The biggest news this month comes to us with another bar transplant from Hong Kong (aiming to duplicate Coa Shanghai’s success, a spinoff of the globally-acclaimed Coa Hong Kong). The team behind Penicillin (#24 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024) is scheduled to open Penicillin Shanghai late spring on Nanchang Lu. Penicillin Hong Kong’s co-founders Agung and Laura Prabowo, Jamie McCleave (Penicillin Hong Kong Bar Supervisor), and Chris Wu (previously of Speaklow) will be leading the opening Shanghai team.

Penicillin Shanghai

Penicillin Shanghai

Recognized in the global drinks industry for pouring up “mad scientist” cocktail creations – concocted with all manner of rotovap infusions and molecular gastronomy gadgets – the menu will feature about 50% of the same offerings from Penicillin Hong Kong, with the other half of the menu being inspired by the innovative use of upcycled local Shanghai ingredients.

Penicillin Shanghai

Penicillin Shanghai

The 168-square-meter space will be split across two stories, with the main bar located on the first floor (with seating for 32) and a laboratory and fermentation chamber on the second floor (with additional seats for 18 guests), allowing visitors to directly engage with the cocktail-making process. The overall interior design is still rooted in the same style as the Hong Kong venue, but with its own futuristic Shanghai twist.

Penicillin Shanghai

Penicillin Shanghai will also host a fully equipped kitchen that further enhances the venue’s strong sustainably-focused ethos through farm-to-table cooking. The approach will blend responsibly-sourced local produce with pioneering techniques that result in bar snacks that are as filling for the tummy as they are good for Mother Earth.

Dubbed a “modern diner” by Chris Zhu (previously of Blaz), Sunday, as the name suggests, is all about bringing lazy Sunday vibes into every day. Set to open by the end of March at Li Garden on Xinzha Lu, the menu will feature classic diner fare with an Asian twist (mostly an emphasis on Shanghainese and Japanese tastes). With room for 30 patrons inside, plus an outdoor terrace with ample outdoor for when the weather warms, we have a feeling this will soon become a mainstay in Shanghai’s casual dining scene.  

Jellooo Bistro

After soft opening last December in Xintiandi, Jellooo Bistro has garnered quite the following, and rightfully so, as it’s backed by the esteemed team from EHB, a Michelin starred Nordic restaurant by Chef Esben Holmboe Bang (of Oslo-based three Michelin Star-restaurant Maæmo). Chef Esben created the menu at Jellooo Bistro, a day-into-night dining affair with affordably priced, contemporary Western options like Fried Chicken (RMB78), Crispy Bread (RMB48-78) open-face sandwiches (smørrebrød) topped with anything from Smoked Cheese to Sweet Shrimps, Beef Tartare (RMB138), Caesar Salad (RMB78), Beef Bourguignon (RMB198), and Baked Alaska (RMB68). There are also lunch sets for RMB198 per person.

The venue covers two levels (plus outdoor seating), all bathed in natural sunlight. Further augmented by soft earth tone interior design and lofty ceilings, the space boasts an airy, convivial feel that fits the Xintiandi socialite crowd at all hours.

Essenza

Essenza

Opened on January 1, Essenza is an Italian fine dining outpost located on the first floor of Prodor Hotel Lang Lang Music World on Anpu Lu. Chef Luigi Chen has created a menu of traditional plates – like arancini, tortellini fritti, spaghetti Bolognese, pizza, grilled steaks, and more – with an average check clocking in around RMB200 per person.

Bizy Boy

Positioned just next door from sister café Basdban, Bizy Boy is a casual eatery and café on Yuyuan Lu. The menu covers some stellar sandwiches – most notably the Pastrami (RMB138) with house pickled cabbage and melted comté mild cheddar. Make sure to go early for this one as the venue only makes 40 pastrami sandwiches per day, so when it’s sold out, it’s sold out.

Beyond the pastrami, there’s also an Eggplant Schnitzel Sandwich (RMB68) and a House Made Pork Shoulder Ham Sandwich (RMB98), plus starters, a smattering of pasta plates, and homemade dessert.

