CHAI WU

A hidden gem of the fifth floor of Harrods', Chai Wu is a modern Chinese restaurant where creativity and high quality reign supreme.

Offering diners haute Asian cuisine in elegant settings, Chai Wu’s menu is a meeting of time-honoured and unconventional dishes produced in an open kitchen and served alongside the world class service that is so synonymous with its home, Harrods.

Paying homage to the five elements that are woven through Chinese philosophy and culture - wood, fire, earth, metal and water - the elegant restaurant blends together dark, polished wood with neutral tones and sumptuous textures. Atmospheric lighting creates the perfect setting.

2022 saw an internal expansion, doubling the space to 136 covers and adding a second, more intimate private dining space. Suitable for all occasions; the new semi-private dining room seats up to eight and is decorated with traditional Chinese art, including a serene scene of cranes hand painted onto raw fabric.

Renowned for serving some of the finest ingredients in the world, Chai Wu has a particular focus on sourcing incredible beef and seafood, including giant Alaskan crab and Kobe beef. The a la carte menu boasts a wide variety of dishes that are elegantly presented with a theatrical twist offering diners a truly memorable experience.

Highlights include deep fried coconut prawns; crunchy sweet and sour chicken inside a carved dragon fruit - the fruit makes for an unusual but refreshing pairing; Chai Wu fried rice with prawns, scallops and fresh vegetables; and fluffy Wagyu puffs topped with gold leaf.

Sushi lovers should try the Harrods special roll of fresh snow crab, avocado and spicy mayonnaise, topped with seared scallops, orange and black caviar and spring onion. While the steamed dim sum platter is also a fantastic display of the restaurant's handcrafted dim sum offering with the likes of lobster topped with caviar, prawn and black truffle, and crystal sea bass with gold leaf.

The classic Beijing duck is a much-loved signature dish and has been on the menu ever since Chai Wu opened. Served with pancakes, the duck is sliced table side, skin shining and crisp and the roasted meat tender beneath. Alongside the classic accoutrements of hoisin and greens, the duck also comes with minced garlic in truffle oil, and a fine, vanilla-scented sugar for dipping the crisp skin into.

The stir fried Lobster noodles with ginger and spring onions can be customised with either Shanghai fresh noodles or crispy egg noodles and comes with wonderfully sweet, generous chunks of buttery lobster.

As you would expect, the drinks offering is just as impressive, boasting innovative cocktails bursting with exotic fruits and fragrant botanicals, and monthly changing specials sitting alongside an encompassing wine list.

Whiskies are celebrated, and the bar is well stocked with rare spirits, including limited Johnny Walker bottles and Louis XIII. This is luxury Asian dining at its best.