Blending Hollywood Glamour with Shanghai Sophistication | Spago Shanghai by AB Concept

Perched on the 21^st floor of The St. Regis on the Bund, Shanghai is Spago Shanghai, a design project by architectural and interior design studio AB Concept.

The newest rooftop destination brings Wolfgang Puck’s iconic Californian dining philosophy to life against the backdrop of the Huangpu River, the Lujiazui skyline, and the timeless elegance of the Bund.

“The brief for Spago Shanghai was especially compelling,” says Ed Ng, Co-founder of AB Concept. “It gave us the chance to push our boundaries and reimagine a space that captures the Bund’s energy while remaining cinematic and timeless. The novel-inspired design also gets people talking and creates a dining experience that lingers beyond the meal itself.”

The concept blends the storied legacy of St. Regis, the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and the cosmopolitan spirit of Shanghai. Inspired by A Journey in Other Worlds, John Jacob Astor IV’s visionary 1894 novel and tribute to the founder of the original St. Regis New York, AB Concept reinterprets themes of exploration and innovation with theatrical sophistication. This narrative culminates at Spago, the iconic dining destination beloved by Hollywood stars, which brings its signature flair to Shanghai through a design that celebrates heritage while embracing reinvention.

“The Bund and Beverly Hills are worlds apart, yet both embody aspiration and glamour,” adds Linwei Sung, Design Director at AB Concept and Design Lead. “We distilled the essence of these cultural icons into a design that feels bold, evocative, and immersive. It’s where Hollywood’s dreamlike allure meets Shanghai’s modern renaissance, an experience that is elegant, distinctive, and unmistakably Spago.”

The entrance sets the tone with a frosty, crystalline aesthetic. Alabaster floors glow with backlit geometric patterns, evoking a sleek, futuristic mood, while polished marble in teal and bronze accents lend timeless sophistication. Art Deco motifs on the lift doors nod to Hollywood’s golden era, offering a theatrical prelude to the experience within.

At the heart of the lounge and bar, a dramatic gazebo chandelier serves as a sculptural pavilion, balancing grandeur with intimacy. This centrepiece channels the theatricality of a Hollywood stage, while marble and wood flooring in striped and curved Art Deco patterns adds permanence and poise, echoing the understated luxury of Californian design.

Modern touches such as fluted glass along the bar shimmer with frosty elegance, bridging contemporary refinement with nostalgic charm. Velvet banquettes and plush upholstery complete the scene, inviting guests to indulge in a setting that feels effortlessly glamorous yet warmly approachable.

The main dining hall unfolds like a stage, framed by a palette of soft turquoise. Warm, crafted wood walls bring serenity, while the expansive layout strikes a balance between traditional elegance with modern clarity. Echoing the retro luxury of Hollywood, the interiors place equal emphasis on texture, finish, and colour. A crystal glass white ceiling reflects light across the space, while mint upholstery and gleaming bronze accents add depth and contrast, amplifying the sense of glamour and cinematic atmosphere.

At the centre of the room, a sculptural olive tree stands as a symbolic focal point, representing the modern Italian influences woven into the menu. Surrounding it, a gracefully curved wine storage system breaks away from conventional rectangular forms, introducing a dynamic flow that enhances the spatial rhythm and reinforces the restaurant’s spirit of innovation.

The heritage of Spago as a pioneering dining destination played a pivotal role in shaping the design. First established in Beverly Hills by Wolfgang Puck in 1982, Spago revolutionised the culinary landscape with its innovative Californian cuisine and the introduction of the open kitchen concept, a signature feature across all Spago restaurants. At Spago Shanghai, this legacy is celebrated through a striking open kitchen crafted from lacquered blue panels, marble, and bronze. Positioned as a central element of the dining hall, it offers guests a front-row seat to the artistry behind each dish, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to transparency, theatre, and culinary excellence.

The rooftop terrace, envisioned as a “green library”, is a serene garden retreat that embodies Shanghai’s duality: dynamic yet poetic, urban yet open to nature. It opens up to a panoramic view of the Huangpu River and Lujiazui skyline, an iconic tableau that captures the grandeur of Shanghai’s cosmopolitan spirit. Tinted glass beams refract daylight into soft, shifting hues, subtly echoing the city’s ever-changing skyline and the atmospheric beauty of Jupiter. Bronze-framed doors connect the interior to the terrace, while flowing fabric softens the architectural lines, creating a sense of intimacy and ease.

For private occasions, a secluded dining chamber offers intimacy with quiet spectacle. Surfaces of mirror, wood, and bronze wrap the room in richness, while wooden-framed fabric panels soften the acoustics, making conversation feel close and personal. Marble brings weight and permanence, and bronze accents catch the light with a gentle sheen. The palette, anchored in earthy tones and mineral textures, subtly evokes the celestial reference drawn from the visionary novel.

Spago Shanghai represents a convergence of legacies and ambitions, a space shaped by contrast and connection. Celestial yet grounded, expressive yet intimate, it reflects a design philosophy rooted in heritage while embracing a contemporary spirit. AB Concept’s vision draws from Spago’s pioneering identity and the layered character of Shanghai to create a destination that invites guests to pause, engage, and explore. Every detail contributes to a cohesive experience that speaks to a larger narrative of imagination, hospitality, and the thoughtful creation of place.

*Photo credit: Owen Raggett

About AB Concept

AB Concept is an architectural and interior design studio founded in 1999 by Ed Ng and Terence Ngan. The studio’s unique design approach draws similarities to how a chef develops a recipe, exploring local culture and experimenting with tastes and skills. This approach results in bespoke experiences through narrative-driven interiors with meticulous attention to detail, creating moments that matter in luxury environments across the hospitality, dining, commercial, and residential sectors.

AB Concept works on a global scale with offices in Hong Kong, Kyoto, London, Taipei and Milan, serving clients in over 30 cities across more than 16 countries, including London, Milan, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Algarve, New York, Beijing, and Kuala Lumpur. The studio has established lasting partnerships with leading international hospitality groups and high-end lifestyle brands such as Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood Hotels, Waldorf Astoria, and W Hotels. The studio is devoted to crafting unique luxury designs that embody cultural nuances and artistry, bringing distinctive vitality and character to every space.

Ultimately, design is about being. In addition to spatial design, AB Concept operates R&D labs in Kyoto and Milan, focusing on collaborations with global brands and master artisan globally to craft extraordinary, one-of-a-kind design pieces. To date, the studio has worked with Noritake Design Collection on a collection of sculptural fine porcelain tableware, Tai Ping on a capsule collection of couture rugs, hand-blown Bohemian glass lighting for Czech manufacturer Lasvit and Viola chair for Poltrona Frau.

With a reputation for exceptional design projects and a commitment to innovation, AB Concept continues to explore what design can do, not what it looks like.

Discover more in the following links: abconcept.net | @ab_concept | abconcept-rd.net