Waldorf Astoria offers special treats to usher in festive New Year

The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai is welcoming in the Year of the Monkey with festive fare and New Year offerings.

Traditional Chinese New Year menus, winter wellness treatments, a Lion Dance and lucky hongbao will make for a memorable festival.

The signature Waldorf Astoria afternoon tea will feature distinctly festive Chinese flavors from Feb 7 through Feb 12, while Cantonese restaurant Wei Jing Ge is offering an eight-course celebratory dinner on Feb 7, Chinese New Year's Eve, at 800 yuan ($124) per person. Private room 10-course set menus start from 1,088 yuan per person, with a 20 percent discount for bookings made before Jan 25.

The Winter Wellness package offered by the spa comprises a 15-minute steam bath, 10-minute foot bath, 60-minute citrus body massage and 30-minute refa instant lifting facial. The special package is valid till Feb 29 at 788 yuan per person. These are likely to prove very popular, and reservations are highly recommended.

On Feb 12, the fifth day of the lunar year, a traditional lion dance and eye-dotting ceremony will be performed in the lobby of the hotel, and the "God of Wealth" will also visit all of the hotel's restaurants, sharing lucky red envelopes as he passes.

With its blend of classic elegance and contemporary grandeur, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai is also the perfect venue for a romantic Valentine's Day. This year the hotel is offering candlelight dinners, romantic spa specials and intimate afternoon teas, to help lovebirds have an unforgettable day.

Chef Jean Philippe Dupas at Pelham's has created a special menu featuring the restaurant's signature modern French cuisine. The six- course dinner menu is priced at 1,488 yuan per person, including a glass of Champagne.

The Grand Brasserie is also offering a free a glass of Champagne, along with candlelight, rose petals and jazz, to accompany its Valentine's menu, which features oysters, lobster and Wagyu beef.

You can also celebrate this day of romance with your loved one at Waldorf Astoria Spa, where couples can enjoy a luxury private suite with champagne and Red Velvet Afternoon Tea, while enjoying a romantic aroma flower bath, followed by a 30-minute facial treatment and soothing 90-minute massage. This indulgent package is priced at 2,500 yuan per couple.

Located on the Bund, the historic area on the west bank of the Huangpu River, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai comprises a century-old heritage building that once housed the legendary Shanghai Club, plus a newly built modern tower.

It features 260 luxury guestrooms and suites, six award-winning restaurants and bars, 11 event spaces and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/26/2015 page10)