Copy Editor's Note

Welcome to our debut dive into City Buzz, where we serve up the latest whispers and happenings in the city's F&B scene. Here's the deal: putting together pieces like this takes time and effort. So, if you enjoyed this and want more, we'd love a little help. Share it on your WeChat Moments, send it to your foodie friends, and if you're feeling extra generous, leave a comment below (especially if you're reading on WeChat). Found any great spots lately? Think we missed something? Let us know – we'd love to hear from you!

The festive season is upon us, meaning it's time to embrace the holiday heft, and even doubling down with some new F&B openings around town. You've got roughly six months until swimsuit season starts again, so bring on the sweatpants…and another serving of your monthly bountiful gossip bites.

Fine Dining: Two Noteworthy Additions

Vivant: Modern French with Vietnamese Flair

Brandon McGhee

First up, famed French chef, Johnny Pham (previously of Tai'an Table) has officially opened his first restaurant, Vivant, in the historic Far Eastern hotel in Huangpu District. An eight-course modern French fine dining menu is on offer, with hints of Vietnamese elements that represent Pham's heritage. The wine and champagne selections are equally curated, led by Head Sommelier Felix Zhang, boasting one of the largest champagne lineups in all of China.

With seating for 30 (plus a bonus of 10 people in a VIP private room), coveted seats are hard to come by since the establishment's official opening date of November 26. The moral of the story: snag that reservation ASAP.

Ortensia: French Fine Dining and Patisserie Delights

Ortensia: French Fine Dining and Patisserie Delights

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French dining is what diners will also find at the newly opened Ortensia on Maoming Rd N., with seasonal set menus starting at 2,288 yuan (US315.78) (with an option wine pairing add-on for an additional 988 yuan.) Lunch sets go for 588 yuan for an amuse bouche, starter, main and dessert. The restaurant also has a connected bakery that bears the same name, with French-inspired patisserie confectionaries, Instagram-worthy shaved ice in seasonal flavors like persimmon, and coffee drinks.

New Casual Dining Openings: From Spain to India

Mercadito 166: Spanish-Cantonese Fusion

Sister venue to Mercado 505, Mercadito 166 just opened this month at Grand Gateway 66. A blend of Spanish culinary influence and Cantone cha chaan teng vibes come together with dishes like wooden charcoal-grilled paella, Spanish-style fried tripe, Iberico ham tortilla, and the group's signature Basque cheesecake. An everyday hangout, the venue is designed with Basque elements in mind – earthy materials like clay and brick accented by bright colors and playful installations. A meal at Mercadito 166 will set you back roughly 200 yuan per person.

Red Salt: Affordable Indian Eats

Affordable Indian fare abound at Red Salt, a new restaurant in Changning District. The pan-Indian menu sees beloved classic dishes like tandoori chicken, lamb masala, pani puri, channa masala, a variety of naan bread, samosas, biryani, and more. Stop by during lunchtime for even more pocket-friendly sets starting at just 66 yuan.

Andalusia: Moorish Meets Mediterranean

Jumping to southern Spain, Andalusia is a new Middles Eastern-meets-southern-Spain casual dining affair set to open in MOHO Mall in mid-December. The ample space offers seating for 120 guests between the indoor dining room and outdoor patio, spread across a mix of high tops, low tops, and sofas. Consulting chef Eduardo Vargas (of Azul Group) has put together a menu spanning shawarma to tapas, bridging the Moorish cultural and culinary exchange that historically took place between these two regions.

Bakeries: Sweet and Savory Carb Heaven

Kojic: Fermentation-Centric Café

Kojic, a new café and bakery specializing in all things fermented, has opened across from Basdban on Yuyuan Road – Shanghai's ultimate café hotspot. The majority of the menu features playful ingredient-laden sandwiches using their homemade bread plus a rotating selection of kombucha. The shop is backed by fellow bread veterans and owners of L'atelier Over Bakery, an incredibly trendy bread and pastry shop in Changning District with a knock-out spread of baguettes, pretzels, buns, babka and cinnamon rolls – essentially all things carbs.

