The Brand’s First Restaurant in Asia

Rong Zhai is an ancient residence from 1918 located in the heart of Shanghai. In 2017, after a six-year renovation process, the Prada Group unveiled the renewed artistic residence, inaugurated as a space for the Italian company’s cultural activities in China. In this space, Prada is preparing to open the brand’s first restaurant in Asia, named Mi Shang (translated as «be obsessed with»). The new opening will not only offer customers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the brand’s universe but also to closely discover the creative direction of internationally renowned director Wong Kar Wai, author of masterpieces such as In the Mood for Love, who will design the Prada café and restaurant in Shanghai. The venue’s logo is inspired by the concept of tête-bêche, two identical figures flipped upside down that fit together perfectly, while the cinematic world conceived by the Hong Kong director imbues the restaurant’s interior spaces with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The interior design of the Mi Shang café and restaurant is rooted in Wong Kar Wai’s most famous films, such as In the Mood For Love and Happy Together, using mirrors and contrasts that evoke the same sense of balance and lighting effects as the artist’s works. The brand has stated that «The idea of reflection, contiguity, and correspondence alludes to the intersection of two great cultures, connecting Milan and Shanghai in a sophisticated and unique visual dialogue». Following the collaboration in Milan with American director Wes Anderson for Bar Luce, located within Fondazione Prada, the partnership with Wong Kar Wai adds a new chapter to the endless list of creative synergies that the company has sparked in recent years. The Rong Zhai building, which spans four floors, will house the restaurant on the second floor. The menu will offer bar service, including coffee and breakfasts, as well as lunches, afternoon tea, dinners, and cocktails – all rooted in Italian tradition with influences from Chinese culinary culture. The café and restaurant are scheduled to open to the public on March 31, with reservations available from March 29 via the WeChat service.