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Surprises along Hunan Road
By Yang Di |
January 23, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
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THIS pleasant, easy going walk starts at the junction of Hunan Road and Huaihai Road M., just opposite the Shanghai Library. There are a score of lovely old villas and apartments along Hunan Road, which is mostly residential.
At the intersection with Wukang Road, the Spanish-style Hunan Villa was once home to famous figures such as Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and politician Chen Yi. In the past two years a few shops and restaurants opened, nestled in the residential compounds. They are not as commercial and obvious as in other streets, but are part of the flow of life along Hunan Road. The nearest metro is the Shanghai Library stop on Line 10. The walk takes about half an hour if you don't stop at a restaurant.
1984 Idea Shop - Bookstore
It's easy to miss this gem on Hunan Road. The dark metal gate is always closed. Visitors need to ring the doorbell and the shop staff open the gate. It's a delight to enter the cozy, hip bookstore and cafe. There are carefully selected books of Chinese literature, usually one copy for each book. The store also carries notebooks, eco bags, and Lomography cameras by independent local brands and designers. 1984 is not simply a bookstore or a cafe: it's a place where people get together, relax and share good ideas. The cafe space is decorated with Art Deco chairs and cozy sofas where you can grab a book have a cup of coffee and spend a whole afternoon. The artistic space is open for events and parties, with a minimum charge of 500 yuan/one hour.
Opening hours: 11am-10pm
Address: 11 Hunan Rd
Tel: 1362-1910-210
B'La Vii Hotel - Boutique oasis
Boutique B'La Vii Hotel, just behind the Lapis Thai restaurant on Hunan Road, promises a peaceful, artistic and exclusive sanctuary in a in a quiet, carefully preserved neighborhood. A 70-year-old house has been converted to a boutique hotel with a décor that blends modern style with Chinese accents. Chinese red dominates the public space where huge bird cages are suspended in the atrium. Each of the 14 rooms and suites is furnished with a distinguished touch of Oriental style. Furniture, fabrics and artifacts are meticulously selected for their striking individuality. The rooms ranging from a comfortable studio of 30 to 35 square meters to a suite of 60 square meters. Till the end of February, daily rates for each room is 688 yuan, including free mini bar and WiFi.
Address: 285 Hunan Rd
Tel: 6467-7171
Lapis Thai - Dining gem
Tucked away on Hunan Road inside a renovated three-story villa, Lapis Thai offers a dining experience that infuses a sense of relaxation into tasty Thai cuisine. Upon entering the restaurant, diners might feel as though they've taken a journey to a tropical garden restaurant somewhere in Thailand. The teak wood furnishings, the Southeast Asian fabrics, as well as the fantastic outdoor terrace surrounded by water truly indulge the senses. The menu, along with the pictures of signature dishes, looks tempting. Recommendations for first-time visitors include deep-fried shrimp cakes (58 yuan/US$8.8), chicken in pandan leaves (58 yuan), spicy and sour seafood in fresh coconut (98 yuan), crab curry (198/248 yuan) and lime steamed mandarin fish (118 yuan). The average dinner costs 175 to 200 yuan per person without drinks. Buy-one-get-one-free happy hour starts from 5:30pm and ends at 7:30pm, including any house wine, cocktail and draft beer. The restaurant now serves breakfast: American breakfast (68 yuan), Continental breakfast (48 yuan), Cereal breakfast (38 yuan).
Opening hours: 7am-midnight
Address: 285 Hunan Rd
Tel: 5466-3026
3 Hunan Rd - -Florist
"A day in blossom" is the motto of the chic flower shop 3 Hunan Road. As the phrase implies, owner Liang Ying aims to lighten the mood of anyone who treats themselves to a bouquet of flowers, along with basic groceries. "One doesn't need a particular reason to buy flowers. Take a bouquet to home whenever you want," Liang said. Liang lived in the United States for 13 years and Japan for three years. She studied art history but interior design has always been her passion. To decorate the shop, she was keen to retain some connection with the original style of the building. Liang loves to surround herself with her favorite Art Deco furniture and beautiful flowers. Customers usually don't find roses or lilies, but there are special blooms such as hyacinth and tuberose. Bouquets are priced from 200 yuan and usually contain 10 types of flowers. Taking an European approach toward floral arrangement, the shop provides custom-made floral design for small, high-end private events.
