Shanghai

M on the Bund

Lunch with a view

6F, 5 Guangdong Lu
Tel: 021 6350 9988

M on the Bund seems to be a household name when comes to romantic places to dine in Shanghai, but it goes over the radar when most people think about where to have a good business lunch. It shouldn't. M on the Bund tones the romance down during the day, throws open the doors (in good weather) to their enormous terrace overlooking the Huangpu and the Pudong skyline, and does during the day what they do best at night: fine food and good service. Seated inside or out, a set business lunch menu with either two or three courses offers dishes more elegant than your usual lunchtime fare: a Mediterranean plate with mixed salads, fresh steamed artichoke and goat cheese wrapped in grape leaves; a warm salad with the tenderest grilled octopus; a fluffy pastry pie stuffed with salmon. Finish the meal with a leisurely coffee, while taking in the view of a part of the city you may have forgotten squirreled away in your office tower. It's a treat, but you're worth it.

Beijing

Brasserie Flo
Tasty meeting spot

16 Dong San Huan Bei Lu
Tel: 010 6595 5135

Homesick Francophiles in Beijing don't despair! Brasserie Flo, opened by French restaurant conglomerate Flo group, has a menu chock full of French favorites from foie gras and filet de boeuf to homemade cakes and an inventory of canap¨¦s longer than Santa's naughty list this year. Three rotating set business lunch menus, the Express, the Chaoyang and the Sina, are RMB68, 98 and 138 and offer one, two and three courses, respectively, and all include a soft drink, coffee or tea, or one glass of beer or house wine. Brasserie Flo can also accommodate larger meetings in one of their three VIP rooms holding from six to 30 people at no extra charge. Special catering services and even equipment, including video projector screens and sound systems, can be provided.