With long curtains and walls adorned with vintage photos of Chinese beauties, Shanghai Lilly simultaneously examines the past while looking forward to the future. They don’t tell you if Shanghai Lilly was an actual woman or not, but the black and white 1920s-era portraits of anonymous ladies hanging throughout the space make you hope she was. The award-winning design of the room was imagined by Tony Chi, who sought to simulate the elegance and ease of ancient Chinese luxury. The Imperial Peking duck is second to none, as are the lobster lettuce wraps. If you’re more of a traditionalist, go for the black-peppered beef tenderloin or kung pao chicken; you won’t be disappointed. The four private dining rooms, apart from the main dining area, are ideal for a private affair or a special celebration—just book months out because those tables are often hard to nab.

Shanghai Lilly Information:

• Chinese menu. Dinner.