Restaurant in Chicago, United States
Shanghai Terrace
350ptsPeninsula's dim sum room earns its reservation.
About Shanghai Terrace
Shanghai Terrace inside The Peninsula Chicago is the city's strongest option for dim sum in a Forbes Five-Star setting — intimate at 70 seats, with Cantonese-Shanghainese cooking, knowledgeable service, and Lake Michigan views. Book well ahead: it fills fast for weekend lunch and dinner. Best for romantic occasions or a polished dim sum lunch; less suited to casual drop-in dining.
The Verdict
Shanghai Terrace is the right call for a special-occasion dim sum lunch or a romantic dinner in Chicago's Streeterville — particularly if you want the polish of a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel (The Peninsula Chicago) without the stiffness of a formal tasting menu. The 70-seat room is intimate, the service is genuinely knowledgeable, and the Cantonese-Shanghainese menu covers enough ground for groups with varied tastes. Book here if atmosphere and service depth matter to you. If you're after a more casual Chinese lunch, this may feel over-engineered for the occasion.
What to Expect as a First-Timer
Getting to Shanghai Terrace requires a small amount of navigation: the restaurant sits on the fourth floor of The Peninsula Chicago at 108 E Superior St, but you'll enter through the fifth-floor lobby, then walk down one flight to a small red door. It's easy to miss on a first visit, so build in a few extra minutes. Once inside, the room reads formal without being cold — black lacquer chairs, Shanghai-inspired décor, and table spacing that makes it genuinely possible to have a private conversation. The Lake Michigan views from the main dining room are a real feature, even in winter when the terrace itself is closed.
The Forbes Five-Star designation matters here in a practical sense: expect attentive, unhurried service. Many of the staff are Chinese-speaking and knowledgeable about the menu, which is useful when deciding between dishes. This is not a venue where you'll feel rushed through a meal.
The Dim Sum Angle
The lunch service is where Shanghai Terrace most directly earns its price point. Bamboo baskets arrive with freshly steamed dim sum , barbecue pork buns, shrimp and chive dumplings, Peking duck preparations , served in a setting that most Chicago dim sum spots can't match on atmosphere. If you're visiting Chicago and want dim sum done in a hotel-dining-room register rather than a Chinatown parlour format, this is your clearest option. The broader menu runs Cantonese-Shanghainese: crab wontons, a five-course Peking duck meal, and sharing plates sized for the table. The cocktail list includes the Chrysanthemum (Bombay Sapphire gin, ginger shrub, chrysanthemum, honey Koval) and the Orchid (Grey Goose vodka, dragon fruit, jasmine syrup) , worth ordering if you want something specific to the room rather than a standard hotel bar list.
Booking and Logistics
With only 70 seats and a location inside one of Chicago's higher-profile hotels, Shanghai Terrace fills quickly for weekend dim sum and dinner on Friday and Saturday. Reserve in advance , walk-ins are unlikely to find space during peak service. The intimate room size also makes it a strong choice for two; larger groups should confirm table configuration when booking. Dress expectations align with a Five-Star hotel dining room: smart casual at minimum, formal or business attire at dinner is appropriate and common.
Practical Comparison
| Venue | Cuisine | Price Tier | Booking Difficulty | Leading For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Terrace | Chinese American (Cantonese-Shanghainese) | $$$–$$$$ | Hard | Dim sum lunch, romantic dinner, hotel-dining polish |
| Kasama | Filipino | $$$$ | Very Hard | Tasting menu, special occasion, adventurous palate |
| Alinea | Progressive American | $$$$ | Very Hard | Once-in-a-decade splurge, theatrical dining |
| Smyth | Progressive American | $$$$ | Hard | Contemporary tasting menu, ingredient-led cooking |
| Boka | New American | $$$ | Moderate | Seasonal New American, easier to book |
How It Compares
See the full comparison section below.
