THE 500-meter-long Shajing Road connecting Hailun Road and Liyang Road is becoming an artistic enclave in Hongkou District.

The Art Deco 1933 Old Millfun located at 10 Shajing Road used to be a municipal slaughterhouse, at one time the biggest abattoir in East Asia. Now, the architecturally stunning structure is a new landmark in the north Bund area, positioned as an arts and lifestyle hub that absorbs upscale design, arts, dining, entertainment and shopping.

The interior of the five-story central building is like a maze with a labyrinth of concrete interior spirals, bridges, walkways and hidden staircases. With lifestyle and fashion boutiques, food and beverage outlets and photography studios randomly dotted around the space, your mind finds it difficult to turn away. It is easy to devote half a day exploring those "hidden treasures" inside this intriguing creative space.

The pedestrian street itself, paved with gray cobblestone walkways, is also perfect for a relaxing stroll on the weekends. The nearest subway station is Hailun Road Station on Metro Line 4 and 10. Kenas Lifestyle

Kenas is one of the best places to go when looking for home furnishings that will impress. The 400-square-meter store is the company's first foray into the retail market, backed by 15 years of experience producing and exporting furnishings to the Western market. The lofty space features artisan-quality European furniture mixed with homeware items with an ethnic touch, some extremely good value. A three-and-a-half seat natural linen sofa is priced about 18,000 yuan (US$2705.4) and the price suits if you are looking for something without tacky colors and uncomfortable synthetic fabrics. Metal-base wooden-top tables are another highlight of Kenas Lifestyle. They are priced at 6,500 yuan to 13,000 yuan and use high-quality wood such as reclaimed Chinese elmwood, imported European oak and American red alder. Though the furniture is newly crafted, most of the pieces bear the patina of an old, well-loved antique, exuding history and charm. Kenas is known for their artisans who put great care into their finishes - special waxes, paints and finish products are imported from Europe, all for the love of the perfect piece of European lifestyle furniture.

Opening hours: 10am-7pm

Address: Unit 1-104, Bldg 1, Shanghai 1933

Tel: 6513-9316 Cigar Ambassador Shanghai 1933 Club

The Cigar Ambassador Shanghai 1933 Club is one of the premier destinations for cigar lovers in the city with its fine selection of cigars from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. It is owned by Shanghainese cigar connoisseur Lily Wang, who is also the founder and publisher of the only Chinese-edition cigar magazine "Cigar Ambassador." Wang founded the Cigar Ambassador club and provided a quiet, upscale facility for cigar aficionados to taste and enjoy a great cigar with one another. Their extensive inventory includes top sellers such as Cohiba, Romeo Y Julieta, La Aurora, Oliva and Carlos Fuente. They have more than 100 lockers that are available for members to store cigars and other accessories. Club members can also order a special-sized cigar that is hand-rolled by the resident expert and master Cuban cigar roller. The club is not only for those who have been smoking for years, as they also want to introduce cigars to a new generation. For everyday smoking, cigar-loving consumers could opt for discount-priced Leon Jimenes Cafe Petit Corona (18 yuan) or Don Roger Robusto (40 yuan) from the Dominican Republic.

Opening hours: 10am-11pm

Address: 1/F, Bldg 1, Shanghai 1933

Tel: 5596-7221 Noodle Bull

The sleek, modern Taiwanese noodle house Noodle Bull has steadily built its reputation locally for its well-presented food at reasonable prices. The 80-seat 1933 outlet covers 200 square meters. Separate tables for four take up most of the chic industrial space, and a long, continuous low bench in the center is designed for larger groups. The menu is simple and classic and the noodles are authentic in texture and consistency. Among the noodles are the specialty bull noodle (30 yuan) and roasted beef noodle (30 yuan), both of which are recommended to be matched with one or two tapas which include thin-sliced pork (18 yuan), scalded green vegetables (5 yuan), braised sliced seaweed (5 yuan) and marinated tofu (5 yuan). Also recommended is the home-made plum juice (10 yuan per glass or 30 yuan a bottle). The noodle house also offers cocktail drinks which are rarely seen in local eateries. With efficient, friendly service and an informal, chic atmosphere, Noodle Bull is one of the top picks when looking for a casual lunch or dinner with the average cost around 40 yuan per person.

