It’s no secret that Anfu Lu, between Changshu Lu and Wukang Lu, is worth a stroll for its boutiques, furniture finds, cosy cafés and wine bars. But just like everything else in Shanghai, things change, newbies come along, and there’s more to explore on this east-meets-west street. 

Tong

Tong is a small sized shop for small sized people. The children’s clothing store carries its own line of designs mostly made with cotton, linen, cashmere, wool and rabbit hair. Don’t expect to find any Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirts here – Tong’s clothes come in a muted palette, mostly navy blue, white, black and grey. This store is for the smart and sophisticated child, or at least, mothers who can’t wait for their child to grow up and look good in a sweater vest. Currently, Tong’s line is for children between two and seven, though bigger sizes will be available for kids up to 12 years old this summer.

284 Anfu Lu. Tel: 5403 6837

Baker & Spice

It bakes all the bread for its parent company Wagas, but this bakery is also a must-eat stop for Shanghai’s carb-obsessed. Get a bite of its baguettes, specialty loaves, rolls and croissants, and enjoy it with a jar of Baker & Spice’s fresh marmalades, jams and chutneys. There are also toasted or on-the-go sandwiches, as well as an assortment of freshly baked sweets, such as cupcakes, rhubarb tarts, farmhouse carrot cake, and chocolate ganache cake.

195 Anfu Lu. Tel: 5404 2733

Heyan’er

Known for its extensive collection of modern Chinese clothing made from cotton, linen and silk, Heyan’er recently celebrated its 15th anniversary of opening its first shop near Peking University in Beijing. This Shanghai location on Anfu Lu has a plentiful stock of one-size-fits-all tunics, cheongsam, long skirts, embroidered jackets and comfortable slacks for both men and women – all by fashion designer He Yan.

284 Anfu Lu. Tel: 5404 8818

MIA’s

Formerly known as La Aroma de Vida, this cosy art deco-styled café was reborn last year under the name of MIA’s – the name of owner Rachel Huo’s six year old daughter, who often spends time at the restaurant after school getting to know MIA’s frequenters. Mia’s favourites on the menu are freshly-squeezed orange and carrot juice, sautéed green beans in Cantonese olive sauce, and stir-fried sausage with broccoli – and there’s lots of other simple MSG-free Chinese and Western dishes to choose from. Lunch sets start at RMB 28 and breakfast deals (Chinese congee style, or Western bacon and eggs) are available from RMB 25.

45-47 Anfu Lu. Tel: 5403 5266

David Qian

Give your humble abode an upgrade with David Qian’s luxurious touch. The interior design store opens a new location on Anfu Lu this month and specialises in hand-crafted wallpapers and fabrics with classic Chinoiserie designs and exquisite embroidery. David Qian also sells a variety of furniture, lamps and home accessories – such as screens, silk cushions and porcelain – that are hand-painted using authentic techniques based on 5,000 years of Chinese art history.

2F, 201 Anfu Lu. Tel: 6428 4880

Couturier Shanghai

A former fashion journalist from Tokyo, Rie Ishikawa is now a designer and owns her own store Couturier. This sweet little shop’s designs are classic yet playful, and it’s perfect for those looking for hidden fashion gems. Couturier’s specialty is made-to-order women's clothing sewn from silk and gorgeous prints and the store also caters to those who are expecting. The small catch is that Couturier is only open from Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 1 to 6pm.

151 Anfu Lu. Tel 5404 7110

Kava Kava Home

Kava Kava’s functional furniture is enhanced with Chinese accents. Its shoe cabinet, for example, appears to look like a traditional Chinese wedding chest, while one of its lamps is designed in the shape of a birdcage with bright contemporary coloured linen (pictured left). Kava Kava’s elegant home furnishings can also be customised and the store delivers free-of-charge in Shanghai.

167 Anfu Lu. Tel: 5404 3873

Mayumi Sato

The studio-boutique of Japanese-trained fashion designer Mayumi Sato is perfect for those seeking a touch of understated femininity in their wardrobe. Not overly frilly or trendy, Sato’s clothes strike a perfect balance between simplicity and eccentricity – designs that are versatile enough for daily wear, but made with colourful fabrics imported from Japan or found by Sato herself while travelling throughout Asia. Look out for her spring/summer collection which comes out mid-March.

169 Anfu Lu. Tel: 5403 3903