22 Exciting New Openings to Rock Your November
Lots of new openings have been making waves in November. From the renovation of Barbarossa in People’s Park to one of Asia’s Top 50 restaurants, Ministry of Crab, we've also welcomed a 1945 inspired Chinese bar by Speak Low owner and artist Zhang Jun. Plus, vintage bar The Odd Couple opens and Only Lady opens in the Bvlgari Hotel. Plenty of places to feast to our heart's content this month!
New Superstar Restaurants
Ministry of Crab
Among Asia’s Top 50 Restaurants
Within People’s Park, Barbarossa restaurant and bar shows off a new look following their recent renovation. Housed in a 3-story Arabic style bungalow, Ministry of Crab (MoC) is one of Asia’s Top 50 restaurants, and they've made Barbarossa their new home.
Serving a menu of Sri Lankan seafood, the menu is curated by both MoC and the internationally renowned chef, Dharshan Munidasa. Imported directly from Sri Lanka, the live seafood are frozen and refrigerated to ensure maximum freshness.
You can choose from a variety of ways to cook the crabs, from black pepper crabs made from freshly ground black pepper to chilli crab, and the classic curry crab. In addition, the restaurant also serves flavors tailored to the Chinese palate, with garlic and Sichuan peppercorn.
Address: 231 Nanjing Xi Lu
Tel: 021 6318 0220
1945
Collaboration between Speak Low and artist Zhang Jun
Another heavyweight to look out for, this restaurant is located at Rockbund and is a collaboration between Zhang Jun and the brilliant mind behind Speak Low.
Using a bird as an auspicious character, the bar is filled with Huangjiu and Baijiu, and the menu here is an assortment of Shanghai delights.
Apart from Huangjiu and Baijiu, they also serve Chinese whisky, wine, rum, and Chinese cocktails.
Photo credit: Leo Liu DRiNK
But that's not all, they also opened a new bar in Xintiandi called The Odd Couple (full review to come) recently that is managed by Shingo Gokan and Steve Schneider.
Address: 169 Yuan Ming Yuan Lu
Tel: 021 6330 8053
Chinese Cuisine
Only Lady
Vintage Chinese restaurant in Bvlgari Hotel
With a kitchen led by Hong Kong’s famous Chef Fu, Only Lady are creating true Cantonese cuisine. With over 25 years of experience, Chef Fu earned a Michelin One Star in Macau and also contributed to the Hong Kong Michelin Two Stars restaurant. With Chef Fu's masterful hands, customers can expect to be well-received here.
Every item on the menu is unique and flavorful. From the selection of ingredients to the method of cooking, all are meticulously done to ensure that the best food is served to every customer.
Address: 33 He Nan Bei Lu
How much: Lunch from RMB 400, Dinner from RMB 800
Tel: 021 3606 7788
JHouse (Jing'an Branch)
“Golden House”
A hidden bungalow along Julu Lu takes the form of the old “golden house”. Inside, there are two generations of seafood experts to serve fresh and delicious seafood, attracting food hunters from different corners of the world.
The shop is filled with a variety of seafood from the North Sea that arrives fresh every day. However, we think that the biggest attraction here is the almost 4-year old wild yellow croaker.
It is very rare to have a huge yellow croaker on display, and it is pure beauty to the eyes.
Address: Unit 11-12, 889 Ju Lu Lu
How much: RMB 400
Tel: 021 6445 3799
Yu Jing Tian (Lu Jia Zui Branch)
Cantonese restaurant housed in a century-old shipyard
With over 150 years of history, the shipyard has been converted into an art and commercial space called Shipyard 1862; within which it houses a Cantonese restaurant that provides a stunning view of the lake and has a spacious and brightly lit interior.
Known for their fusion Cantonese dishes, the chef puts an innovative twist on traditional Cantonese delights. This new opening is led by executive head chef Li Yuxiong who has over 20 years of experience in cooking Cantonese dishes, including at the Michelin 3-star restaurant Tang Ge as an assistant executive head chef.
The signature dish here is the hand-peeled sea cucumber, which uses sea cucumbers that are directly imported from Japan that are cooked with black truffle, matsutake, and oyster mushroom for hours to create a rich broth.
Address: 5/F 1862 Modern Art Center, 1777 Pin Gang Da Dao
How much: RMB 400
Tel: 021 2415 0777
Tao
Cantonese restaurant in Jing’an
Tao adopts a peacock-green color scheme and is a Cantonese restaurant located within the Jing’an Central Business District. Combining both nautical and traditional Cantonese elements together, you'll see culture come alive here.
The kitchen is headed by a Cantonese cook with over 30 years of experience, including as an executive chef at Wanda Reign hotel. The chef was also previously invited to receive the Belgian royal family as well as other celebrity functions.
By innovating traditional Cantonese cuisine, one of the must-try dishes here is the sweet and sour pork dish. They rapidly cool down the dish after cooking to amplify the refreshing taste and aroma of the meal.
