Hip, trendy restaurants
 

Any suggestions for hip restaurants in Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai? High-end but not stuffy, the NY equivalent of Nobu or Cipriani. Thanks!

Have you heard of Luxe City Guides? They have really great information about hip, trendy places.

I have Tokyo and HK at home, and will check them tonight.

I know in HK you can check out Felix at the Peninsula as well as Aqua.

Well I don't think Nobu and Cipriani in New York are particularly hip or trendy anymore, but that aside, in Seoul and in Shanghai you might try the outposts of the DTF chain. Not under the radar but fairly hip with great food. Not expensive by most western standards.

"DTF chain". Are you referring to Ding Tai Fung (chain restaurant from Taiwan) where they specialize in Xiao Long Bao? All the Ding Tai Fung restaurants I've been to are family style restaurants. No "hip" factor.

I think the DTF in Beijing is fairly hip -- or at least it is quite elegant. By the way, they've opened a 2nd branch in Beijing.

Mab85 -- have you done a search? I just recommended the Lan Club in Beijing, designed by Phillippe Starck. Sichuan-fusion fare.

I wrote about the Whampoa Club in my trip report..you could check the report for details..I guess that would be fairly hip. Along with a few others on The Bund...speaking here of Shanghai. And the place in the Rujin guesthouse that I wrote about in the same report..they had a stylish crowd when we went...make sure to sit in the main room, not the upstairs one, which is plain. Great food!

There is absolutely no shortage of hip restaurants in Tokyo. In fact, the trendy eating scene in Tokyo rivals that in NYC.

I found these websites from tripadvior.com forum and think they may be helpful.
http://www.superfuture.com/city/city/city.cfm?city=1
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/06/17...l/17tokyo.html
http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/631/restaurants.asp
http://www.casita.jp/hilltop
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...kyo_Kanto.html

In Shanghai, I'd say Laris (at 3 on the Bund) could be what you're looking for. Definitely hip and high-end prices. Good food. Good view of the bund. Nice, modern decor. Lots of people. IMO it has an "energy" about it.

Jade on 36 in Pudong Shangri-La is a good choice as well. My recollection is that this is more expensive and menu is definitely smaller. Excellent view. Weren't many people there when we went.

Shintori (803 Julu Lu) is also hip with nice decor and good food. It's a Japanese restaurant in the old French Concession. Has been around awhile and not expensive, but prices are at higher end. If you go there you may also want to stop at the bar People 7 (805 Julu) for a drink. Same owner.

There's a Jean Georges which I consider stuffy. Some like M on the Bund as well but others consider it a has been. M on the Bund's Glamour Bar (above it at 5 on the Bund) gets rave reviews.