A visit to Shanghai would not be complete without dinner at "1931" – a famous Bar and Restaurant in the French Concession area, approximately 15 minutes away from the Bund. Without reservations, tables are usually not available until after 10 p.m., which is about the time that this bustling city starts to come alive. I was seated around 10:30 p.m. on a Thursday night in late May with a group of 5 others. Instantly, I fell back in time.
Our waitress wore a royal blue qipao dress (a high necked, traditional piece typically worn in Shanghai during the 1930s). Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid that seemed to match her stern expression. The tables were very small and the wooden chairs were adorned with velvet cushions. The walls were decorated with pictures from the 1930's era set on top of flowed wallpaper. A wooden curio cabinet was backed against one wall holding dishes made of china along with various pieces of art.
The food was as amazing as the ambiance. We decided to sample and share many dishes, as is customary when eating with a group in China. While everything was delicious, I particularly enjoyed the thin wraps that were called pancakes which we stuffed with delicious duck and finely chopped vegetables in a soy-like sauce. I was not disappointed with any of the dishes and was surprised when the bill came to only 600 Yuan (about $78 US) which included several pints of beer for all of us.Brushing past the long curtains to leave, I collected a "souvenir" – a business card for "1931" with a picture on one side and a map and phone number on the other. This marketing tool is creatively used by restaurants and hotels so customers can show to cab drivers when they want to return.
You will feel incredibly safe in the French Concession section, as you should in most areas of Shanghai – disturbing foreigners is a crime! After leaving "1931" finish the night by walking down the cobble stone streets to the Ruijin hotel – an old colonial mansion. Inside building 4 you will find a unique bar called "Face". This is the perfect location to have an after dinner cappuccino while seated on the spacious patio or enjoy a slightly-above-average-price martini while relaxing on one of the plush couches.
For additional information on Shanghai travel, contact Kelly Kasic, President of GLOBAL ID, LLC. – a Management Consulting and International Market Research Company.
http://www.identifyglobal.com/
Our waitress wore a royal blue qipao dress (a high necked, traditional piece typically worn in Shanghai during the 1930s). Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid that seemed to match her stern expression. The tables were very small and the wooden chairs were adorned with velvet cushions. The walls were decorated with pictures from the 1930's era set on top of flowed wallpaper. A wooden curio cabinet was backed against one wall holding dishes made of china along with various pieces of art.
The food was as amazing as the ambiance. We decided to sample and share many dishes, as is customary when eating with a group in China. While everything was delicious, I particularly enjoyed the thin wraps that were called pancakes which we stuffed with delicious duck and finely chopped vegetables in a soy-like sauce. I was not disappointed with any of the dishes and was surprised when the bill came to only 600 Yuan (about $78 US) which included several pints of beer for all of us.Brushing past the long curtains to leave, I collected a "souvenir" – a business card for "1931" with a picture on one side and a map and phone number on the other. This marketing tool is creatively used by restaurants and hotels so customers can show to cab drivers when they want to return.
You will feel incredibly safe in the French Concession section, as you should in most areas of Shanghai – disturbing foreigners is a crime! After leaving "1931" finish the night by walking down the cobble stone streets to the Ruijin hotel – an old colonial mansion. Inside building 4 you will find a unique bar called "Face". This is the perfect location to have an after dinner cappuccino while seated on the spacious patio or enjoy a slightly-above-average-price martini while relaxing on one of the plush couches.
For additional information on Shanghai travel, contact Kelly Kasic, President of GLOBAL ID, LLC. – a Management Consulting and International Market Research Company.
http://www.identifyglobal.com/