Address: 325 Hua Shan Lu
How much: RMB 300
Tel: 021 6279 4777
He’s House (Shijie Da Dao Branch)
Elegant Chinese Restaurant with a Lotus Flower Theme
Previously, He’s House only had branches in Pudong Biyun and Hongqiao, and with its new opening in Century Avenue, diners need not travel far out to try out their food. The restaurant has an egg-shaped stage in the center and serves a Chinese menu.
The restaurant hopes to provide a peaceful and serene dining experience, and a common lotus flower theme can be seen throughout the place. Some of the decor pieces are by famous artists like Chen Zhihong and Ye Maozhong.
With a great focus on Chinese art and culture, the menu here includes Shanghainese, Huaiyang and Sichuan dishes. Diners can also observe the Chinese tea ceremony here, and the restaurant is great for a Chinese morning tea brunch or afternoon tea with friends.
Address: Block A 1885 Mall, 665 Shang Cheng Lu
How much: RMB 400
Tel: 021 6853 0777
Japanese Cuisine
Kappouyoshizen Delights
Japanese restaurant with a bamboo courtyard
On the bustling Wuding Lu, the Japanese restaurant is around 100㎡ wide and, through the clever use of design, creates a spacious look and feel for customers to dine in.
Open for only 5 hours each day, the head chef Kierce Cheung has over 20 years of Japanese culinary experience and was the executive chef in a Japanese restaurant in Beijing as well as past experiences in Hong Kong and the Mira. Despite having been open for only a month, Cheung has an ambitious target of clinching the Shanghai Michelin award.
Providing a 9-course omakase meal with drinks, dishes here include foie gras, sea urchin, truffle crab, beef and more.
Address: A201 Jing Yue Fang, 1101 Wuding Lu
Tel: 021 6380 0919
How much: RMB 1688/person + 10% service charge; RMB 1088/person + 10% service charge
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 5:30 pm-10 pm
Only pre-booking
Motoya
Hidden Japanese Sukiyaki gem
Seven years ago, Motoya was founded, and since the time of its opening, has gained widespread popularity due to its delicious food. Three years later, it opened a store in Gubei and, since then, it has attracted many celebrities. The 2-story store is intricately decorated with Japanese designs throughout.
Known for their eastern Sukiyaki-style dish, it slightly differs from the western style which uses soy sauce and sugar, by being slightly fresher and sweeter. The store only uses premium marbled beef, which many diners flock to just to try.
Add the beaten yolk into the boiling pot and the silky texture with the aromatic soup and beef will not only satisfy the tummy, but also the soul.
Address: No. 111 The Influx Center, 3337 Hong Mei Lu
How much: RMB 400
Tel: 021 3471 1076; 021 6209 7702
Hot Pot
Xi Kou Hong Kong Style Dim Sum Hotpot
RMB 8,000 crab feast
Hidden in Guoyang Park, this place hit the top spot on the Xuhui Hotpot list when it first opened.
Designed to look like the streets of Hong Kong, you can enjoy a crab feast here with their crab hot pot. On the pot itself, diners can find intricate carvings and need not worry about the food being burnt as the pot is double layered.
The crab roe is mixed with peppercorn, giving it a rich body and an irresistible flavor.
Address: 47 Xing Le Lu
How much: RMB 400
Tel: 021 5436 6063
Xingzhen Seafood Hot Pot and Bar
Hot pot in Jing’an’s “Mini Hong Kong”
Recently, we discovered a mini Hong Kong in Jing’an and nestled within the neighborhood is a seafood hot pot place decorated with vintage red chairs, yellow lamps, and traditional signboard designs reminiscent of the city's streets.
The new store is known for its quality ingredients and superb skills, and diners can expect great food and service when dining in the public dining area or in the private rooms.
When here, do try out the yellow croaker fish peppercorn pot, which combines both Jiangzhe and Cantonese flavors. Each pot has six wild yellow croaker fish and the fish is steamed and deboned, giving it a tender flavor that is contrasted against the peppercorn broth.
Address: 282 Wanhangdu Lu
How much: RMB 300
Tel: 021 6214 7277; 021 6214 7057
Western Cuisine
Frasca
Modern and minimalist Italian restaurant
Food haven Frasca has four sections within the restaurant - a bar, public dining area, glass house, and an outdoor garden. Creating a casual dining vibe, diners can feast on Italian dishes comfortably in the restaurant.
Using produce from Italian farmhouses and cooked by a professional team, the signature dish here is the Pinsa. Using traditional cooking methods and it's made with nutritious and organic Italian flour and meat, before being cooked over coal.
The restaurant also offers a great selection of Italian alcoholic beverages and beer.
Address: 366 Shimen Yi Lu
How much: RMB 400
Tel: 021 32168168
El Nacional
Vibrant Spanish restaurant
In Xingye Taikoo Hui, El Nacional is a Spanish restaurant serving paella, tapas, and seafood with an open concept kitchen.
One of the signature items here is the Valencian paella, which is tailored to the local palate, and is made from ingredients like fish, chicken, sausage, seafood, and duck bone broth. Diners can also choose the level of hardness of the rice.
Address: LG139 Unit 2 Xing Ye Mall, 288 Shimen Yi Lu
How much: RMB 200
Tel: 021 6415 9567
Casa Vintage
Time travel to 17th Century Europe
In Uni Elite, you'll be transported back to 17th Century Europe. The place is run by a Chinese couple who stayed in Italy for over 30 years before moving back to set up their restaurant.
