Perched high above Shanghai, AURA Lounge sits quietly in the shadow of its glamorous big sister FLAIR upstairs — but this low-key destination has its own appeal, for occasions involving a bit of live jazz and a great value seafood tower with bubbles and a view.
There are a few deals to sweeten an occasion at AURA, including up to champagne and sparkling packages with the seafood tower, available during lunch and dinner. Details below.
Nomfluence Readers Deals
Seafood Tower (¥888) with a bottle of:
- Torresella Prosecco for ¥1,188
- Barons de Rothschild Ritz Reserve Brut for ¥1,688
AURA Evenings
Located on the 52nd floor of The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong, AURA is dressed in art deco touches, a nod to Shanghai’s golden age of the 20s and 30s. Corporate luxury, yes, but once you’re inside it feels surprisingly intimate and secluded. It is also one of 37 bars listed on Forbes Travel Guide’s Best Hotel Bars 2026.
Plus, there’s the view, which takes in Lujiazui’s tower skyline and the Huangpu River below.
For a spot of entertainment, a vocalist and pianist perform regularly, so if you’re in the mood, they do a mix of jazz and other styles. Performances are during the daytime from Thursday to Sunday, 2pm-5pm, and evenings Wednesday and Thursday, 7pm-10pm, and Friday and Saturday, 8pm-11pm.
For dinner, lead with the Chilled Seafood Tower (¥888). It’s the best value thing on the menu: a whole chilled Canadian lobster, four freshly shucked oysters, king prawns, mussels, abalone, and clams.
The lobster and oysters alone justify the price. The seafood soy sauce served alongside adds a hit of umami in place of the usual sharp vinaigrette, a small but considered touch.
It’s a LOT of seafood, even as a cold starter for two to share. Plenty to go around.
For those skipping seafood, opt for the Cassoulet Confit de Canard (¥398). Duck confit with leek cream, dijon mustard, beans, and lardons, it’s the kind of rich, comforting dish that will make you sink into the lounge chairs in a stupor.
Be sure to add on the Triple Cooked Duck Fat Steak Fries (¥88) while you’re at it, fried to an irresistibly crispy finish and dusted with parmesan.
End with the Ritz-Carlton Cake (¥98) — 66% Caraibe dark chocolate with Grand Marnier, walnuts, and citrus confit. Rich, indulgent, and unapologetically so. The Grand Marnier is subtle, but the dark chocolate does all the heavy lifting. Wins full marks for a dark chocolate lover like me.
Lunch & Afternoon Tea
Meanwhile, lunch is a more low-key affair, think business lunch with the appointed luxuries of a five-star hotel. Top service, good ambiance, no surprises.
To start, the Beef Tartare (¥218), made with M3 tenderloin, dijon mustard, diced onions, and cornichons, is a modernized classic. The Avocado Ritz (¥198) — poached jumbo shrimp, avocado, butter lettuce, and a Marie Rose sauce — is decent and does the job for a light lunch starter.
Alternatively, the Potato & Leek Cappuccino (¥128) with black truffle and marinated peas is rich without being heavy, with sun-dried cherry tomatoes adding a touch of tartness and croutons for crunch.
The Ritz Burger (¥268) is house-made down to the sesame seed bun — wagyu patty, cheddar, bacon, tomato, and lettuce, served with fries. Juicy and well put together, and the meat quality shows. Only gripe: shredded lettuce would have kept the whole thing from slipping and sliding.
There’s also afternoon tea (¥698), a classic tiered set for two that covers sweets and savories, scones, and coffee or tea, and juice.
AURA is not somewhere you’d go on a Tuesday night on a whim. But if you have visitors in town, a birthday to celebrate, or a client to impress, it delivers exactly what it promises: a rarefied perch above the city, attentive service, and a few genuinely worthwhile dishes to anchor the experience.
You can always pop into FLAIR after for another cocktail after.
Nomfluence Readers Deals
Get a Seafood Tower (¥888) paired with a bottle of Torresella Prosecco for ¥1,188, or Barons de Rothschild Ritz Reserve Brut for ¥1,688. Available during lunch and dinner.
Aura Lounge
Address: 52/F, 8 Century Avenue 世纪大道8号国金中心上海浦东丽思卡尔顿酒店52楼
Hours: Daily, 8am-11pm
Tel: 20201728
