Shanghai surprise as 1930s inspired Chinese restaurant opens at Heathrow

Heathrow’s latest F&B offering, a 1930s Shanghai inspired Chinese restaurant, Shan Shui, has opened for business in Terminal 2.

The outlet, officially opened this week by renowned restaurateur Ellen Chew, will double as a private viewing gallery with panoramic views of the runway.

According to the operator, at its heart, Shan Shui will be all about serving day-to-night meals that celebrate the authentic craft of time-honoured Shanghainese and Southeast Asian recipes.

The menu at the UK’s hub airport will showcase speedy ‘10-minute meals’ with many options including 2-Day Dry-Aged Cantonese Roast Duck, Slow-Cooked Beef Rendang with Jasmine Rice and Canton Vegetable Fried Vermicelli. There will also be a succinct Dim Sum menu, offering widely-known yum cha favourites.

For the morning crowd, the restaurant will serve East-meets-West breakfast items, such as Katsu Sando Sandwiches, refreshing Beetroot and Pine Nut Salad with a yuzu dressing, and Shan Shui’s take on an English fry-up.

At the front of the restaurant, there will also be pastries and a breakfast bar counter, which will serve Allpress Coffee and a selection of pastries such as Croissants, Pain Au Chocolates, and Vegan Orange Crown for passers-by.

Throughout the day, passengers can expect to find a mix of contemporary cooking and beloved family favourites, all to be paired with an exquisite selection of Asian teas from around the globe or a cocktail from the Old Shanghai-inspired 1930s cocktail list.

Working collaboratively with interior design studio Sherliker Design, the inspiration for Shan Shui came from 1930s Shanghai, which in its heyday was the place to be for art, architecture, dance halls and glitzy restaurants.

Perhaps rather boldly, it is claimed that Shan Shui Heathrow T2 is reminiscent of this old-world Shanghai, blending elegance and extravagance with contemporary touches, to offer diners a dynamic and exciting dining experience.

Ellen Chew, founder and director of Shan Shui restaurant, enthused: “Shan Shui is a very special and nostalgic concept for me, evoking memories of being in the kitchen with my mother, observing and learning traditional techniques as she toiled for endless hours to feed us.

“We believe our offering at Shan Shui will be the perfect new addition to the dining experience at Heathrow to compliment the lively, dynamic floor of Terminal 2.”

While Fraser Brown, Heathrow’s retail and property director, noted: “Heathrow strives to provide passengers with the best airport service in the world and we are delighted to welcome Shan Shui into Terminal 2 ahead of the festive period.

“This exciting new restaurant will allow our international passengers to experience authentic Shanghainese and Southeast Asian meals, all while enjoying the panoramic views of the runway.”