A perfect blend of Aussie cafe style and Shanghai neighborhood culture: great coffee, good crowd and plenty of sunshine if you’re lucky:-) The caffeinated vibe there has the speciality ingredients that I missed about independent coffee shops in town. Ben, the owner curate pop-up gallery program in-store where I also had a chance to exhibit my latest personal paintings earlier this year. 
Address
Ben's Cafe, No. 132 Yong Jia Lu, Shanghai, China
Current city: Shanghai
Other cities: BeijingTokyoMelbourne
Born and raised in Beijing, Lyla is an independent content curator based in Shanghai. Working with content creation, community experience, editorial design and exhibition curation under Iroha, her studio brand, she is currently completing her Master of Design Futures at RMIT, Melbourne. A dog person who lives with Hey, a cat, Lyla is also a coffee enthusiast, occasional illustrator, barista and podcaster and a passionate community builder engaged with Shelf, her personal endeavor to promote independent publications through community shops in Shanghai. 
 

More Places in Shanghai 20

Posted by Lyla Lee
Simply the best meet-up cafe in the hood, celebrating a gentler life through good coffee and good reads. GentleMaker also features concierge service and retail merchants for personal leather goods 
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First retail outlet of a bakery brand who has already been enjoying long time support from their community through bakery workshops and online delivery. Other then the premium ingredients and creative flavor making, the shop itself is quite neat in terms of the location down the historic alley and beautiful interior. Staffs are humble too. 
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Posted by Lyla Lee
I connected with Sarah, one the two co-founders behind AENTOS at her pop-up dinner. I was under the assumption that it is another independent wellness brand focusing on beauty and fragrance products when I paid my first visit to their shop. And I instantly fell for the artistic vibes. The shop is located at a very Shanghainese alley, pretty close to one of the creative campus and retail complex that I frequent. From natural essence-based scented oils, candles to grass/wood aroma, they have a thoughtful range of original products alongside their selection by other designers/artist friends. The shop is so well curated in line with their statement: a lifestyle brand that believes in the power of slowing down and self-care. It is a little hidden gem for those who look for a gentle pause to browse or eclectic wellness gift for their loved ones in downtown area. 
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Posted by Lyla Lee
Great selection of art and photography books from independent publishers worldwide and local artists. They also curate small exhibitions and collaborate artists with art book making and publishing. 
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The one of a kind pocket park in the middle of old town Shanghai built for and loved by the local community. An inspiring Utopian urban living in reality, I used to commute a lot both for pleasure and field research of my service design assignment. It's currently used by the local government as a PCR test spot. Wish it could reopen soon to public! 
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