotel, the environment and service are great—quiet. The flavors are good, light Cantonese cuisine. The shrimp paste sea mountain ribs, the lean and fatty meat are crunchy and fragrant, thumbs up. Seafood hot-and-sour soup is packed with ingredients. The Emerald glass shrimp balls on green steamed egg with crab roe and shrimp—silky and fresh. Quinoa and three delicacies braised with white jade probably has superior stock. Steamed pumpkin with preserved vegetables and minced pork—pumpkin is very tender.
This Ctrip deal: Double Selected Set Menu. Original: 868 RMB, special: 399 RMB. Purchase until Dec 30, 2020. Valid Aug 26–Dec 31, 2020. Not valid on public holidays, Western Valentine’s Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year’s Eve, and Chinese Valentine’s Day (Qixi).
Shanghai Pudong Regent · Shang Xi
Double Dinner Set
Diamond VIP Lonely Wanderer: The restaurant of this classic luxury hotel has soaring ceilings, elegant colors, and excellent service. Sitting in the lobby, it’s quiet and peaceful. One of the servers, maybe a Taiwanese lady, was so cute, always smiling. Executive Chef Cai truly is a master of Cantonese cuisine! The set menu is definitely worth it; we greedily added crispy chicken and two zongzi, eating until we were stuffed. The pumpkin bird’s nest is the best I’ve had in Shanghai!
Platinum VIP 231****119: The name ‘Shang Xi’ means the chief in charge of imperial banquets. From traditional skills emphasizing refinement to creative new dishes, Shang Xi delivers satisfaction. The elegant interior design, with thoughtful details like peacock feathers and tiger-eye stones, gives the restaurant an irresistible charm. Five exclusive private dining rooms with luxurious décor are the perfect choice for business entertaining or gatherings with friends. Shang Xi has won the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating in mainland China for five consecutive years and many other accolades. The Hong Kong-born executive chef creates selected Cantonese dishes, letting you savor classic traditional flavors.
This Ctrip deal: Double Dinner Set. Original: 1,036 RMB, special: 470 RMB. Purchase until Sept 1, 2020. Valid Aug 26–Dec 30, 2020. No unavailable dates.
Shanghai Park Hyatt · 100 Century Avenue
Weekend Brunch
Famous food consultant, slow-life advocate, and food blogger Stardust Flying: This holds the record as Shanghai’s highest restaurant. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, you can feel the openness embracing all, as Shanghai’s unique grace and elegance unfold unhurriedly. Drunken chicken from Shaoxing, Shanghai-style soy-marinated yellow croaker, sashimi and sushi from Japanese cuisine, Sichuan spicy chicken, Australian Black Angus bone-in beef tenderloin, French chocolate cake, traditional crab roe xiaolongbao—all break down borders and seamlessly connect the world.
Platinum VIP peachsai: There are so many Sunday brunches, but this time I went for height—straight to the 91st floor at Park Hyatt. Not my first time, but I’m always blown away by the river view through the 25-meter floor-to-ceiling windows! The elevator access feels slightly hidden, perfectly embodying understated luxury with substance. Over a decade old, Tony Chi’s design is still incredibly stylish. Here, Chinese and Western cuisines plus Japanese are blended—whatever you crave, a tour of the stations will satisfy. Western cold cuts awaken the palate, along with various salads, especially the Niçoise salad, very Southern French. The seafood station is a must: giant scallops, snow crab legs, fresh shrimp, and freshly sliced salmon and tuna. The highlight is the freshly shucked Fanny Bay oysters, perfect for autumn and winter. Heavier dishes include steak and Wellington with tender beef cheek wrapped in pastry. Besides these, there are Shanghai-style dishes and Cantonese dim sum for the Chinese palate, very nostalgic. After Chinese, move on to Western desserts—there’s always a second stomach for that, even when full. Freshly made waffles, rich and sweet, plus berry panna cotta and various Italian gelatos, including a wasabi flavor. Five-star service, a feast atop the clouds that energizes your whole week!
This Ctrip deal: Weekend Brunch. Original: 500 RMB, special: 338 RMB. Purchase until Sept 1, 2020. Valid Aug 26–Dec 30, 2020. Not valid Mon–Fri, and Oct 3–4.
Shanghai Bund Hyatt on the Bund · Xindalu – China Kitchen
Four-Person Selected Set
Selected as a 2020 Ctrip Gourmet Forest One-Star Restaurant. Located within a star hotel, the restaurant features dark brown tones, creating a composed and elegant ambiance with exquisite details. Specializing in Shanghai delicacies and Jiangzhe cuisine, it has an open kitchen where dishes are prepared live, offering an interactive dining experience around the counter. Their Peking duck is particularly noteworthy, roasted in a traditional brick oven, crispy and tender.
Renowned food blogger, 8 years of food writing, seasoned foodie Da Guai: One of the top restaurants in Shanghai for roast duck, with seasonal new dishes that always bring surprises. Among hotel restaurants, Xindalu stands out for its consistent quality and flavors rooted in Shanghai and Jiangzhe cuisine, attracting many regulars.
