Renowned chef Paul Pairet, the creative mind behind Ultraviolet, announced that the Michelin three-star Shanghai restaurant will close sometime in 2025.
The announcement of its impending closure was published on Ultraviolet’s official WeChat account yesterday, November 20.
If you’ve been saying, “Oh, I’ve always wanted to go,” now is the time.
Paul Pairet Announces Closure of Ultraviolet
In a recorded video sent from Paris, Paul Pairet acknowledged the results of the latest Michelin Guide Shanghai 2025, as Ultraviolet picked up its 8th consecutive three-star at the ceremony on November 19. The restaurant has held this badge of excellence since the Guide’s second edition.
Following words of heartfelt thanks and gratitude, Paul Pairet said in the video:
“Therefore, I felt it is the right time and place to softly announce that this might well be my last participation [in] this beautiful event at this level. Ultraviolet, which is currently surrounded by some construction work will certainly be put on hold indefinitely as a restaurant open to the public within the coming year 2025. I will of course share more about the future of Ultraviolet in time. But we will probably be servicing the industry.”
Ultraviolet, affectionately known as UV, will be “put on hold Indefinitely.”
The restaurant will close, but the last day of operations has not yet been determined. Meanwhile, the restaurant’s booking system is still open and live for the coming months.
Will it reopen? Will it relocate? Will the concept change? What does the future hold?
I reached out for comment, but Paul Pairet was unable to respond in short notice. This is what I received from representatives:
Are Mr & Mrs Bund, Polux, and Charbon closing?
“NO.”
When is UV closing?
“UV will be transitioning its operation into a different format, we will share more in the future. For now, UV booking system will remain open and we currently have no final dates in mind in regard to public bookings.”
Why is UV public dining closing?
“Construction and pivoting to a new business model.”
Greg Robinson (center)
“Morph,” is yet another cryptic response from Greg Robinson, Corporate Chef Paul Pairet Restaurants (and Paul Pairet’s right hand). “Rebirth, perhaps.” But nothing has been set in stone yet.
I’m going to assume detailed announcements will be coming soon. We are all waiting with bated breath about the future of Ultraviolet, a restaurant that is undoubtedly Paul Pairet’s magnum opus.
It is safe to say that when the time comes, the Ultraviolet as we know it will be no longer. However, from what I gather, it seems like the wheels are in motion to keep the name alive in some shape or form.
Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet is a multi-sensory experiential restaurant. It only seats 10 guests each night. The Ultraviolet experience is not just about innovative and creative cuisine, but it is also about theatricality, assisted by state-of-the-art technologies that engage all five senses. It is often described as entering the mind and psyche of Paul Pairet himself.
When it opened in 2012, it was one of the most avant-garde dining concepts Shanghai and the world had ever seen.
A year after it opened, Ultraviolet placed #8 in the Asia’s 50 Best and #60 in the World’s 50 Best. By 2015, it was #24 on the World’s 50 Best, #3 on Asia’s 50 Best. It was last #96 on the Asia’s list.
The restaurant has since launched four menus, UVA (2012), UVB (2013), UVC (2016), and UVD (2022). Menus start from ¥4,800, all-inclusive.
Bookings can be made at uvbypp.cc.
More news to come regarding Ultraviolet.
