Meet Shanghai's Most Welcoming F&B Faces

Some people go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure you have a good evening out. These are our picks of those doing everything they can to offer you the best service, a warm handshake and a large a smile. They do what they do because they love their jobs, and love people.   

MUST GRILL

MARTIN

Address: 881 Wuding Lu, Bldg 2

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday  11.30 Am - 11:00 Pm 

Tel: [phone]

Price : RMB 200 per person 

Martin may be the sweetest, most warm-hearted  French person you never meet.  His kindness comes naturally from the bottom of his heart and encompassed the whole establishment. It even makes us wonder sometimes if this cutie is actually from thr same country as all those grumpy cashiers we saw last time in Paris. 

BREAD ETC.

STEPHAN & FANNY

Address: 500 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu

Hours: Daily 8Am- 10 Pp

Price : RMB 100 per person 

100 grams of kindness, 100 grams of passion, 250 grams of patience, 2 spoon of tenacity and 1 L of attention to detail. This is the recipe of Stephan and Fanny’ s bakery Bread etc.. They’re always here, smiling and tirelessly ensuring everything absolutely perfect. They care as much about their staff as their guests, a dead giveaway that these are some good people. 

SHANGHAI BAKERY

OX

[copyright: Graeme Kennedy]

Address: N181, 465 Zhenning Lu 

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday  9 Am – 7 Pm

Tel: [phone]

Price : RMB 70 per person 

Once you meet Ox, you probably won’t forget him. His 2 meter tall figure is imposing, but he’s a gentle giant, and one who can cook. He truly loves what he does and that love rubs off onto every part of the bakery, including the throngs of loyal customers. 

ENOTERRA

CHARLES

Address: 343 Jiaozhou Lu/ 53-57 Anfu Lu

Tel: [phone]

Price : RMB 200 per person 

Charles is a typical French guy: cute with a thick accent, always talking about wine and endlessly flirty. He is also really into his job and always gives 110% every day. It’s the kind of warmth, effort and charm that makes you want to keep coming back.

EL WILLY

ISA

Address: 22 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu, Bund 22, 5/F

Tel: [phone]

Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm; Sat 11:30am-3:00pm, 6pm-10:30pm

Price: RMB 300 per person 

Isa has worked in hospitality for over sixteen, seven of which have been in Shanghai. Hospitality is her blood, it’s her passion and at this point an effortless second nature. Her aim is to make sure that every guest as a great experience in any of the three restaurants she runs. With her friendly sensibility, she will make you feel at home, no matter how many thousand miles away from it you are.

SALOTTO G

IILY, ANDREA AND BEN

Address: 1019 Wuding Lu, near Jiaozhou Lu 

Tel: [phone]

Hours: Daily 11:30Am - 1:00Am

Price : RMB 300 per person 

The man in blue is Ilya, an adorable Italian gentleman, always here to welcome you with a smile and a good firm handshake.  The man in red is Ben, the owner. He is always around bringing the trendiest people in the city with him. The guy in white is the chef so you might not see him, but you’ll certainly taste his work. 

Andrea is the bartender. As attentive with his fantastic drinks as he is with his guests (especially with groups of ladies). He may offer you some of his own special shots made with berries and vodka. If he offers, take him up on it.

RUIJIN CAJUN

NATE AND MATT

Address: 800 Changde Lu, 800 Show, 1FL

Tel:  [phone]

Hours: Daily 11:30Am - 1:00Am

Price : RMB 100 per person 

Who doesn’t know about Matt and Nate of Ruijin Cajun? Nobody, because they are the most adorable big boys in town. Always around and willing to share a fresh beer with you, you’ll have some entertaining chatter and laugh or two for sure. It’s like hanging out with your crazy uncles at a holiday party.

AMELIA'S

SARAH

Address: Lane 695, Julu Lu, No 1

Hours: Daily 8am-10pm

Price : RMB 100 per person 

You may have seen her around the Jiashan market, selling mulled wine and some exquisite marmalade. Sarah is as lovely as it gets, a warm-hearted little British girl. These days you can find her over on Julu Lu, doing her thing and winning everyone over.

OCEAN GROUNDS

JIMMY

Address: 283 Huaihai Zhong Lu/ 888 Shenchang Lu, The Hub

Hours: Mon 8:00am - 12:00am 

Tel: [phone]

Price : RMB 100 per person 

His name is Jimmy and he might the most qualified coffee aficionado in Asia. He entered the industry when he was 15 years old and never looked back.  He came up with the concept of Ocean Grounds in San Diego and brought it to Beijing, Shanghai and soon Guangdong. He is a pioneer of the 4th Wave in Coffee, helping people not just to drink it, but to understand it and embrace the lifestyle. 