Opening hours: 10am-7:30pm
Address: 3 Hunan Rd
Tel: 6431-0822
At the intersection with Wukang Road, the Spanish-style Hunan Villa was once home to famous figures such as Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and politician Chen Yi. In the past two years a few shops and restaurants opened, nestled in the residential compounds. They are not as commercial and obvious as in other streets, but are part of the flow of life along Hunan Road. The nearest metro is the Shanghai Library stop on Line 10. The walk takes about half an hour if you don't stop at a restaurant.
1984 Idea Shop - Bookstore
It's easy to miss this gem on Hunan Road. The dark metal gate is always closed. Visitors need to ring the doorbell and the shop staff open the gate. It's a delight to enter the cozy, hip bookstore and cafe. There are carefully selected books of Chinese literature, usually one copy for each book. The store also carries notebooks, eco bags, and Lomography cameras by independent local brands and designers. 1984 is not simply a bookstore or a cafe: it's a place where people get together, relax and share good ideas. The cafe space is decorated with Art Deco chairs and cozy sofas where you can grab a book have a cup of coffee and spend a whole afternoon. The artistic space is open for events and parties, with a minimum charge of 500 yuan/one hour.
Opening hours: 11am-10pm
Address: 11 Hunan Rd
Tel: 1362-1910-210
B'La Vii Hotel - Boutique oasis
Boutique B'La Vii Hotel, just behind the Lapis Thai restaurant on Hunan Road, promises a peaceful, artistic and exclusive sanctuary in a in a quiet, carefully preserved neighborhood. A 70-year-old house has been converted to a boutique hotel with a décor that blends modern style with Chinese accents. Chinese red dominates the public space where huge bird cages are suspended in the atrium. Each of the 14 rooms and suites is furnished with a distinguished touch of Oriental style. Furniture, fabrics and artifacts are meticulously selected for their striking individuality. The rooms ranging from a comfortable studio of 30 to 35 square meters to a suite of 60 square meters. Till the end of February, daily rates for each room is 688 yuan, including free mini bar and WiFi.
Address: 285 Hunan Rd
Tel: 6467-7171
Lapis Thai - Dining gem
Tucked away on Hunan Road inside a renovated three-story villa, Lapis Thai offers a dining experience that infuses a sense of relaxation into tasty Thai cuisine. Upon entering the restaurant, diners might feel as though they've taken a journey to a tropical garden restaurant somewhere in Thailand. The teak wood furnishings, the Southeast Asian fabrics, as well as the fantastic outdoor terrace surrounded by water truly indulge the senses. The menu, along with the pictures of signature dishes, looks tempting. Recommendations for first-time visitors include deep-fried shrimp cakes (58 yuan/US$8.8), chicken in pandan leaves (58 yuan), spicy and sour seafood in fresh coconut (98 yuan), crab curry (198/248 yuan) and lime steamed mandarin fish (118 yuan). The average dinner costs 175 to 200 yuan per person without drinks. Buy-one-get-one-free happy hour starts from 5:30pm and ends at 7:30pm, including any house wine, cocktail and draft beer. The restaurant now serves breakfast: American breakfast (68 yuan), Continental breakfast (48 yuan), Cereal breakfast (38 yuan).
Opening hours: 7am-midnight
Address: 285 Hunan Rd
Tel: 5466-3026
3 Hunan Rd - -Florist
"A day in blossom" is the motto of the chic flower shop 3 Hunan Road. As the phrase implies, owner Liang Ying aims to lighten the mood of anyone who treats themselves to a bouquet of flowers, along with basic groceries. "One doesn't need a particular reason to buy flowers. Take a bouquet to home whenever you want," Liang said. Liang lived in the United States for 13 years and Japan for three years. She studied art history but interior design has always been her passion. To decorate the shop, she was keen to retain some connection with the original style of the building. Liang loves to surround herself with her favorite Art Deco furniture and beautiful flowers. Customers usually don't find roses or lilies, but there are special blooms such as hyacinth and tuberose. Bouquets are priced from 200 yuan and usually contain 10 types of flowers. Taking an European approach toward floral arrangement, the shop provides custom-made floral design for small, high-end private events.
Opening hours: 10am-7:30pm
Address: 3 Hunan Rd
Tel: 6431-0822
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