1. The Apartment 2
: The suburban sequel to the popular Yongfu Lu club / lounge / hookup spot that's been running for six+ years. This one is more of a pub-style cafe, with more distinctly British styling and food. Located in the family-centric part of Minhang, they’ll probably cater to a more subdued crowd than downtown, although there's plenty of international school kids in the area. They're open from 11am-10pm on weekdays (school nights) and go until about 1am on the weekend.
Atmosphere: Located in a new plaza in Minhang that seems mostly devoid of people although poised to receive them, Apartment 2 feels like a component in the larger gamble that New Hongqiao will indeed become the shiny gem in the Westside that developers and city planners alike are promising. Seems like it's part of the foundation for big plans. The only people around the night I went, though, were a few locals loitering out front smoking cigarettes. We'll have to wait and see, although, apparently, they've already got a lunch crowd. The interior is sterile but functional, with some outdoor seating in the front and back. Incoherent electronic music was piping through the speakers last night. With the right suburban high school crowd, this place has the potential to rage.
2. Sabor
: Newly opened on June 13 just around the corner from The Bund, Sabor is from Madrid’s Diego Guerrero (El Club Allard, DSTAgE, El Refor), who has three Michelin stars to his name, as well as the prestigious title "International Olive Oil Spanish Ambassador". Management describes it as "haute cuisine" without the pretentiousness; dishes with soul, passion and love that are more than the sum of its parts. Sounds like fluff, but they’re actually not kidding. This is currently one of the best meals you can get in Shanghai on the creativity, technique, execution front. Not to mention value. Insane value.
Despite the Spanish chef, elements come from all over. Last night's visit involved an impeccable pigeon risotto, cooked slightly over-al dente intentionally, with the meat perfectly pink and moist. Seems they don’t adapt to over-cooking to appease Chinese palates. Stay this way, please.
Atmosphere: Remember a Spanish restaurant called La Pedrera? That's gone, and this has moved in the space. Decor looks like the team just re-purposed whatever was already there and added a healthy dose of kitsch. The "20s Art Deco" is debatable, and the "eras", colors and textures swerve all over the place. Those include leather booths, a jamon cart at the door, a flashy bar in the center of the room, and a solid "library" with titles like Danielle Steel's Sisters, The Walmart Way, and the classic Lloyd on Lloyd, with a blonde couple in matching mullets smiling on the cover.
The music selection was even more baffling; like, Fiona Apple, jazz standards, and Drake. I’m all for the 6god, but maybe not with my dessert. Overall, Sabor feels like a combination of a dark veneer smoking room, a Chinese nightclub, and a classed-up Red Lobster.
3. Bowl'd
: Açaí smoothie bowls. Maybe you've seen them on Pintrest or at some cafe in LA. You make a smoothie, put it in a bowl, then throw some "superfoods" on top: berries, chia seeds, agave syrup. Maybe some oats. Then you eat it with a spoon, like a frozen yogurt. Bowl'd is one of the first places to bring the trend to Shanghai, with a bright and cozy vegan cafe down a lane on Anfu Lu.
Atmosphere: Bright and modern. Time to WAKE UP and start your super day! Just a few tables and a bar inside, and a few seats outside. Maybe room for 12 people. They were playing that "Panda" song and some Drake and Rihanna on a recent Monday, but more than anything, you hear the blenders. Place seems popular with females.
4. Stockholm
: A nominally Swedish restaurant and bar that feels like the confused lovechild of Bar 88 and The Nest, just off The Bund on Guangdong Lu. During the day it's Bund dining and later at night (when I visited) they get into lounge territory. The menu features some Swedish food like meatballs, toast skagen, and lax plata, but also some randoms like foie gras mousse, and beef carpaccio.
Atmosphere: Puzzling. The press release promises to "immerse you into an ocean of pleasure". Well, when you enter the building, you pass through a room full of green laser beams. Not so pleasurable for the ol' corneas. During dinner, loud dance music ("put your hands up!" "you've got to show me love!") boomed through speakers that hang from pipes that nearly cover up the beautiful old ceiling. Half a dozen female employees were sitting idly at the bar in plain clothes, scrolling through their phones, as the Euros reflected brightly on a wall.
So much going on here: pineapples, Art Deco, lasers, leather couches, BIG logos on every chair, widescreen TVs, reflective surfaces, Scandinavian showroom furniture. This is what happens when you pick and choose design elements like toppings at Chipotle.
