BUSY and vibrant Huangpi Road stretches from Nanjing Road W. at one end, to the Xintiandi area on the other end. It is home to many trendy restaurants, cafes, galleries, bars and museums. Along the road, there are few old residential buildings, but it is predominantly a commercial road, and it is not hard to notice that business is flourishing, with new trendy shops and bars constantly opening on both of its sides. Although the south part of the road is much busier, its northern part, located very close to People's Square and all its attractions, has many things to offer and shouldn't be missed. There are a variety of places to get away from it all, such as the Shanghai Grand Theatre Gallery or Constellation Bar. On Huangpi Road S., which is close to Xintiandi's hive of leisure, are located some fine restaurants and cafes worth stopping to visit. Start your walk at the JW Marriott Hotel, at the intersection with Nanjing Road W., grab a coffee at the cozy 360 Gourmet Shop, and then proceed on a leisurely stroll along the road, taking in all the sights this modern street has to offer, until you reach the Xintiandi area. The walk alone should take you around an hour. The closest metro station at the northern end is People's Square (exit 11).


360 Gourmet Shop

Situated on the ground floor of the JW Marriott Hotel at Tomorrow Square, 360 Gourmet is a pleasant place to grab something quick to eat or even to relax after a long day at work. At this coffee shop, you can find anything from freshly baked bread, cakes, quiche, soups and sushi, to deli items such as pasta, butter, cereals, chocolate or olive oil. A wide selection of fresh salads, sandwiches and soups is available either for take away or to eat in. Everything is freshly made on the premises and cheesecakes are their specialty. The drinks menu includes coffees, teas, fresh juices and imported mineral water. The prices are reasonable, ranging from 15 yuan (US$2.27) for buns to 250 yuan for a Black Forest cake. If you go after 7pm bread, cakes and pastries are all half price.

Opening hours: 6:30am–10pm

Address: Ground Floor, JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai, 399 Nanjing Rd W. (The entrance is on Huangpi Rd N.)

Tel: 5359-4969


Shanghai Grand Theatre Gallery

Located next to the Shanghai Grand Theatre and near the Shanghai Art Museum, the Shanghai Grand Theatre Gallery exhibits a vast array of Chinese art, from sculptures and oil on canvas to traditional Chinese paintings. Although it is situated on buzzing Huangpi Road N., one can find tranquility among all of the beautiful exhibits. The gallery, which opened in 1999, is managed by Shanghai Grand Theatre in a space of more than 1,000 square meters and it is considered to be one of the best exhibition venues in Shanghai. The modern and avant-garde displays are available for purchase and prices range from 10,000 to 800,000 yuan, mostly attracting middle to high-end buyers. However, the gallery is open for everyone to enjoy and appreciate all of the incredible art works on display. The exhibitions change frequently. Currently the gallery features works by 30 Chinese artists, mostly academics.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 10:30am–5:30pm, every day except Mondays

Address: 286 Huangpi Rd N.

Tel: 6385-0141


Constellation No. 3

Constellation No. 3 is located in the heart of People's Square and is the newest addition to the Bar Constellation chain. It all started with bartender Kin Jin opening the first Constellation bar on Xinle Road, later expanding to Constellation 2 on Yongjia Road and then eight months ago, Constellation 3 was born on Huangpi Road N. This small, low-lit bar is one of Shanghai's best places for an intimate cocktail, while also boasting the largest whisky collection in town. The drink menu is extensive and not overpriced, with prices ranging from 60 to 80 yuan. Peaceful jazz music, the long black marble bar and bartenders dressed in black bow ties and waistcoats will have you thinking you've been transported back to the 1920s. The cocktail menu features classics such as Moscow Mule, Cosmopolitan and Mint Julep, but exclusive house concoctions including the Constellation Special will really get your taste buds tingling. There is also a small selection of cigars (100 to 250 yuan). Quiet and classy, it's the place to indulge yourself with cocktails prepared to perfection by friendly, English-speaking bar staff.

