TODAY'S Fuxing Road M. still captures some of the feel of Shanghai in the early 1930s and manages to remain relatively untouched by the frantic pace of the city. Even a recent renovation project on the road, located on the section between Sinan Road and Chongqing Road S., has kept the traditional feel. A total of 49 historic villas built by the French in the 1920s and 30s, some of which housed members of Shanghai's elite including Mei Lanfang and Liu Yazi, have been transformed into a leisure destination with four complementary functional precincts.

The development takes its name from the tranquil tree-lined Sinan Road and covers 56,000 square meters. It includes a high-end hotel composed of 19 stand-alone mansions, two majestic old structures and one newly built club house; high-end serviced apartments featuring 118 new units; a retail/dining area which already features new venues from established Shanghai names such as David Laris and Boxing Cat Brewery; as well as ten garden villas for corporate use. Though the original facades and interiors were extensively restored, the area somewhat lacks genuine old-world charm and a neighborhood atmosphere. But it definitely shows the ever-growing appreciation of converting the city's colonial buildings into commercially driven high-end lifestyle centers.

Some of the tenants have already opened their doors while others are still in the preparation process. So far, the area only attracts high-profile customers and trendy fashionistas.Aux Jardins Massenet

Aux Jardins Massenet is housed in one of the restored villas inside Hotel Massenet. The interior has all-wood floors covered with warm carpets, high ceilings, French windows and selected artworks, with abundant natural light and beautiful tableware setting the tone. A table at Aux Jardins means a celebration, a business coup, a special anniversary or simply a leisurely gourmet meal. Executive chef Jose De Castro, who previously worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants in France, heads Aux Jardins specializing in traditional French cuisine. He picks dishes such as casserole of black cod fillet "Provencale" with organic tomato and potato (188 yuan/US$28.5), fillet of beef Rossini topped with duck's liver, black truffle sauce and mashed potato (288 yuan), boiled organic egg in brioche and parmesan crisp with French spinach salad and parma ham (108 yuan) for first-time diners. The five-course set dinner menu costs 495 yuan with no service charge. The two-course lunch set is priced at 188 yuan and three courses at 288 yuan. If weather permits, the outdoor terrace is ideal for afternoon tea, between 2:30pm and 5pm everyday. The classic tea stand for two is priced at 238 yuan. In addition to the main dining room, there are three private rooms, and one VIP room on the top floor.

Opening hours: 11am-10pm

Address: 57 Sinan Rd

Tel: 3401-9998David Laris Building

A whole building situated at Sinan Mansions features different restaurant/lounge concepts created by David Laris.

The Fat Olive on the second floor is a Greek-inspired wine and mezze bar created by Laris, who wanted to develop a concept that would feature well-priced wine paired with Greek mezze.

This intimate space is the fourth outlet featuring an expanded restaurant menu and a wine list of favorites from the original Fat Olive.

Snacks start at 38 yuan and wine starts at 100 yuan for a bottle. The top floor of the building is home to private dining room 12 Chairs. As the name implies, the exclusive venue features only 12 seats and is available by reservation only.

It is inspired by the old European style of dining, "the kinds of feasts and spreads that the royal court would indulge in during Henry VIII's reign," Laris said.

Laris himself will be cooking several nights a week in the mini-finishing kitchen which opens directly into the private dining space while guests will enjoy a spread of mousses, terrines, jellies, whole fish, suckling pig and more.

The wine list will feature rare vintages such as very special Armagnacs from Napoleon's cellar. The menu price starts at 800 yuan without beverages. Yucca, on the same floor as 12 Chairs, is a new restaurant and lounge concept that embodies the spirited style of modern Mexico.

Its original restaurant location opened at the Expo Village with a full menu and specialty cocktails list. The latest incarnation is this micro-lounge version serving cocktails (68-88 yuan) and an indulgent selection of Yucca mordiscos (their twist on the traditional quesadilla).

The different venues give Shanghai foodies a variety of choices in one building. If you prefer a quick, reasonably priced lunch or dinner, head to The Funky Chicken on the first floor, with its door opening onto Fuxing Road.

