Local Talk: Wuyuan Lu

In 2010, Yongfu Lu seemed to explode overnight into the city’s most popular party spot, but while merrymakers were busy getting rowdy until the wee hours of the morning, a street’s commercial rebirth flew quietly under the radar. Intersecting Yongfu Lu’s northern end, Wuyuan Lu quietly stocked up with boutique shops, family restaurants and cosy spas.

Yu Massage

A steaming cup of jujube tea awaits spa-goers when they enter Yu Massage’s quiet oasis. The colour of coffee, this tea has Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) properties that will give the drinker strength, which you’ll need to power yourself back through the bamboo grove and into the real world after your relaxing treatment is through. Their most popular Chinese-oriented treatment is “The Cheerful Journey”, a 120 minute quest for relaxation featuring rose-scented essential oils.

366 Wuyuan Lu, near Wukang Lu. Tel: 5403 9931

Godly Vegetarian

The haven for cheap herbivores, Godly Vegetarian serves up a completely meat-free menu for a pittance. It’s a noodle shop spin-off of the more famous Godly Vegetarian, Gongdelin in Chinese, which started serving up duck made out of wheat gluten in 1922. While there are a handful of mock meats on the menu at the Buddhist brand’s Wuyuan Lu outlet, the wontons are what keep even the omnivores coming back, and the fact the average dish is RMB 25.

97 Wukang Lu, near Wuyuan Lu. Tel: 6471 8909

Dave’s Custom Tailoring

Dave started his tailor apprenticeship at the age of 15, learning the time-honoured methods used by tailors from Savile Row. Now, 45 years later, he oversees 20 tailors who churn out some of the finest bespoke suits in the world, according to Forbes. A guidebook regular, Dave set up shop down a Wuyuan Lu alley in a stately villa. With a showroom on the first floor and fitting rooms on the second, he has built a reputation on quality. 

#6, 288 Wuyuan Lu, near Yongfu Lu. Tel: 5404 0001

Flow

If you’re searching for a paraben-free alternative to scrub away Shanghai’s dirt and grime, look no further than Flow. The brainchild of proprietor Mari Takeshita, Flow is stocked with an array of soaps that boast TCM properties and no additives. The selection comes in a variety of scents, all tailored to specific skin conditions. Sensitive-skinned beauties should opt for the Lingzhi Mushroom option, while those looking to whiten their skin should select the Rose soap.

89 Wuyuan Lu, near Changshu Lu. Tel: 6471 7284

Wanna Nail

So you wanna have your hands turned into an ode to the 2010 Shanghai Expo? You’ve come to the right place because Wanna Nail’s in-house manicure designs include an elaborate China Pavilion that glides seamlessly across two nails before turning your thumbnail into a bright blue Haibao. Now you can keep the spirit of the Expo alive with just a flash of your spirit fingers. If bedazzling isn’t your style, Wanna Nail subscribes to the salon religion known as OPI and boasts a wall full of varying shades of pink to prove it. If you’re lucky, they’ll even play Ratatouille on the overhead TV while massaging your feet pre-pedicure.

165 Wuyuan Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. Tel: 6431 3937

Baby No. 1

Baby No. 1 might just be the cutest darn pet store in Shanghai, and you can tell the owners really love their animals. Pictures of their prize-winning pups are on display, and you can meet a few of their well-heeled canines in person, all dolled up with the doggie wardrobe they sell. They also import products from doggy treats to cat toys, and offer kennel services if you don’t want to leave poor Fido with the ayi next time you skip town.

#1, 270 Wuyuan Lu, near Yongfu Lu. Tel: 3461 1950

100 percent

The quirky lifestyle store imports funky lamps, eccentric tchotchkes and metal fans shaped like the city of Shanghai. With designs from Danes, Frenchies and Japanese on hand, 100 percent is a hit with interior designers and apartment dwellers who hate the impersonal, sterile feeling of Shanghai’s pre-furnished apartments. Whether you’re looking for a twisted bookshelf made out of wrought-iron words or a top hat-cum-ceiling lamp, this homeware boutique has a piece of furniture that perfectly sums up your individuality.

72 Wuyuan Lu, near Changshu Lu. Tel: 5404 1678

BBQ

Grimy doesn’t even begin to describe what looks like just another nondescript hole in the wall, but one quick glance at the pricy Western menu will leave you bewildered. To answer your question, yes, they actually are selling Kobe Beef for RMB 580 per cut. You’ll also find salmon and burritos on the poorly-translated menu, but don’t let the Chinglish fool you. This is the best bet in the city for a RMB 35 steak sandwich.

127 Wuyuan Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. Tel: 400 820 2817