Dinner 1,000 feet up changes the skyline. Shanghai Tower puts you up by the clouds, with the 118th-floor observation deck followed by 119th-floor dining so you can eat while the city stretches below you.

I love the 360-degree city views, and I really like the world-fast elevator concept, since it gets you to the best viewpoints with far less time lost.

The catch is crowd control. On weekends, expect lines, and plan to grab your place at the 119th floor before your meal time.

Key things to know before you go

• Fast lift to the top: the elevator whisks you to the 118th-floor observation deck at about 65 km per hour.
• Best-seat strategy: arrive early for seating with better angles toward the skyline.
• Get a number on weekends: it’s strongly recommended to go to the 119th floor first to get a number.
• 360-degree viewing deck: you’ll get wide views of Shanghai’s cityscape from above.
• A real meal, not just snacks: lunch or dinner comes as a set menu with drinks included.

Shanghai Tower at lunch or dinner, what you’re really buying

This is one of those Shanghai experiences where the main point is simple: you want to see the city from one of the highest vantage points, and you want to do it while you’re relaxed enough to actually enjoy it. Here, the plan pairs that viewpoint with a plated lunch or dinner on the 119th floor, which saves you from the hassle of trying to coordinate food plans during peak skyline hours.

The value is in the pairing. The ticket includes access to the observation area at the 118th floor and the dining experience on the 119th floor, and it’s built around getting you up quickly. With the fastest elevator moving you toward the top at around 65 km per hour, you’re not spending your trip stuck on the way.

At the same time, you’re paying for convenience. The set meal, drinks, and express-style entry are part of the package. If what you want most is just the view, you might wonder if paying for lunch or dinner is the right fit. If you want the whole “see it from high up, then eat high up” day, it’s a very direct deal.

Entering Shanghai Tower, getting to the 118th-floor observation deck

You’ll meet at Shanghai Tower, 501 Yincheng Middle Rd, Lujiazui, Pudong. Bring your passport to the entrance. If you’re traveling with friends, I’d keep everyone’s documents together so you do not slow down the group right at the start.

Once you’re inside, the experience is designed around speed. The highlight is taking the fastest elevator to the 118th-floor observation deck, which is the launch point for your skyline viewing. Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the second tallest building in the world, so the expectation is that the deck will feel like a front-row seat to the city’s geometry.

Practical tip: when you arrive, do not treat the top like a quick photo stop. Give yourself time to look in different directions. The deck is described as offering 360-degree views, so you can spend real time comparing the waterfront feel of Lujiazui against the denser urban blocks elsewhere. This is especially satisfying when the light is shifting, since high-altitude windows can change the mood of what you see.

If you want the calmest rhythm, you’ll have an advantage by arriving earlier than your sitting time. The schedule matters because the tower can get packed, particularly on weekends.

The 65 km per hour elevator, and why it matters for your time

The elevator ride is one of those small facts that changes the whole experience. At around 65 km per hour, you’re essentially skipping the slow-building suspense most people associate with tall observation platforms. That’s not just cool trivia. It means you arrive at the 118th-floor deck with more usable minutes to look around, rather than losing time to waiting.

It also helps the overall pacing of the meal. Since your dining happens on the 119th floor, the better your early flow, the less you feel like you’re rushing between “viewing mode” and “eating mode.”

Also, there’s a specific operational suggestion for weekends: after the elevator reaches the 118th floor, it’s strongly recommended to go to the 119th floor first to get a number. That’s a big deal. It can keep your meal from turning into a time scramble when the dining area is busier than the deck.

Lunch or dinner on the 119th floor: what you’ll eat and how it feels

The main event here is eating on the 119th floor. Your set menu is part of the package, so you do not need to think too hard about what’s ordered. Lunch and dinner include:

• Garden Seafood Salad
• Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Salmon or beef
• Chocolate Mousse Cake
• Soft drink and red wine

The first thing I like about this setup is that it’s structured. You get a full meal designed for a seated experience, not a quick bite that competes with the view. The second thing I like is the pairing with height. Even if you’ve eaten in plenty of fine-dining spots, it’s a different sensation when the city is visible in every direction and you’re not leaving the floor to keep sightseeing.

Dining times are practical and clear. Dinner is available daily starting at 18:00. Afternoon tea runs from 13:00 to 15:00. Weekend lunch is from 11:00 to 13:00, and the lunch and dinner package windows are listed as 18:00 to 19:00 for dinner.

Where this can go wrong, and how to prevent it: on weekends, seating and meal flow can be slower than a weekday. You might need to wait in line. The fix is behavioral, not technical. Arrive early for seating with a better view, then follow the weekend rule to go to the 119th floor to get a number first.

The view game plan: seating, timing, and the 360-degree deck

If you’re going for the skyline, your biggest decision is where you spend your minutes. Here’s how I’d plan it, using what the experience is set up to do.

