Shanghai has seen many changes over the past year, and one standout is The PuLi Hotel and Spa in the Jing’an district. This design-focused hotel, with 193 rooms and 36 suites, has continued to refine its offerings. Paris-born Executive Chef Ugo Rinaldo joined the property at the end of 2021, and Phenix, the hotel’s restaurant, retained its Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Shanghai 2023, marking its seventh consecutive year of recognition.
Phenix © The PuLi Hotel and Spa
Rooted in modern French culinary philosophy, Chef Ugo blends classic technique with contemporary creativity. His menus emphasize the finest seasonal ingredients and refined execution, producing dishes that balance intensity and subtlety. The dining experience is complemented by a thoughtfully curated wine list that earned “3 glasses” recognition from China Wine List of the Year 2022, enhancing the restaurant’s reputation among diners and connoisseurs alike.
A standout on the Phenix menu is Le Pigeon, a signature dish that pairs pigeon with foie gras, salsify and shiso. Praised by guests and recommended by the chef, the dish exemplifies Phenix’s approach: using local produce and presenting it through French technique.
“The pigeon is a local product cooked in a French style that is used for foie gras,” said Chef Ugo. “Then we have a Chinese sweet plum sauce, very similar to a French sweet plum. There is really a cohesion between what people will expect in a French restaurant but putting in local ingredients.”
The PuLi offers a refined alternative to the ostentatious luxury found elsewhere in Shanghai. The interiors, crafted by Kume Sekkei Japan and Layan Design Group, feature handmade touches such as silk wall coverings and porcelain vases, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere throughout the property.
© The PuLi Hotel and Spa
For 2023, The PuLi rolled out promotions valid through Dec. 31, including a Stay Longer promotion offering 10 percent off for stays of two nights or more, and 15 percent off for stays of three consecutive nights. May room rates at The PuLi Hotel & Spa start at $319 per night and include a stocked minibar, WiFi and unlimited access to the Health Club’s sauna, steam room and indoor infinity pool.
Within a few steps of the hotel is Réel Mall, a contemporary department store housed in the same mixed-use development as Park Place. Celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, the mall is a destination for beauty and fashion, with an exclusive selection of makeup, skincare and fragrance brands on basement level B1.
© The PuLi Hotel and Spa
Réel Mall’s beauty floor showcases well-known names such as Helena Rubinstein, YSL Beauty and Lancôme alongside niche brands like Hourglass and Matière Première. The mall also features Assemble’s new fashion store on the first floor, which curates a selection of international designer labels. Its carefully chosen mix of brands and thoughtfully designed retail spaces make Réel Mall a convenient and appealing stop for guests at The PuLi.