Opening hours: 7pm–2am (Friday and Saturday until 3am)

Address: 251 Huangpi Rd N., near Jiangyin Rd

Tel: 5375-2712


La Finca

Spanish restaurant La Finca took over the lakeside house of the original Le Platane restaurant in May last year. La Finca is decorated with a fine, luxurious dining ambience with a mix of black, gold and red as the color theme. The Spanish chef Reynaldo de Luna who heads the kitchen has worked in high-end Spanish restaurants in Qatar, Spain and the United States. La Finca is home to authentic Spanish cuisine with a modern twist, with signature tapas such as Sevilla olives (35 yuan), Spanish omelet (48 yuan) and garlic spicy prawns (58 yuan). The average price for dinner is 250 to 300 yuan per person without drink. The restaurant also offers weekday set lunch for 68 yuan per person from 11am to 2:30pm. The regular afternoon tea set is priced at 78 yuan per set for two persons, including coffee or tea served with a combination platter of chocolate cakes, cheese cakes, carrot cakes and petit fours.

Opening hours: 11am-midnight

Address: 373 Huangpi Rd S.

Tel: 5383-2998


Carpenter Tan

Previously situated on Nanjing Road W., this newly opened small carpentry shop on Huangpi Road N. is worth visiting for its assortment of handmade wooden combs, earrings and bracelets. It actually looks more like a small art gallery than a shop as most of the items for sale are displayed behind glass. For owner Tan, combs are little pieces of art. Made from fine red sandalwood, beige boxwood and even ox horn, each comb has a unique design with different Chinese patterns delicately made with thin brushes and using a range of colors. Also on display is a book made of bamboo with traditional Chinese poetry printed on it. About 80 percent of the employees who work for Carpenter Tan are handicapped, as is the owner himself. All of the products are made in Chongqing, where Tan comes from. His wooden artworks are perfect ideas for presents or souvenirs, ranging in price from 50 to 3,000 yuan.

Opening hours: 9am–9pm

Address: 211 Huangpi Rd N.

Tel: 6327-2399


Shanghai Tang Cafe

Vibrant energy, bold colors, Chinese-style materials and exquisite craftsmanship are clearly reflected in the Shanghai Tang Cafe's interior decor, which expresses Shanghai Tang's distinct brand concept, which goes beyond fashion. Located on Huangpi Road S. very close to Xintiandi, the restaurant and bar occupies two floors with an 80-seat restaurant on the lower level, and lounge and VIP rooms on the upper floor. At the helm of the kitchen is consultant chef Jereme Leung, a multiple award-winning chef renowned for his innovative "new Chinese cuisine" style of cooking. Signature dishes here include foie gras and hawthorn jelly served with hawthorn sorbet (68 yuan), eight-hours-slow-brewed golden consomme with assorted seafood (88 yuan/per person), roasted lamb rack, Mongolian style (148 yuan) and braised Shanghai noodles with assorted seafood in spicy chili sauce (68 yuan). The average cost for dinner is about 300 yuan per person. The 10-course lunch set is good value at 188 yuan for three persons and 288 yuan for four to six people. The lounge area provides a wonderful location to enjoy the afternoon tea set, which is busy everyday from 2 to 5pm. Costing only 60 yuan per person, each set includes six desserts and a cup of tea or coffee.

Opening hours: 11am-12pm (Sunday to Thursday); 11am-2am (Friday and Saturday)

Address: Level 2 and 3, No. 333 Huangpi Rd S.

Tel: 6377-3333


Shanghai Post Museum

Visiting the Xintiandi branch of Shanghai Post Museum adds a relaxing "cultural" touch to the Huangpi Road S. exploration and also offers a great opportunity to learn more about the city. The tiny museum features only one exhibition room, covering the history of sending letters and documents and the development of the postal service in Shanghai and in China. It features a tiger-shaped copper stamp used during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), the model of a mail box from Imperial China from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), prints of postal notification for Tianjing Customs in 1878 as well as various old pictures and stamps. It is said the first post station in Shanghai was in Huating County in the 10th Tianbao year of the Tang Dynasty (AD 751). The number increased to 35 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but all were closed and replaced by the post offices in 1912.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: 9am-9pm

Address: No. 3, Lane 123, Xingye Rd (at the corner with Huangpi Rd S.)

Tel: 6385-7451