After two decades of bringing authentic Shanghainese cuisine to Singapore, the refurbished Grand Shanghai makes its highly anticipated return with a fresh look andunique dining concept paying homage to the “Old Shanghai” of the 1930s.

The new restaurant space promises a feast for the senses, inspired by the city’s golden age when Shanghai came to be known as “The Paris of the East". Against a backdrop of Old Shanghai – iconic art- deco motifs and traditional oriental designs – discerning diners can expect to immerse themselves in a vibrant atmosphere of enchanting live entertainment and an extensive menu of decadent delicacies by new Master Chef Jacky Tang that are rooted in Shanghainese cuisine and adapted for the local palate.

“After 20 years of success, we wanted to rebrand Grand Shanghai with a contemporary look and feelwhile maintaining its original Shanghainese authenticity and heritage,” explains Andy Wong, Vice President, Food & Beverage, Asia, Millennium Hotels and Resorts. “The refresh of our menu, interiors and dining experience is a seamless blend of traditional Chinese tastes with modern influences, celebrating a period in history where Shanghai was Asia’s thriving hub of art, design and entertainment.”

Grand Shanghai is helmed by Master Chef Jacky Tang, who brings with him 28 years of experience working in award-winning restaurants and hotels across Singapore and China and is known for his distinct talent of using innovative new techniques to tease out authentic Shanghainese flavours. The restaurant’s new menu is a celebration of the freshest and finest ingredients, incorporating influences from Hong Kong, Beijing, Sichuan and Singapore.

Adapted to suit local tastes, the new menu features lighter flavours to complement the Singapore weather as well as the addition of more varied spices. Duck also features heavily in this iteration of the menu for its richness of flavour. Start with the Light and Shadow Crispy Duck – a twist on the traditional beef version – paper-thin slices of duck that shatter into delightfully flavourful shards with hints of wasabi, deftly placed on an intricate Osmanthus syrup sculpture that provides a sweet finish to the dish.

The Grand Shanghai Tea-Smoked Duck, at once crispy and juicy, is served with soft, pillowy handmade buns and presented in a chamber of tea and osmanthus smoke for an infusion of earthy and floral notes with maximum visual impact. For a novel combination of the Peking Duck and the popular Shanghainese lamb wraps, try the Spiced Crispy Lamb – well seasoned cubes of charcoal-grilled lamb with a crunchy cumin and paprika crust, served with a lightly warmed pancakes, scallions, cucumber and a garlic soy sauce for the slightest suggestion of heat.

Other standout signatures also include seafood offerings like the refreshing Fresh Sliced Abalone served cold with a tart pomelo vinegar and sake jelly that beautifully enhances the briny abalone; and the Deep-fried Yellow Croaker Fish with Roselle Sauce – slices of lightly deep-fried fish accompanied by a side of homemade pickled onions marinated in roselle jus for a delightful sweet savoury contrast.

A well-stocked bar is located in the main dining area, with an extensive collection of premium wines and a carefully curated selection of rare Chinese spirits and liquors to offer bespoke beverage pairing for every dish, or afternoons of leisure and evenings of indulgence.

Following a multimillion-dollar asset enhancement programme spanning nine months across key facilities within the hotel, Orchard Hotel has unveiled an enhanced 360° guest experience with reimagined dining, events and lodging offerings. Upgraded areas include the hotel’s 260 Grand Deluxe Rooms, Grand Ballroom, Conference Centre, Lobby, The Orchard Cafe and Bar Intermezzo.

The storied history of Orchard Hotel traces back to late 1950s, where it began as a humble four-storey, 34-room hotel, complete with The Golden Venus – home to popular tea dances and emerging musicians of the 1960s. Redeveloped in the 1970s to cater to the tourist boom, the old building was eventually demolished in 1978, and the first inkling of the 656-key, twin-tower Orchard Hotel Singapore as it exists today took its place.

A brand new arrival experience welcomes guests through an enlivened lobby interior. The hotel's iconic clock tower is now brought to the modern age with a contemporary chandelier-inspired art sculpture, flanked by two upgraded dining and drinking destinations. The Orchard Cafe renews its legacy as a local dining icon with a vibrant new style and Signature Class buffet showcasing heritage-inspired creations and chef-curated classics. Bar Intermezzo inherits an air of sophistication with new, inviting interiors and contemporary botanical-influenced cocktails that toast to Orchard Road’s past. Overlooking the lobby from the second floor is Cantonese fine dining stalwart Hua Ting Restaurant, which was also given its own extensive makeover in 2018.

260 Grand Deluxe guest rooms in the hotel’s Orchard Wing have also been given a facelift. Each well-appointed room has been elegantly designed to provide maximum comfort and the best of living styles at every turn. With today's sophisticated traveller at heart, the newly refurbished rooms are now equipped with upgraded amenities including Handy smartphone that offers unlimited mobile data to make local and select international calls; six USB ports and both wired and wireless high-speed internet to ensure 24/7 connectivity; and a Smart TV loaded with a variety of channels to keep them plugged into current affairs. Unwind after a long day of shopping along the famed Orchard Road in the modern comforts of the new Grand Deluxe room – put on a bath in the luxurious Japanese soaking tub (select room configurations), or call for one of 12 signature spice-based cocktails from Bar Intermezzo to be delivered right to your room.