Shanghai, Between Memory and the Future

Hello, beloved!

From Hong Kong, I followed a feeling.

A quiet pull — somewhere between nostalgia and curiosity.

I decided to return to Shanghai, a city I hadn’t seen in 15 years.

And yet, once, it was a whole chapter of my life.

Fifteen years ago, I lived here for five months.

A full semester as a student — learning, exploring, becoming.

So coming back felt… personal.

Almost like meeting a past version of myself.

But Shanghai doesn’t wait.

Shanghai evolves.

And arriving this time, I was simply stunned.

It feels like the city is living in the future.

Not metaphorically — but literally.

Technology, innovation, the pace — everything moves faster, sharper, more advanced.

New buildings rising endlessly, entire districts transformed, concepts you don’t see anywhere else.

And at the same time…

Fragments of memory still remain.

I didn’t try to rush through it.

I let myself wander.

Walks along Nanjing Road, evenings by the Bund, rainy afternoons in Jing’an — which, in the rain, feels especially cinematic.

Some days were just that — walking, observing, rediscovering.

Shanghai today is a city of concepts.

I found myself moving from one café to another — each one a world of its own.

At 13 De Marzo Café — a cute drink with a little bear on the cup.

At Hinichijou — where a little bear’s paw reaches out from the wall to hand you your drink. And a futuristic stop at No.3 Warehouse — a space that feels like it belongs somewhere ahead of our time.

And then, of course — my daily ritual.

Matcha.

I think I had matcha ice cream every single day — in different places, in different versions — because I simply couldn’t resist it.

A small obsession that quietly became part of the journey.

And then there were those little details that make you smile — an ice cream shaped like a bear, a waffle shaped like a cat.

Playful, unexpected, and somehow… very Shanghai.

The city is also a playground for fashion and concept spaces.

From ADERERROR Shanghai to Tamburins Shanghai and Gentle Monster —

Shanghai feels incredibly forward-thinking, visually bold, and creatively fearless.

It’s not just shopping — it’s storytelling.

For my stay, I chose something equally unique — Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li.

And it became one of the most special parts of this trip.

Unlike any traditional hotel, Capella is built within historic shikumen villas — a rare architectural blend of East and West.

You don’t stay in a room — you live in a house.

Walking through its quiet lanes feels like stepping into another time,

while inside, everything is refined, contemporary, and deeply private.

And then — the dining.

At Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire, every dinner felt like an experience rather than just a meal.

Layered flavours, unexpected combinations, each dish carefully composed.

But Shanghai also surprised me with its diversity.

From an unforgettable Peking duck at Sheng Yong Xing to intimate omakase moments at Sushi Masa Ishibashi and Ginza Onodera — every meal felt like entering a completely different world.

And then there were places like Silver Egg in the North Bund — modern, elevated, with a completely different energy.

What I will remember the most about Shanghai… is the feeling of discovery.

Not in the obvious landmarks.

But in the small things.

Rain falling in quiet courtyards.

Rooftop views that make the city feel infinite.

Late-night walks.

Unexpected cafés.

Little details — like a matcha ice cream, shaped like a memory.

Shanghai is a city that doesn’t hold onto the past.

But it doesn’t erase it either.

It builds over it.

Layer by layer.

And maybe that’s why returning after 15 years felt so powerful.

Because while the city had completely transformed… so had I.

And somehow, we met again — in entirely new versions of ourselves.

Until next time,

Sasha