Gaga — Shanghai, China

Dining room at Gaga restaurant, Shanghai, China
(Image credit: Gaga-Shanghai. gagacafe.com)

Amidst Shanghai’s crowded canyons of modern skyscrapers, it’s so easy to overlook the city’s increasingly precious haul of colonial era piles. All the more reason to applaud the Gaga group’s latest restaurant venture, the local F&B bigwigs tapping long-time design collaborators Coordination Asia to repurpose the historic Changning Villa into a bright, airy restaurant and café.

Set on the grounds of the former St Mary’s Hall which was established by the American Episcopal Church, the 19th-century building’s two levels are a slick study in white and black – the original pitched ceiling and windows carefully contrasted with slashes of petrol green, oak detailing, a bank of shimmering brass light fixtures, and Marcel Wanders furniture.

Similarly, executive chef Jacky Zhu parlays an Asian influence into his light and seasonal Mediterranean menu, which explains Gaga’s popularity with suits and tai-tais who stream in from the neighbouring Raffles City mall throughout the day for a leisurely lunch or quick java fix.

Wall seating at Gaga restaurant, Shanghai, China

(Image credit: Gaga-Shanghai. gagacafe.com)

Seating at Gaga restaurant, Shanghai, China

(Image credit: Gaga-Shanghai. gagacafe.com)

Dining room at Gaga restaurant, Shanghai, China

(Image credit: Gaga-Shanghai. gagacafe.com)

INFORMATION
Website

ADDRESS

Gujian Building
No. 1
Raffles City
No. 1181 Changning Road

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Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.