EL BODEGON

DIEGO, GABRIEL AND JAVIER

Address: 83 Changshu Lu, Shenzhou Commercial Bldg, 4/F, near Julu Lu

Tel:  [phone]

Hours: Daily 5pm - 10:30pm expect the Sunday 

Price: RMB 200 per person 

Two Argentine brothers and their Uruguayan cousin run el Bodegón. This friendly eatery is delicious, affordable and has a casual family-run atmosphere. They’ve known their staff for many years and maintain a very family-oriented, open attitude towards guests. If this is what it’s like in Latin America we’re considering a location change.

MISS BONBON

JASON

Address: N 148 Shaanxi Bei Lu

Tel: [phone]

Price:  RMB 100 per person

Jason is the owner of Miss Bonbon, on Shananxibei Lu. Even if he looks like a grump from a far, he’s anything but. He’s always beside his counter you can be sure that he is the best person to chill with during, or after work. Try his dried mushrooms snacks, they are fantastic. 

LOGAN'S PUNCH

LOGAN

Address: 99 Taixing Lu, Bldg A, 2/F, Room 202

Hours: Daily 6Pm -1Am 

Tel: [phone]

Price:  RMB 200 per person

Globetrotting rapscallion, drink-maker, rakish personality and bar owner; Logan is a well know name in Shanghai. Just to be clear: Logan is American, not Canadian (we wrote he was Canadian once in a recent article, our bad!). Before he worked at The Strip, M1NT, Muse and now own Punch Bar. In his own words:“Bars should be like great sex, it’s consenting adults doing something they love in a setting where no one can judge and everyone leaves satisfied and slightly sticky.” Sign us up!

CO. CHEESE

CALE

Address: 32 Yuyuan Dong Lu / 372 Dagu Lu

Hours: Daily 11:30 Pm -10Pm 

Tel: [phone]

Price:  RMB 100 per person

Cale is working at Co.Cheese, sometimes with a puppy, sometime not, but always with a big smile. From his words he is fortunate enough to work in a place that brings in good people, mainly dudes though. Say what you will of China’s no-tipping culture, one thing is for sure- if someone is really nice to you, you know it’s because they’re nice people, Cale is a perfect example.  

MAYA & MAYITA

ROBIN AND VERONICA

Address: Lane 568, Julu Lu

Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-late; Sat-Sun 11am-late

Tel: [phone]

Price:  RMB 300 per person

At MAYA & MAYITA they recreate the explosion of colors, flavors, smells, & vibrancy which characterize Mexico. They love to play with their environment in order to create something unique and inviting. The result is warm & atmospheric and the guest can feel the difference. They enjoy meeting new people, accepting new challenges and spreading their idea of an awesome time out for a meal.

THE PARROT

JON

Address: 7 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 6Pm- 2Am

Tel: [phone]

Price:  RMB 100 per person

Maybe one of the most adorable and sincere smiles you will see during a night out. Jon is the Bartender of The Parrot and, aside from knowing how to make incredible cocktails, he knows how to be adorable and truly hospitable with guests. However, beware of his tequila shots, not a good idea before clubbing. 

OLA

PAULO

Address: 1105 Wuding Lu, near Yanping Lu

Hours: Daily 10Am- 12Am 

Tel: [phone]

Price:  RMB 100 per person

Who doesn’t know Paulo? Always busy, holding tons of food and booze in his arms and eager to share both with you. Paulo oozes hospitality. However, he admittedly has a terrible memory for faces, so don’t get offended if he doesn’t recall the last time you came to OLA. 

ALAN WONG'S

BETH

Address: 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai Centre, East Tower, 2/F

Hours: Daily 6Pm- 11Am 

Tel: [phone]

Price:  RMB 300 per person

Beth is a kind of Indiana Jones n the F&B panorama. Adventurous, she has been backpacking around the world: South East Asia, UAE, Turkey, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Helping businesses in the Middle East, working in a Private Club is HK, managing a seafood restaurant in Dubai. Gastronomic traveler and inspiring Lady, we’re pretty certain Beth will go far, especially with such a friendly demeanor and warm personality… did we mention she’s a hell of a chef as well?

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