Gold VIP 139****6813: For the most authentic Beijing-style fruitwood-roasted duck in Shanghai, this is the place. The open kitchen is full of lively flames, making you feel like you’re dining in your own kitchen—cozy and casual. Xindalu China Kitchen focuses on Shanghai cuisine but also blends iconic Haipai dishes from various regions, with many homestyle stir-fries. Executive Chef Zhou Hongbin adheres to eating seasonally: spring brings bamboo shoots and shepherd’s purse, summer offers refreshing white shrimp and aloe, autumn highlights crab feasts, winter switches to rich lamb and eel. Classics like Shanghai smoked fish, xiaolongbao, Suzhou squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and Hangzhou’s golden beggar’s chicken are available year-round. They also impress with cocktails made from Maotai or iced Huadiao tea. It’s said only 20–30% of diners are hotel guests; the rest are outside patrons.
This Ctrip deal: Four-Person Selected Set. Original: 1,788 RMB, special: 1,099 RMB. Purchase until Sept 2, 2020. Valid Sept 1–Dec 30, 2020. Not valid on Dec 24 and public holidays.
Shanghai Peace Hotel · Victor’s Deli
Victor’s Deli Selection
Senior travel editor, passionate about inns and food, Tian Na: The environment is truly nice, very old Shanghai, nostalgic, with understated yet romantic lavishness. Dining here is about a sense of nostalgia.
Diamond VIP 52****136: Peace Hotel, a century-old establishment with classic décor—and classic high prices, but the food quality is up to standard. The chocolate cake is rich, the cream is fine, the fruit mille-feuille is crisp with fresh fruit, the sandwich comes with fries, thumbs up, and the coffee is decent.
This Ctrip deal: Victor’s Deli Selected Set. Original: 499 RMB, special: 288 RMB. Purchase until Aug 30, 2020. Valid Aug 27–Nov 30, 2020. Not valid Oct 1–4.
Shanghai Westin Hotel · Stage Restaurant
Single Lunch Buffet
Food operations manager, travel and dessert lover, eats but never gains weight, Wan Wan: The Stage Restaurant’s buffet can be called the king of value in Shanghai. Wide variety of dishes, quick replenishment, authentic ingredients, comfortable setting, and top-notch service—the best part is the very reasonable price. All kinds of seafood, freshly grilled meats, international fare, and desserts are available.
Diamond VIP Smad: When talking about big-brand buffet restaurants in Shanghai, the Westin’s Stage Restaurant is definitely one. The hotel itself is a high-end location in the city center; upon entering, the décor and ambiance are grand and luxurious. The restaurant is on the ground floor of the lobby, with various stage pools and live music performances from the second floor, making every guest feel extremely comfortable. The buffet offers over a hundred dishes, from fresh sashimi and seafood to grilled meats, classic dishes from various cuisines, and delicious desserts—more than enough to tempt my stomach.
This Ctrip deal: Single Lunch Buffet. Original: 298 RMB, special: 166 RMB. Purchase until Aug 30, 2020. Valid Aug 27–Dec 31, 2020. Not valid Feb 10–11, 2021.
Shanghai Skyway Pullman Hotel · Garden Restaurant
Double Afternoon Tea Buffet
The 50th-floor afternoon tea buffet, with window seats all around, offers a panoramic view of Shanghai. The snack selection isn’t vast but decent, with eye-catching swan-shaped pastries. The key highlight is the commanding view—a great choice.
This Ctrip deal: Double Afternoon Tea Buffet. Original: 376 RMB, special: 199 RMB. Purchase until Sept 2, 2020. Valid Aug 27–Dec 31, 2020. No unavailable dates.
Anandi Hotel · Lobby Lounge
Double Champagne Afternoon Tea
Diamond VIP Shirley: Came to check out the Anandi Hotel, a “health and wellness” themed luxury hotel under the American LHW group, and to try its cherry blossom afternoon tea. The interior is modern, elegant, and minimalist, with a soothing Morandi color palette. Outside, spring is in full bloom—flowers, birdsong, and peacocks dancing. Switching between these two scenes feels effortless; enjoying afternoon tea in such a relaxing environment is especially pleasant. The double cherry blossom afternoon tea is in pink tones, absolutely stunning, with exquisitely pretty tableware that ignites any girlish heart. The set includes a cup of coffee and a TWG tea each, plus desserts like pistachio litchi cherry blossom mousse, cherry blossom cheese jelly, vanilla madeleines, cherry blossom Swiss roll, cherry blossom macarons (eight kinds), and savory items like salmon and scallop (three kinds) plus two scones.
This Ctrip deal: Double Champagne Afternoon Tea. Original: 736 RMB, special: 388 RMB. Purchase until Sept 1, 2020. Valid Aug 27–Sept 20, 2020. No unavailable dates.
Life is short, no need to take risks. In good times, there should be more wise choices. Like autumn, may you harvest happiness!
Which one makes you want to lick your fingers?
“The most healing things in the world:
first is food,
second is words.”
Food Bless You!
Consultant for China International Food Expo
Producer of “The Godlike Table”