Opening hours: 11am-9pm

Address: 1-234, Bldg 1, Shanghai 1933

Tel: 152-0180-0830

Pin Wei

Pin Wei provides designers an opportunity to show off their inventive skills and abundant creativity in its lofty space tucked away in the main building of 1933. It showcases more than 30 brands of furniture, lighting, tableware, home and fashion accessories and it seeks to create a dynamic atmosphere for young designers and innovative, trendsetting ideas. The highlight brands include The One, Yaang, Banmoo, Wukong and MetierAtelier with their products blending traditional Chinese aesthetics with simple but modern designs. There is also a section featuring a large selection of books and magazines specializing in architecture and design.

Opening hours: 9am-8pm

Address: 1-222, Bldg 1, Shanghai 1933

Tel: 6514-6695

Chuech Studio

With 15 years experience in the local market, Chuech is a leading photography studio with a unique approach to creating the best image for any customer. To achieve the high quality service they bring together some of the most talented stylists and photographers to tailor the session to the customer's needs and characteristics.

The studio is in high demand for pre-wedding shoots, but also enjoys shooting personal portraits. They are experienced with indoor studio work and outdoor shoots. Chuech is the only studio in town that can use the 1933 building as one of their sets. They have different pre-wedding packages, from around 4,000 yuan to more than 20,000 yuan, to fit any budget and style. Each includes a different number of locations, albums and services. Creative photography for the personal series ranges from 1,288 yuan to 18,880 yuan.

Opening hours: 9am-9:30pm

Address: 1-316, Bldg 1, Shanghai 1933

Tel: 400-820-3801

Rosso Italiano

The slow food concept, a way of living and a way of eating, has gained increasing interest in gastronomic circles around the world and Rosso Italiano is where you can experience the philosophy and devote the time in a relaxed way to enjoy each dish. Hailing from Genoa, Italy, chef Leandro Carrega is keen to celebrate the culinary traditions of Liguria based on ingredients such as fish and aromatic herbs such as basil, thyme, marjoram, oregano and parsley. From these ingredients are born exceptional sauces among which is the basil leaf pesto, a highlight of Rosso Italiano. One of the signature dishes with pesto sauce here is the wholemeal linguine pasta served with fresh basil leaves pesto sauce Genoa style. The menu is a tribute to the chef's native city Genoa and Liguria regional cuisine which is rarely represented in the Italian kitchens of Shanghai. Another specialty of Rosso Italiano is that you can ask the chef to prepare the daily available fresh seafood, meat or lamb according to your particular needs. The large selection of seafood includes Japanese sea bass, black porgy, turbot, greasy grouper, tiger prawn and yellow sea urchin.

Opening hours: 12am-midnight

Address: 1-218, Bldg 1, Shanghai 1933

Tel: 6513-8708

Brazilian Gate

Chinese customers rarely know anything about Brazilian products, which typically feature nice design, exclusive materials and abundant creativity. Some good examples of the distinct Brazilian aesthetics are what Brazilian Gate is beginning to introduce to Shanghai residents. Most often, visitors walk into Brazilian Gate and ask for the retail prices of the eye-catching fashion accessories and Brazilian beer.

But this is not your usual store. It doesn't sell its products but only showcases items from seven Brazilian companies that intend to enter into the Chinese market in the near future. It's more like a platform to bring together strong and capable Brazilian companies with Chinese businessmen who seek to invest in something different from the usual brands at their disposal. The companies currently showcased at the Brazilian Gate include Angela di Verbeno, known for the creativity of their handbags and shoes in leather and noble python skins; Brasil Sul, one of the most creative Brazilian brands of sportswear; Dado Bier, the premium beer of Brazil; Mormaii, one of the most famous surfing and sportswear brands in the world; and Solarium, a manufacturer of unique cement floors.

It also showcases fashion brands Duelo do Brasil and Pelu. Probably the most eye-catching section is Brazilian Arenas, where four of the best-known Brazilian soccer teams are showing their plans for arenas to be constructed for the FIFA World Cup which will take place in Brazil in 2014. They are now seeking sponsors to name their stadiums.

Opening hours: 10am-7pm

Address: 1-108, Shanghai 1933

Tel: 1520-1832-848