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Compare Shanghai Terrace
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Terrace | Chinese American | There are many reasons to dine at Shanghai Terrace inside Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Peninsula Chicago, from the menu with its emphasis on meticulous dim sum creations, to the elegantly appointed dining room with its black lacquer chairs and classic Shanghai-inspired decor.; **Inspector's Highlights:** Things to Know Even when it's too cold to sit on the terrace in the winter, you’ll still be able to spy breathtaking Lake Michigan from the main dining room.The location can be hard to find. The Chinese eatery is tucked on the fourth floor of the Five-Star Peninsula Chicago. To get there, take an elevator to the fifth-floor main lobby, then go to the staircase and walk one flight down. Keep your eyes peeled for the inconspicuous entrance: a small red door.With just 70 seats and cozy table arrangements, the intimate main dining room is ideal for private conversations, making it quite the romantic meal. Guarantee your spot by calling making a reservation.The savory menu may lure you in, but the impeccable service will keep you coming back. Have a question on the menu? The wait staff, many of whom is Chinese, is approachable and knowledgeable and can help you decide on some dishes. **Things to Know:** The Food At lunch, nibble on bamboo baskets brimming with freshly steamed dim sum such as barbecue pork buns, Peking duck and shrimp and chive dumplings.The menu is based off of the Cantonese-Shanghainese fusion fare. You’ll find authentic favorites, from crab wontons to a five-course Peking duck meal, and the plates are piled high, so you can share with your friends and family.Don't pass up the signature cocktails like the Chrysanthemum, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, ginger shrub, orange, chrysanthemum and honey koval; or the Orchid, which has Grey Goose vodka, Pama, dragon fruit and jasmine syrup. **Amenities:** 108 East Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611 | Hard | — | |
| Alinea | Progressive American, Creative | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Smyth | Progressive American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Kasama | Filipino | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Next Restaurant | American Cuisine | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Boka | New American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
A quick look at how Shanghai Terrace measures up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shanghai Terrace good for solo dining?
Solo dining here is functional but not the strongest use case. The 70-seat dining room is arranged for intimate conversation, which suits pairs more than singles. Solo visitors do best at lunch, where dim sum allows flexible portion control without committing to a full multi-course format. If solo Chinese dining in Chicago is the goal, a smaller neighborhood spot will feel less formal.
What should I wear to Shanghai Terrace?
The setting is a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel restaurant with black lacquer chairs and classic Shanghai-inspired decor, so dress accordingly. Business casual at minimum; dinner skews more formal. Jeans and sneakers will feel out of place in a room where the service standard and surroundings are deliberately polished.
Is Shanghai Terrace good for a special occasion?
Yes, this is one of the cleaner calls for a special-occasion dinner in Chicago. The 70-seat room is set up for private conversation, the Peninsula's Five-Star service standard handles the execution, and the Cantonese-Shanghainese menu with multi-course Peking duck gives the meal a clear structure. Book a table with a view toward Lake Michigan if available.
Does Shanghai Terrace handle dietary restrictions?
The wait staff, many of whom are Chinese and trained on the menu, are described by Forbes inspectors as approachable and knowledgeable. That's your best resource for navigating restrictions — ask specifically when booking and again on arrival. Dim sum-heavy menus typically include shellfish, pork, and gluten-based wrappers, so anyone with serious allergens should confirm in advance.
What are alternatives to Shanghai Terrace in Chicago?
Kasama is the comparison that matters most: it earned a Michelin star for Filipino-inflected tasting menus and is harder to book but more adventurous in format. For special-occasion fine dining without a Chinese focus, Smyth offers a more ingredient-driven tasting menu. Shanghai Terrace is the call when you specifically want refined Chinese food in a hotel-dining setting with reliable service.
Can I eat at the bar at Shanghai Terrace?
There is no bar-seating format documented for Shanghai Terrace. With only 70 seats in an intimate main dining room, the setup favors reserved tables. The restaurant does offer signature cocktails — the Chrysanthemum with Bombay Sapphire gin and the Orchid with Grey Goose vodka are noted highlights — but these are table drinks, not a bar program you can walk into.
What should a first-timer know about Shanghai Terrace?
The location is the first hurdle: take the elevator to the fifth-floor Peninsula lobby, then walk one flight down and look for a small red door. Make a reservation — 70 seats fill quickly for weekend dim sum and Friday/Saturday dinner. Lunch is the entry point if you're testing the venue; it's where the dim sum format shines and the price commitment is lower than a full dinner.
Recognized By
More restaurants in Chicago
- AlineaAlinea is Chicago's three-Michelin-star tasting menu at $210–$265 per person — a theatrical, multi-sensory Progressive American experience running three to four hours. It holds a Forbes Five-Star and AAA 5 Diamond, and booking is near impossible without planning months ahead. Worth it for food explorers who commit to the format; not the right call if you want a conventional fine dining dinner.
- SmythSmyth holds three Michelin stars, a top-five North America ranking from Opinionated About Dining, and one of Chicago's most serious natural wine programmes. Dinner only, Tuesday through Saturday, with near-impossible availability and $$$$ tasting menu pricing. Book six to eight weeks out minimum — this is the stronger call over Alinea for food-first diners.
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