By Coquina Restrepo
While everyone’s tongues are wagging over Donald Glover retiring his former identity (Childish Gambino), we’d like to drawn attention to local ‘celeb’ that has reinvented itself repeatedly over the past century.
Formerly known as Rue Retard (a name we’d also retire, truth be told), Julu Lu or Julu Road was first constructed in 1907, and is a living museum for architecture lovers; this main artery of the former French Concession is lined with regal villas, romantic lane houses and renovated factories, and showcases the local haipai or “[Shang]hai culture” that is unique to our city. Julu Road also attracts artists, designers and small brands that set up shop in its tangled alleyways and lane houses.
Anyone visiting Shanghai or looking to while away a whole day can easily lose track of time exploring the seven odd blocks that make up the street. These are just some of our top spots!
TIME OUT TIP: 🚇 Taking the metro here? Jing’an (lines 2, 7 and 14), Changshu (lines 1 and 7), Middle Huaihai (line 13), or West Nanjing (lines 2, 12 and 13) stations are all a comfortable walking distance to and from Julu Road.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
1) Julu 758
📍 758 Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Check individual business hours on Dianping
Built in 1960 as the Shanghai Yi Power Plant, Julu 758 is an open-air mall occupied by local and independent brands alike.
On the bottom floor, you’ll find one of Shanghai’s two Freitag stores (the other is off
Yanping Road). Not only can you learn more about sustainably-made goods from this commendable brand, but you can also get accessories and apparel that you’d normally get replaced repaired instead, thus doing your bit for the planet.
Photo via Instagram (@liebenshanghai)
Of the various nightlife establishments in this mixed-use development, we’re partial towards The WaterHouse, which attracts young, stylish locals, and Lieben, where the best seats in the house are right by the DJ booth.
2) Pottery People
📍741 Julu Road (inside lane house complex), Jing’an
⏰ Daily except Wednesday, 10:30 AM - 7 PM
✳️ WeChat ID: potterypeoplestudio
Located behind the Sapphire Apartment in a lane house complex, Pottery People, one of the
best ceramic studios in Shanghai. Participate in a private or group class and sign up for additional practice sessions to get better at pinching, throwing, marbling and painting a wide range of pieces.
3) Shanghai Grand Plaza
📍 568 Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Daily, 9 AM - 9 PM
Hidden inside the Grand Plaza residential complex, Shanghai Grand Plaza houses the
Grand Plaza Club House, which is most commonly associated with its outdoor pool (sometimes called the ‘Maya Pool’ after its attached
Mexican eatery). Restaurant aside, other amenities include a rooftop tennis court and an indoor gym.
4) Found 158
📍158 Julu Road, Huangpu
⏰ Daily, 8 AM until late
Found 158, formally called Datong Mill, used to be the night life hot spot when Yongkang Road’s former bars were relocated here circa 2010.
5) The Studio
📍 Lane 820, Building 34, 2/F, Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Fri + Sat, 2 - 6 PM
Seek out The Studio inside a traditional lane house complex to shop for an amazing selection of homewear, aroma therapy products, stationary and gifts.
Fernanda and Itee, founders of The Studio
The founders, designers themselves, curate brands that resonate with their values — we spotted the likes of Fernanda Sung Jewelry, Loop Swim and Nectar Foundry — while also creating items that uphold sustainability and longevity and hosting pop-ups.
6) Madame Mao’s Dowry
📍 Lane 820, Building 6, Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Daily, 10 AM - 7 PM
✳️ WeChat ID: madamemaosdowry
A local legend and a community favourite, Madame Mao’s Dowry has been around since 2001. The shop carries some of our favourite Shanghai brands, like Pinyin Press and BuDou Textiles, relics from the Mao era, old books, unique antiques, and secret treasures from Shanghai’s past.
Since relocating to the same lane house complex as The Studio, Madame Mao’s has expanded to include a poster gallery on the second floor, where original Mao era posters and reprints of iconic maps, images and advertisements are on display (note that not all items are for sale).
7) Lady Fafa
📍 Corner of Julu and South Shaanxi Roads, Huangpu
📍 550 Julu Road, Huangpu
⏰ Daily, 12 noon - 10 PM
No, you’re not seeing double — there are two Lady Fafas on Julu Road, both of which brighten up our favourite street with their bright yellow and green (original shop) and red (second location) storefronts!
Run by the same jewellery designer, the two bijou stores stock in-house designs. However, the newer red store also carries
vintage apparel.
TIME OUT TIP: Lady Fafa’s iconic product is a set of jade green mahjong tile earrings — a great gift for fans of quirky accessories!
WHERE TO DRINK COFFEE
8) Plusone Coffee
📍 794 Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Daily, 8 AM - 8 PM
There is more than one branch of Plusone Coffee in Shanghai, but the one on Julu Road is arguably the best, as it is located inside a restored garden villa.
The double-storied space is beautiful and relaxing with a skylight and a wide porch.
9) Dosage Coffee
📍 616 Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Daily, 8:30 AM - 11 PM
Dedicated to quality coffee, fresh bakes and wine, Dosage Coffee is no newcomer to the scene, but remains as reliable as ever. As far as food is concerned, the carrot cake showered with edible flower petals and cardamom buns are fan favourites.
This branch also acts as a small community centre that hosts casual poetry nights and serves wine upstairs.
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
10) Nepali Kitchen & Mars Bar
📍 819 Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Daily, 11 AM - 2 PM; 6 - 10:30 PM
Always named someone’s favourite restaurant in Shanghai, Nepali Kitchen has been serving authentic Nepali cuisine for two decades now!
Perfect for family dinners and lunch dates, the cosy restaurant has a space with sunken tables — shoes off first.
The restaurant recently renovated its first floor to accommodate Mars Bar, a French-Nepali fusion wine bar with its own food menu and cocktails.
TIME OUT TIP: If standard brunch fare bores you to tears, come here for a personal platter piled high with roti, naan, curry and three sides.
11) More Than Eat
📍 758 Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Daily, 10 AM - 10 PM
Located in Julu 758, More Than Eat is a canteen-style foodie hub that houses a handful of iconic restaurants, like pizzeria Mammamia, Most Izakaya,
French épicerie Pichet, and more.
Offering a fun and no-frills dining experience, the fancier-than-usual ‘food court’ is furnished with large communal tables so you can spread out with big groups or rub shoulders with strangers.
It’s the perfect place to go to when you’re with indecisive eaters, as you can get pizza, tacos, sushi and curry all at once and not look weird!
12) Big Hulu
📍 506 Julu Road, Jing’an
⏰ Sun - Thu (5 PM - 1 AM), Fri - Sat (5 PM - 2 AM)
Catering to our love of places that blend East and West, local watering hole Big Hulu serves solid bar food and a wide range of drinks, from plum wine to whisky. The chill vibe makes us want to hole up in here and hide away from the world for a few hours.
