For the very best in contemporary Chinese Cantonese cuisine, Shang Palace, the signature restaurant of the Shangri-La Hotel Group, offers an authentic, gastronomic experience comparable to none. High-profile celebrities such as Matt Damon, George Clooney and Shakira have all enjoyed an evening amidst the restaurant’s stunning contemporary and traditional fusion-style Chinese décor. The delightful dim sum menu includes delicate Siew mai (steamed chicken dumplings with crab roe topping) to exotic Chaozhao steamed dumplings and deep-fried taro puffs stuffed with pigeon. But the signature dish is the Beijing Duck, served at the tableside and cooked to perfection by the restaurant’s Chinese chefs, while the most popular dish is the mouth-meltingly good, deep-fried prawns with golden garlic. Authenticity is the key here, and Shang Palace’s warm, eastern ambiance lends itself beautifully to a range of social soirees, including family celebrations, intimate romantic suppers and even business-clinching dinners. There is also a private room that can accommodate up to eight diners.

Dress code: Casual chic
Location: The Shangri-La, Dubai
For reservations, call: 04 405 2703