Shanghai’s rooftop scene has a new contender on the Bund — Skyline Dome, the rooftop bar and lounge perched on the sixth floor above sister venue The Dome, on the corner of Yan’an Dong Lu.
Nomfluence Readers Deals: Complimentary cocktail.
Skyline Dome: Shanghai Rooftop Bar
The views are, as expected, spectacular.
As a long-time Shanghai resident, I rarely find myself on the Bund just looking, but on a crisp night like this one, it still dazzles.
Multiple split-level terraces make the most of it, along with a covered cocktail lounge, cozy banquettes, and a private dome room for ten that’s made for celebrating.
Skyline Dome is in its early days of finding its people, but the current crowd is well-dressed and slightly more mature — the kind that aren’t shy about ordering bottles, enjoys the occasional cigar, and isn’t opposed to a bit of casual dancing.
Private room for ten
On weekends, regular DJ nights turn it into a proper party scene. Elegant, not rowdy. Think grown-up Shanghai nightlife. Think the long-gone Bar Rouge, but older and wiser.
The Food
The food is a mix of snack-forward yakitori and fulfilling sushi plates, overseen by Chef Terada-san from The Dome below.
Everything is well-executed across the board, though the clear highlight is the Seasonal Nigiri (¥318/six). Generously cut, supremely fresh.
On this visit, the featured tuna on the platter came from The Dome’s tuna ceremony carved just days before. Buttery and excellent.
Other nigiri on the plate included white fish, salmon with caviar, scallion with salmon roe, sweet ebi shrimp, and a luxurious portion of sea urchin atop seasoned rice.
For other sushi, the Wagyu Spicy Miso Roll (¥268) comes highly recommended. Buttery wagyu wrapped around a maki roll — can’t go wrong with that. There’s also a Fried Shrimp California Roll (¥188) tossed in a spicy “dynamite-style” sauce.
Then, there’s the yakitori. The classic Scallion and Chicken Thigh (¥78) is plump and juicy, brushed in tare, and hard to beat.
The Chicken Skin (¥68) is grilled to a satisfying crunch, also in tare.
Rounding out the list are fluffy Chicken Meatballs (¥58) and rich Chicken Liver (¥98) for the offal fans.
The standout though is the Squab Ichiyaboshi (¥128), a perfectly grilled squab leg, utterly juicy and flavorful.
Drinks, Shisha & Cigars
For drinks, the Wasabi Bloody Mary (¥168) is a classic with a well-placed twist. The wasabi adds just enough kick without taking over. They do other house signatures and classic cocktails, too.
The house recommended sake, Banshuikkon Junmaidaiginjo Kitanishiki (¥458/300ml), is gentle and delicate with fresh acidity.
House wine is at ¥98 a glass and ¥558 by the bottle, which is really reasonable by Bund standards. But of course, should you feel the need to ball out, they have plenty of champagnes to choose from.
In addition, Dome Skyline also has shisha, six flavors available, starting from ¥268. And in case you forgot to bring your own, they have a dedicated humidor for their curated cigar list, which runs from entry-level Montecristo up to H. Upmann for the high rollers.
If you ever feel like you need a change of pace — and I’m talking mainly to my fellow Shanghai lifers — Skyline Dome is a familiar yet grown-up choice. For everyone else, it’s a welcome addition for those seeking the thrill of a night out on the Bund.
Nomfluence Readers Deals
- Complimentary selected cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage; limited one per person, purchase required.
Skyline Dome
View the listing here.