From the ambience and cooking methods to the cutlery, each element is hand-picked and decided on by the couple and the decor here is sourced from all over Italy, with each item telling a story.
In terms of the food, the couple hopes to keep it simple and hopes to tell of their experiences in Italy through the menu.
Address: B107-1 Uni Elite, 838 Huang Pi Nan Lu
How much: RMB 200
Tel: 021 6333 9288; 136 6195 7299
Mad Lab
Abandoned warehouse vibes
Pushing the boat out in terms of concept, newly opened Mad Lab comes from the genius minds behind Barbarian, Bites & Brews and Hot Chick, and it's probably the most fun and out there restaurant that we have been to in years.
The idea of rustic experimentation is carried into the food and the drinks. Head Chef Todd Losacco comes from a fine dining background and is using Mad Lab as his own personal experiment. Each night, he creates up to 30 dishes - some new, some old favorites - and they are carried to the dinners on a conveyor belt, sushi style.
The food is an amazing fusion of east and west, you could be munching on a plate of Sushi one minute, and tucking into smoked duck breast or salmon tartar the next.
Address: 1085 Wuding Lu
How much: RMB 200
Tel: 136 1174 0704
Bars
Liquor Store
High end private Whisky Bar with an RMB 38,800 entrance fee
Built in 1925, Dong Hu Lu No. 7 bungalow by Joseph, a British businessman and owner of J.H. Trachsler company. Today, the place is transformed into a high end members-only bar, and is currently serving 188 members.
The third speakeasy bar after Barber Shop and Laundry Co., not only is the place quite difficult to find, it is also rather difficult to get into with its RMB 38,800 price tag.
A whisky haven, there is an extensive whisky menu here, including limited editions and rare whisky from all over the world. Some of their collectibles include the Hibiki 30-year whisky and Yamazaki 25-year whisky. Apart from that, the bar provides an assortment of delights from dumplings to lobsters and more.
Address: 2/F Unit 6, 7 Dong Hu Lu
Tel: 188 1798 8058, 136 0178 8027
Valpasso
Mysterious bar for a great round of drinks
Open from November 8th, Valpasso is hidden within 758 Julu Lu and the well-designed space has red lighting, marble table tops and grey velvet textures.
Run by three owners with different backgrounds they found a common love for Glera grapes, which are found in the Veneto region in north-eastern Italy.
Address: 3/F Unit 5, 758 Julu Lu
Trendy Shops
OOAK (Xintiandi Branch)
Collection of trendy jewelry
The first accessory-focused collaborative concept store in the country, OOAK is designed to look like a hotel but is a designer accessory store. Following its Julu Lu and Xingye Taikoo Hui branch, it is now opening its third branch in Xintiandi.
Using a peacock-green color with gold and velvet accents, the store has both a trendy and high-end look and feel to it.
When you enter OOAK, dress like a star in your party outfit, as most of their pieces are commonly worn by celebrities.
Address: Unit 206, 5/F, 123 Xing Ye Lu
Yu Yuan Shopping Center
Old post office transforms in to “shopping center”
On the famous Yuyuan Lu, the mall used to be an old post office and the building has a history of close to 90 years. At the entrance, there is a vintage white mailbox - a nod to its roots.
With a total of 3-stories, currently only the first floor is opened to public and it houses a cafe, public art, and shopping area. The store preserves the original architecture and design with Roman pillars and arched doors.
At the back of the cafe, there is a resting space with an open public art space which doubles up as an exhibition space.
Address: 1018 Yuyuan Lu
Nike Shanghai 001
Nike's first House of Innovation
On 829 Nanjing Lu, the Nike House of Innovation reinvents the shopping experience and is the first of its kind by the brand.
Offering limited edition Shanghai pieces, you can grab the latest and rare Nike pieces here from jogging apparel to lifestyle and other sporting ones.
Unlike the normal Nike store, the shop provides customization services for sneakers and bespoke Nike Plus member shoe customization services, allowing shoppers to create their dream footwear.
Address: 829 Nanjing Dong Lu
Dior Boutique China Flagship Store
Experience a high-end luxury beauty experience
The Dior boutique flagship store provides a modern and luxury beauty and shopping experience for fans and beauty-loving individuals.
An assortment of Dior products from cosmetics, beauty, and perfume are all available here. Also, the store provides customized scarves and embroidery services.
Here, you can expect bespoke services: a one to one session with professional beauty consultants and skin tests to understand your skin better. The best thing is that you can create a customized SPA experience catering to your skin needs. Do note that reservations are required to be made in advance.
Address: G07 Shanghai Shimao Festival City, 829 Nanjing Dong Lu
L Living
Status of modern living
At the forefront of modern living trends, L Living uses Italian style to bring a fresh and clean concept to designing, representing well the modern Chinese approach of homes.
At this Italian furniture boutique, you will experience the beauty of Rome and every piece of product is guaranteed to satisfy your needs and improve your quality of life.
Address: L253-254 The Mixc, 1599 Wu Zhong Lu
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