Upstairs FLAIR Steals the Spotlight, Downstairs AURA Quietly Holds Its Own with an 888RMB Seafood Tower

Same building, same elevator—but while FLAIR upstairs commands all the attention, AURA Lounge below barely makes a sound. Tucked into the 52nd floor of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, the space channels Art Deco design as a nod to Shanghai's glamorous 1920s-30s golden era. It's not large, but surprisingly intimate and quiet—the kind of place suited for a birthday celebration, a business chat, or hosting out-of-town friends, rather than a spontaneous Tuesday night drop-in. It's also earned a spot among the 37 hotel bars named to Forbes Travel Guide's 2026 Best Hotel Bars list.

Both floors share the same view of the Lujiazui skyline and the Huangpu River. The difference is that AURA puts the focus back on food and drink themselves.

The dinner highlight is the Chilled Seafood Tower (¥888)—a whole Canadian lobster, four freshly shucked oysters, prawns, mussels, abalone, and clams, making it the best value item on the menu. The lobster and oyster portions alone make it worth the price. The accompanying seafood soy sauce replaces the usual sharp mignonette, adding a layer of umami—a subtle but thoughtful touch. The portion is generous for a cold platter meant for two; you'll only realize partway through just how much food there really is.

For those skipping seafood, the Cassoulet Confit de Canard (¥398) is another route—duck leg confit with leek cream, Dijon mustard, white beans, and diced bacon, rich enough to sink you into the sofa. Add the Triple Cooked Duck Fat Steak Fries (¥88)—fries triple-fried in duck fat until crisp, dusted with parmesan. For dessert, the Ritz-Carlton Cake (¥98) pairs 66% Caribbean dark chocolate with Grand Marnier, walnuts, and candied citrus peel. The Grand Marnier is subtle, letting the dark chocolate carry the dish—a solid finish for dark chocolate lovers.

Daytime AURA Has a Different Rhythm

Lunch here follows the classic five-star hotel business-lunch formula: attentive service, steady atmosphere, no surprises but no missteps either. To start, the Beef Tartare (¥218) uses M3-grade filet with Dijon mustard, minced onion, and cornichons—a modern take on the classic technique. The Avocado Ritz (¥198) offers poached prawns, avocado, and butter lettuce with Marie Rose sauce—a competent light starter, though not a standout. For something warmer, the Potato & Leek Cappuccino (¥128) delivers a potato-leek soup with black truffle and pickled peas, rich but not heavy, with sun-dried tomato adding a touch of acidity and croutons for texture.

The Ritz Burger (¥268) comes with even the sesame bun made in-house—a wagyu patty with cheddar, bacon, tomato, and lettuce, with quality ingredients evident throughout, served alongside fries. The only minor issue: the lettuce is cut in whole leaves, making the burger prone to sliding apart—shredded lettuce would give it more stability. There's also a two-person Afternoon Tea (¥698), a three-tier stand covering sweets, savories, and scones, paired with coffee, tea, or juice—a classic setup done right.

Live music is another draw at AURA. From Thursday to Sunday, 2-5pm, and Wednesday-Thursday evenings 7-10pm, plus Friday-Saturday evenings 8-11pm, a vocalist and pianist perform live, mostly jazz with the occasional detour into other genres.

For those looking to save a bit, the Seafood Tower (¥888) set comes with pairing options: a bottle of Torresella Prosecco for just ¥1,188, or upgrade to Barons de Rothschild Ritz Reserve Brut for ¥1,688—available for both lunch and dinner. Once you've polished off the seafood tower and the bubbly, FLAIR upstairs is always ready to welcome you for one more round.