Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants of 2016 were announced on Monday in Bangkok, and although China's dining scene was well represented with 13 establishments making the cut, Shanghai's numbers were sadly down from last year's five, with our city claiming three of the top spots in the S Pellegrino sponsored awards.
Paul Pairet retained popularity however, with Ultraviolet by Paul Pairetranking at No 7 and Mr & Mrs Bund at No 28. While both restaurants placed slightly lower on the list than last year, Pairet himself took the 2016 Chefs' Choice Award, voted for by his peers.
Stellar vegetarian restaurant Fu He Hui (which won the highest new entry prize last year, not to mention Best Chinese Restaurant at Time Out's Best of Shanghai Awards 2015) moved up one well-deserved position to No 18. But the brand's Fu1015 establishment dropped off the top 50 list for 2016, along with Bund-side spot Hakkasan.
China's top ranking restaurant for 2016 was Amber in Hong Kong, coming in at No 4, while taking the No 1 position on the list for the second consecutive year was Gaggan in Bangkok. Sponsored by S Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, this was the fourth year for the Asia specific restaurant awards.