It is the spot where delicious chicken is roasted rotisserie-style right before your eyes.Home Base

If you're after distinctive homeware pieces that are guaranteed to add a touch of elegance to your abode, Home Base offers an array of stylish items. Brand founder Desmond Chang, with years of professional experience accumulated in the porcelain industry, carefully collects distinct pieces from exquisite ceramic French brand Legle, Laguiole en Aubrac knives, high-end German vessels and wine glasses by Spiegelau, as well as fine British cutlery utensils from Studio William. Home Base provides a fine selection for world-class chefs, five-star hotels and other high-profile customers in order to perfectly combine exquisite tableware with gourmet food. The shop provides a special "made to order" service for anyone who appreciates tableware with individual taste. A pair of specially ordered ceramic coffee cups start from 1,800 yuan and the manufacturing process takes about two months. In addition, if you're looking for a present with style and remarkable taste, the shop's delicate selection has some great gift ideas, ranging in price from 800 to 150,000 yuan.

Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Address: Rm 102, Bldg 22, No. 15, 523 Fuxing Rd M.

Tel: 3416-0682Miss Paris & Dandy House

The Japanese slimming and beauty salon Miss Paris and Dandy House recently opened its first outlet in China, situated on the top floor of a villa in Sinan Mansions. It prides itself as being a specialist in the slimming field, using techniques approved by Japanese medical organizations and universities as being safe and effective. Customers with money burning a hole in their pocket are promised to get remarkable results from slimming treatments for both face and body based on the company's experience. The environment has a soothing, healing feel and is divided into Miss Paris exclusively for women and Dandy House for male customers. The most popular body slimming treatment Triple Burn costs 1,380 yuan/2 hrs, and this treatment is typically needed 24 times (29,800 yuan) to obtain optimum results. A Facial Makeover for slimming and firming is priced at 1,150 yuan/2 hrs. A total of 24 facial treatments plus skin care costs around 30,000 yuan. For such a high price, one can expect to get great service as well.

Opening hours: 9:30am-6:30pm

Address: 3/F, No. 22, 523 Fuxing Rd M.

Tel: 6426-9750Shanghai Slim

"Steak, Lobster, Seafood" clearly describes Shanghai Slim's food concept. Three levels of the restaurant provide a slightly different experience on each. The first floor features a seafood, oyster and champagne bar, martini bar and outside terrace. The second floor is designed to showcase the grill and open kitchen as well as a private chef's table while the top floor, with its elegant high ceiling, belongs to the intimate main dining room. The food here focuses on prime steak and grill items, great fresh seafood, oysters, live lobster and crab. The mouth-watering chilled seafood bar includes a seafood mountain (388 yuan) for two to three people to share; fresh oysters (24 to 67 yuan each) and colossal shrimp cocktail (150 yuan). The killer martinis and vintage wine are recommend to match the freshest seafood selection. Award-winning chef Adam Levin, who is a noted steak expert at the grill, heads the kitchen.

Opening hours: 11am-11pm

Address: Unit 26D, 523 Fuxing Rd M.

Tel: 6326-0171 California Pizza

This new 380-square-meter California Pizza Kitchen restaurant seats 150 people in a modern but sophisticated space. Founded in 1985, the leading California-based restaurant chain features an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, salads, made-to-order pastas, appetizers, soups, sandwiches and desserts -- perfect for those who love trying new ingredients and unique flavor combinations. Their signature dishes include BBQ chicken pizza, CPK crunch salad and the CPK Kung Pao pasta. It also features new localized dishes such as the pork belly pizza and the lily bulb salad. The food here is priced at 35 yuan to 180 yuan. California Pizza Kitchen has more than 230 restaurants all over the world and this is CPK's first company-owned restaurant located internationally. The decision to open a company-owned outlet abroad was driven by the importance of China as a market for California Pizza Kitchen, according to Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, co-founders and co-CEOs of CPK.

Opening hours: 11am-11pm

Address: 2/F, No. 3, Lane 507 Fuxing Rd M.

Tel: 5465-4800Boutique La Fleur

For fresh, creative, high-quality flowers in Shanghai, you can count on Boutique La Fleur at Sinan Mansions. Their professional staff of florists is always willing to work with the customer to create beautiful, unique flower arrangements or gifts for special occasions. With 15 years of experience, Boutique La Fleur florists' creations have graced many homes, high-end weddings and exclusive events. They have an unconventional approach toward floral arrangement and you will always discover new designs such as lucky bamboo stalks and fortunella mandarin arranged in a square utensil which will add subtle sophistication to Chinese New Year decorations. For exclusive floriculture designs, you don't need to pay a lot. It costs from around 50 to 180 yuan including the utensil. Price starts from 300 for a bouquet of imported, high-quality flowers. They usually stock around 50 kinds of flower in the shop, most of which are imported from Holland.

Opening hours: 9am-8pm

Address: No. 28, 531 Fuxing Rd M.

Tel: 6404-7423