The space mimics the ultramodern design style of Basdban, with industrial-influenced décor juxtaposed against pastel-hued tabletops. Also, like Basdban, the entire venue and patio are pet friendly.   

Pomodoro

PAC is a new mall/lifestyle hub on the happening corner of Kangding Lu and Changde Lu, housing an array of new restaurants, bars, and cafes. First up there’s every day Italian comforts at Pomodoro, backed by the same group as Il Teatro in Xintiandi. Think 24-hour proofed pizzas, freshly made pastas, Venetian-style cicchetti, grilled seafood and steaks, plus Italian pastries, with an average check around RMB100-150 per person.

Next, there’s Spanish restaurant TVino with tapas and Spanish mains like potato tortilla, paella, and churros…

Bresca Bomboloni

Followed by Bresca Bomboloni, adding to the donut lineup in town. Coffee beverages and matcha start at RMB20.  

Chain restaurant Wanhui Shanye Huicai (皖荟·山野徽菜) features Hui cuisine through signatures like Fragrant Scallion Chicken (RMB32) and Hand-Made Tofu (RMB49)…

While Mill Hill is another bakery and cake shop, ideal for a mid-day sweet treat.

Table a Deli

French style bistro Table a Deli (backed by the same owners as wanghong café Bake No Title) was one of the first storefronts to open in PAC, and already has secured a cult following for the pastries. But we highly suggest sticking around for the mains (that are available evenings only) – like Grilled Sweet Prawns (RMB118), Sauteed Sole in Manian Sauce (RMB138), and Grilled Pork Chops with Beetroot Puree (RMB128), which are equally enticing as the sweets. 

More than a dozen other restaurants, stores, gyms, and a Hema outpost have already flung their doors open, with more slated in the coming months.

CVO Bistro

CVO Bistro on Shaanxi Bei Lu is doling out some east-meets-west bistro fare, like the top-selling Hamburger (RMB68) on a mantou-style bun, Fried Shrimp Burger (RMB58) also on a mantou bun, Stuffed Roasted Mushrooms (RMB38), Thai Pad Krapow (RMB58), and Avocado Shrimp Tartare (RMB48), among other fusion plates. There’s a wine corner too and limited outdoor seating.

Pop Corner, sister bar to Boo's

On the bar front this month, new openings include Boo’s on Ruijin Er Lu, a sister bar to retro throwback dram den, Pop Corner, by the same co-founder, Lucky Huang. The welcoming vibes are reflected in the name, a term of endearment for a close friend or loved one, as all are considered family at Boo’s.

The menu is split in two (riffs on classics and experimental bevvies), the latter of which sees numerous ingredients you’re more likely to find in the kitchen cabinet (like miso, taro, cactus juice, and parmesan) rather than shaken on ice, further reflecting the kitchen-style setup and vibe of the space. There’s also a dabble-worthy Chinese-leaning bar snack menu.

Paal, sister bar to Gallow's Humor

Another one for the imbibers, Gallow’s Humor on Shaanxi Nan Lu, is founded by the same team (Crawford Su and Aya Guan) as neighborhood Cantonese-inspired cocktail bar Paal. An extension of the experimentation at Paal, Gallow’s Humor takes it a step further with a techno emphasis, demonstrated through vibrant lighting and eccentric cocktail ingredients we guarantee you’ve never seen poured into a glass before.

A comeback story that straddles our opening and closing section of this month’s F&B buzz, Urban Soi Thai Kitchen closed its doors last year, but quickly pulled a 180 and is now open again in the original digs on Changle Lu. Expect a menu of wallet-friendly Thai favorites, like tom yum, pineapple fried rice, pad thai, and mango sticky rice.

Smaka

Smaka in Xintiandi (Soho) recently closed, however, another silver lining story, a new Smaka branch has opened on Jinzhong Lu in Changning near Hongqiao airport.

Cages One East

Cages One East silently slipped into the night at the end of last month, deciding to focus fully on the original location on Wuding Lu. Don’t fret, the OG location isn’t going anywhere, says owner BT, so you can still get your live sports, arcade games, trivia setup, and American food fix at any and all hours.