Area:
Changle Lu, between Changshu and Wulumuqi (map here). Opposite that big blue-ish tower called The Center, the one with the concrete landscaping around it. Sort of across from the Anfu Lu Enoterra. Around the corner from Piro and Xibo. Upstairs from an innocuous looking fashion boutique, on a stretch of the street with some other shoe shops and clothes stores. Pretty central, but you’re probably not going to notice the place unless someone points it out to you. Hence this article.
What is it:
A sandwich shop and café by day, a bar selling bottled beers, wine and cocktails in the evening. It was opened over the summer by a guy called CK, who is an accordionist, and his parter Max. CK majored in accordion playing and then went on to work in an accordion factory after he graduated. Really into accordions. This brought him into contact with some of the people in Shanghai’s music scene. He’s recorded some accordion loops for Hamacide, who went on to use them as the basis for one of his EPs. He’s also played with Shanghai-local-treasure ChaCha, at the soft opening of 2nd Floor.
On top of accordion duties, he’s also a part-time photographer. Last year he accompanied ChaCha and the rest of the Sub-Culture crew on their tour of China and took pictures along the way. That’s what’s currently up on the walls of the cafe, in a space that will be used for small photography or art exhibitions.
Why it’s good:
So, it’s a sunny café that sells good sandwiches, nice beers and some pasta, but comes with some musical kudos, which may or may not improve your café experience. Every time I’ve been there, the music playing (in the background, nothing too loud) has been on point. Last time it was Enter the Wu Tang. No complaints there.
This isn’t a rowdy place, it’s a spot for sitting and stretching out with one of their photography books and chugging back a couple of 28rmb bottles of Sol. The cafe is bright and fills with sunlight during the afternoon because most of the space is enclosed in glass, like a big conservatory. In the evenings as the sun’s going down, you get a nice view of the surrounding buildings and the street through the trees.
The food is good, too. The ham and cheese sandwiches are toasted like your mother used to make them, and you get two for 38rmb. The Cajun chicken ciabatta (38rmb) comes grilled golden, packed with pickles and vegetables and with a little salad. It’s simple stuff, but well made and fresh, and you’ll struggle to find anywhere cheaper.
Atmosphere:
Arty, clean, with something Scandinavian about the furnishings. The walls are covered with photography books and retro cameras (CK shoots only on film, and says he can’t work out digital), plus some magazines and fliers. It’s rarely busy in the evenings, and no one’s going to bother you if you want to linger over a beer. There’s a cocktail menu on the way that should be ready in a week or two, but I don’t expect this place to get busy-busy, though it could be the sort of spot where you’d bump into some friends out in the week for a quiet drink after work or into the evening. Neighborly, I guess, is the word that springs to mind.
Prices:
Bottles of wine start at 118rmb and go up to 188rmb, and you can get a bottle of sparkling chardonnay for 218rmb. Beers are 28rmb for a Sol, 38rmb for a Stella and 43rmb for Duvel. Bombay Sapphire and tonic is 38rmb, same as all the spirits.
Ordering Recommendations:
For something non-alcoholic, try the Italian Soda (18rmb / glasss), which comes in coconut, cherry, lemon, frosted mint, hazelnut or vanilla. For something sweet, go for the mango mousse. The duck breast salad with avocado (48rmb) was good, as was the mozzarella and tomato salad (58rmb). Nothing's going to stun you, but it's tasty enough to make it a local spot for quiet dinners, maybe even a low-key date.
Right now they’re open from midday serving lunch and afternoon tea, but the kitchen closes at 8pm, and after that it’s just for drinks, no food. Full address, opening times and map, here.
