The Italian luxury house is opening its first independent café-restaurant in Asia, and it’s in Shanghai.
The space is tucked inside Rong Zhai, a restored 1918 mansion. Carved wood, moody lighting, cinematic mirrors. Prada took six years to bring the building back to life. Now it’s opening its doors to a place that blends film, fashion, and food. Prada Group revealed that the second floor will now be used for cultural events, with the new restaurant as its main feature.
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The idea for Mi Shang started with well-known director Wong Kar Wai. He helped shape the space, using feelings and images from his films. Like his movie In the Mood for Love, the restaurant uses mirrors, shadows, and contrast to create a quiet, emotional mood.
Even the name sets the tone. Mi Shang means “to be obsessed with” in Chinese. The logo for Mi Shang is based on a stamp style called tête-bêche. This is when two stamps are printed side by side, but one is upside down. It shows the idea of reflection and balance, and it connects two cultures: Chinese and Italian.
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The menu is still under wraps, but here’s what we know so far: Mi Shang will serve Italian food with Chinese influences. It’s an all-day affair. You can go for breakfast, stay for lunch, pause for tea, return for cocktails.
Prada and Wong Kar Wai have been working together for some time. This isn’t their first collaboration. Last year, they released a capsule collection based on his TV series Blossoms Shanghai, recreating key looks from the show.
But this isn’t Prada’s first food space. In Milan, they opened Bar Luce, a colorful cafe designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson. It feels like a movie set, with soft colors and old-style details. They also have the Prada Caffè inside their store at ION Orchard in Singapore.
The space will open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting March 31. Reservations go live March 29 through WeChat. Before that, Prada will host a private cocktail event on March 28 to celebrate the launch.