1) Start on the 118th-floor deck

Take your time getting oriented. A 360-degree view lets you pick out landmarks and then compare how the city looks from different directions. It’s one thing to see tall buildings, but it’s a whole other thing to see how everything aligns from above.

2) Then shift to the 119th-floor dining space

The moment you sit down, you stop scanning and start enjoying. That matters because a view can become stressful if you’re constantly hunting for the next angle.

3) On weekends, prioritize the 119th-floor number step

The experience strongly recommends you go to the 119th floor to get a number first. This keeps your meal timing smoother when the crowds are thick.

A small but important mindset shift: do not treat this as a race to the windows. The reward is in steady viewing. If you try to do it all at once, you’ll miss the best parts, like how the city texture changes with distance and light.

Price and value: is $85 per person worth it?

At $85 per person for about a 2-hour experience, you’re paying for more than an observation deck ticket. You’re paying for:

• Access to the observation deck at the 118th floor
• Dining on the 119th floor
• A set meal (salad, soup, salmon or beef, dessert)
• Soft drink plus red wine
• Built-in speed via express-style elevator access

That’s why the value can be strong if you’re the type of person who wants both sightseeing and a proper sit-down meal in the same timed window. You’re not paying for the view alone, and you’re not paying separately to solve the “where do we eat” problem at peak hours.

If you’re traveling with people who only want a quick photo and don’t care about the meal, the package may feel pricey. In that case, you might consider whether the dining portion is worth the upgrade for your group.

I also think it’s worth noting that the negative experiences often come from confusion or mismatched expectations. One major warning sign to take seriously is making sure your ticket details work at the entrance. So I’d treat the confirmation email as essential reading, not optional.

Lines, crowds, and finding your way without stress

Shanghai Tower can get busy, especially on weekends. The experience notes you may need to wait in line during weekends. It also advises that you may strongly benefit from going to the 119th floor to get a number first during weekends.

Here’s how to reduce stress if you’re going on a weekend:

• Arrive early for the best chance at seats with a better view.
• After you reach the 118th floor, do not wander. Go to the 119th floor to handle the number step.
• Keep your group together so nobody gets separated during the transition from the deck to dining.

One more practical point: the meeting point is very specific. Use the address, not a generic “near the tower” approach. If navigation is unclear on the ground, it can turn your arrival into a scavenger hunt, which is the opposite of what you want when you’re trying to enjoy the skyline.

Who should book this, and who might skip it

This is a great match if you want:

• A top-view experience where the meal is part of the plan, not an afterthought
• A timed way to experience Shanghai Tower without spending all your time in transit
• A single-ticket format that bundles access and dining
• Comfortable sightseeing with a seated break on the 119th floor

It can also work well for families, with clear child rules: kids under 3 years old have free entry. Kids over 3 years old, and under 140 centimeters, require a child ticket. Kids over 140 centimeters require an adult ticket.

It’s also wheelchair accessible, so mobility needs are accounted for. If anyone in your group has accessibility concerns, this is worth prioritizing.

You might skip it if your main goal is simply the observation deck, and you do not want to pay for a full lunch or dinner package. Also consider your tolerance for weekend lines. If you hate waiting, choose a weekday option like afternoon tea or dinner on a less crowded day.

Quick decision: should you book Shanghai Tower lunch or dinner?

Book it if you want the simplest version of a big Shanghai highlight: go up fast, see the city from high above, then sit down for a real meal on the 119th floor. At $85 per person, the package can feel fair because it bundles admission and a set menu with drinks into a tight 2-hour experience.

Think twice if you’re going on a weekend and you know you’ll feel irritated by lines or timed seating. If that’s you, arrive early, follow the 119th-floor number advice, and treat the schedule like part of the experience, not a nuisance.

If you do it right, you’ll end up with the best kind of memory: eating dessert while Shanghai keeps moving below you.

FAQ

What floor do I eat on for lunch or dinner?

You enjoy your meal on the 119th floor (the cafe).

What are the lunch and dinner times?

Afternoon tea is 13:00 to 15:00. Dinner is available every day starting at 18:00 (listed as 18:00 to 19:00). Weekend lunch is from 11:00 to 13:00.

Is weekend lunch included?

Yes. Weekend lunch is included as part of the lunch/dinner packages, with the weekend lunch time window listed as 11:00 to 13:00.

What is included in the lunch or dinner menu?

Lunch and dinner include Garden Seafood Salad, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Salmon or beef, Chocolate Mousse Cake, soft drink, and red wine.

How long does the experience last?

The experience is listed as 2 hours.

Who needs a child ticket, and who gets free entry?

Kids under 3 years old have free entry. Kids over 3 years old and under 140 centimeters require a child ticket. Kids over 140 centimeters require an adult ticket.

Do I need a passport at the entrance?

Yes, a passport is required at the entrance.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.