The House of Roosevelt — Restaurant in Shanghai

The House of Roosevelt 外滩罗斯福公馆 is what happens when extravagance catches a permit and decides to throw a mansion-party on the Huangpu. You walk into a grand 1922 stone mansion (once Jardine Matheson’s, because of course it was), and suddenly you’re in a stage set where the walls, ceiling, and glass panes all insist you look wealthy, even if your bank account is trembling.

They’ve carved this place into tiers of showmanship: the Wine Cellar whispers privilege, the Sky Bar shouts panoramic skyline selfies, and the private lounges wink conspiratorially at you like “you made it here, so congratulations.” The view across Pudong is the kind of backdrop that laughs at fog and smog—steel towers shimmering, lights blinking, river reflecting every gloss and glare.

Fine wine, wagyu, plates that cost more than your weekend plan.. yes, it’s steep. But part of the allure is paying for the story: glamour, history, and the performative art of looking like you belong. This place trades in prestige, not just meals.

If luxury were a costume, The House of Roosevelt is your red carpet.. expensive to rent, dazzling to wear,...

As someone who enjoys Michelin-starred restaurants, fine dining, and high-end sushi experiences, every visit to Shanghai is a thrill for me. During this trip, I had the pleasure of dining at 102 House, a Michelin 2-star restaurant.

One notable downside: the location is very hard to find on Google Maps. As a workaround, I had to leave this review under a different restaurant located in the same building—on the 5th floor, where 102 House is also situated.

We were offered a private room with stunning views, which set the tone for an exceptional evening. Service was operated by a team of three staff members—one delivering the dishes, one attending the table, and one who fluently explained each course in English. They clearly detailed how premium ingredients sourced from across China were prepared and served, which added to the depth of the experience.

The cuisine was subtle, refined, and flavorful without being overpowering—a perfect balance. I would definitely return. Also worth mentioning: the white wine and champagne list...

Shanghai in the roaring 1920s. The Bund is full of swagger, colonial architecture, horse-drawn carriages (or something like that), and Jardine Matheson is doing its trading thing. In 1922, one of the grand buildings along the waterfront was built to house that very firm: an elegant, granite-faced neo-classical / modern-Renaissance mansion with arched windows, colonnades, and all the architectural glitz. 

Fast-forward many decades, Shanghai went through its changes, wars, political shifts, and whatnot. Then in 2008, this building (Number 27, The Bund) was acquired by Roosevelt China Investments (yes, that Roosevelt). They decided to restore it — bring back the marble and brass staircases, the wood paneling, and turn it into a lifestyle & dining multi-venue: wine cellar, sky restaurant and bar, private club, etc. Officially opened around 2010. 

So you walk in one foot in history, the other in haute cuisine...