The Apple Picker: French-Japanese Pastry Fusion

Another fresh bakery, The Apple Picker swung open its doors on the south end of Gao'an Rd with a variety of French-meets-Japanese pastries, like cake rolls, cheesecakes, scones, choux, madeleines, and much more sugar-high worthy splurges.

Bar Scene: Innovative Drinks and Thematic Spaces

Triple Neck: Dune-Inspired Bar

Courtesy of Triple Neck

Over on Xinzha Rd, Shanghai native Henry Wang (who cut his teeth in London's bar industry) has returned home to open a three-story bar, playfully called Triple Neck, with the design narrative taking after the movie and novel phenomena surrounding Dune. Each floor will incorporate elements from different Dune planets, while simultaneously offering separate drink menus plus a distinct feel, moving more from evening into night as patrons ascend.

Now in soft opening, the cocktails (a collaboration with Elon Soddu from London's Amaro Bar) will feature Shanghainese ingredients and Chinese teas, amongst other Shanghai-influenced details.

Yao Bar: Affordable Free Flow and Elevated Cocktails

Another newbie on the bar scene, Yao Bar has opened in the old Revolving Door space on Hefei Rd. The front area draws in the younger crowd with a daily free flow deal at the rock bottom price of just 188 yuan, while the back "speakeasy" portion of the venue sees higher-end libations (going for 88-98 yuan each) designed by Eason Yang (previously of Revolving Door). Comprised of Chinese ingredients, each of the eight signature drinks hone in on an element like earth, wind, sky, etc. There is also a smattering of classic cocktails.

Closures: Some Pretty Big Names are Sailing Off into the Eastern Sunset

Ultraviolet: Paul Pairet's Michelin-Starred Icon

The biggest shocker is that three Michelin-starred Shanghai institution, Paul Pairet's Ultraviolet, is set to close next year. Earlier this month, Ultraviolet maintained its three-star status for the eighth year in a row in a ceremony for the 2025 Michelin Guide Shanghai. However, Paul Pairet has new plans for the venue, set to be revealed in due time. In short, if you haven't had a chance to experience this one-of-a-kind dining experience, the time is now.

Little Catch: Shanghai's Poke Pioneer

Sophie Steiner

This fall also saw the closing of Shanghai's first-ever poke restaurant, Little Catch, backed by duo Jiayi Huang and Wen Huang. The original Little Catch opened up a decade ago on Wulumuqi Rd, just as the poke bowl wave was sweeping the globe. Since then, it had expanded to multiple locations – and far beyond poke – but the team made the difficult decision to halt operations at the end of October.

Stiller: Approachable German Fine Dining w/Stellar Brunch

Sophie Steiner

Lauded German chef Stefan Stiller's Xintiandi bistro that bore his same name, Stiller, has closed after less than 18 months. The original Stiller in Shanghai had a solid run from 2008-2013. It was then revived in 2021 in Guangzhou, and finally reincarnated in Shanghai in March 2023. However, the elevated German fare and wine on offer didn't seem to hit as intended; perhaps because clientele came with sky-high expectations to match Stiller's claim-to-fame restaurant Tai'an Table, an entirely separate concept.

Crush Wine Bistro: New York Charm Bids Farewell

Sophie Steiner

Another casualty, the aforementioned Crush Wine Bistro on Shaanxi Rd N. held its final brunch blowout event last month, as owner Elliot Shay and chef Dylan Briley (previously of Goga, Mr&Mrs Bund) bid adieu to this upscale yet approachable New York-style wine bar.

Juanitos: Filipino Comfort Food Relocates

Popular Filipino hangout Juanitos is closing its Jiaozhou Rd digs. But don't fret, the owners have confirmed it is set to reopen backed by new investors next month in Shan Kang Li (across from the old Crush Wine Bistro space) for all your sisig, lumpia, and karaoke needs.