By Michael (smartshanghai)
Updated: 2008-03-20 13:49

We're seeing several of these new post-Xintiandi creative/commercial zones opening around Shanghai. Last year, the New Factoriesopened north-east of JingAn, then Novel Plazain Xujiahui. A few others as well are now open and the latest is The Highstreet Loft, on Jianguo near Xiangyang Nan Lu.

After a soft-opening outdoor creative bazaara few months ago, the spaces in The Loft are starting to fill up.

The core building interior is a four-story shopping mall, with a mix of mid-to-upscale fashion boutiques, art, and furniture shops--all with glass walls that are open and airy, fully revealing what's inside rather than trying to trick the window shopper. We like it. There's a lot of playfulness and variety, and the whole space feels inviting.

There's also a row of cafes with outdoor seating (although toxic smells from the unfinished construction still hang in the air), including yet another Wagas, a Chinese dessert café, and Manta bakery and café. Manta looks promising, with a selection of unique pies and pastries. The dining stars thus far, however, are Bonito, serving Spanish food, and Naam Thai, a modern Thai restaurant.

Spanish cuisine seems to be a budding trendin Shanghai, and Bonito could contend for top honors. While the menu includes a few pan-Mediterranean favorites, the focus is Spain, and the owners already have six restaurants in Barcelona under their belts. The design, fitting with the whole "Loft" project, is smart and modern, but not intimidating--stone and cement, and burgundy-toned furnishings.

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