What's ZUP? But like, really, what is ZUP?
It's an American-style pizza restaurant.
Pretty damn good pizza, I might add. A good Rigatoni as well.
But it's also a community figurehead. A congregation space for city legends and kings. It pays homage to the foundations of Shanghai nightlife, with afternoon/evening Sunday sessions touting deejays from the days of Dada, Logo, and Shelter.
Just a block from West Nanjing Road, it couldn't be more Jing'an, and the community reflects that. It's a collection of hip laowai and locals meshing over conversation. Join in. It's pretty hard not to. Zup is small and intimate. It's the kind of spot you'd pass by for 10 minutes, stay an entire afternoon, and make like, four new friends. It's also family-friendly. Kids like pizza, and the park behind it is fully contained, with only one entrance. It's hard to lose them.
Sunday Sessions by ZUP
This Sunday is another afternoon of music, people, and vibes. The decks will be out, brazenly set up on the bar, within arm's reach. Ask the DJ what he's playing, and he'll tell you. The owners, Wayne and Lee, are cool. They know their music and have genuinely good taste. They're also super friendly, which is a plus. Expect old-school Chicago House, 90's hip hop, proper reggae, funk-disco-soul, and a medley of stuff you should probably know. Any DJ who's played ZUP will tell you, there's a pressure to come correct. Sets are highly curated, and every tune has a story.
I feel like Zup could exist in the Southside of Chicago, where they boogie, or like Brooklyn. Or some small street in Montreal. It's got style for days but remains casual. Hear the thirty-five-year-old in high-top Pumas spit the hook of a Gangstarr tune. Estrella might be the best afternoon party beer ever.
The whole vibe is classic cool. It's got the location, people, music, food, and style. Come through this Sunday. Have a beer, be social, and listen to some truly good music. Cause that's what ZUP is.
Wire posts are written by a mix of SmartShanghai editors and contributors from the community. Many are active in the scenes they write about. These posts reflect personal perspectives, not editorial endorsements.
