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Sherlock Holmes theme cafe in Shanghai, China! G9 & G2 design restaurants, Lane Crawford.

sherlock holmes restaurant

I spy a mysterious sign in Shanghai’s French Quarter. “Crime in progress. Please disturb.”

What bloodshed lies behind these doors?

sherlock holmes theme cafe, shanghai french quarter

Shh, it’s a secret… there’s a Sherlock Holmes theme cafe in Shanghai, China! Read on to peek inside, and I’ll also take you inside two fantastically-designed restaurants, G-9 and G-2. 

221B Baker St china cafe

The name of the cafe is 221B Baker Street, but don’t tell the taxi driver to go here or you might end up in London. The Sherlock Holmes cafe’s actual address is: 50 Ruijin 2nd Rd. (Gaolan Rd.), Shanghai.

The game is a-foot… but don’t try to find the place by foot. The street signs are confusing, and Google Maps doesn’t show the correct location. Instead, hail a hansom (or taxi) and ask your driver to take you to 瑞金二路50号, 近复兴中路. Cab fares are extremely low in Shanghai, so the ride will probably only cost you a few dollars.

sherlock themed cafe shanghai

Once you’re inside, you can lift a finger and announce, “Elementary, my dear Watson!”

❤ OUTFIT DETAILS ❤
Dress: Shakuhachi Future Minimal from West LA Boutique – purchase the same dress here.
Skeleton necklace: from LLazy Bonez.

(Above, click the images to shop the looks featured in this outfit post. I love this brand so much!)

bbc sherlock souvenirs, memorabilia

The entrance looks like a shrine to Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the master detective in BBC’s Sherlock TV series (which is one of my favorites).

bbc sherlock and watson statues

Who knew the show was so popular in China? Of course, there are cute miniature “chibi” versions of Watson and Sherlock.

sherlock holmes museum

The cafe is designed to look like Sherlock Holmes and Watson’s shared flat, 221B Baker Street. One room looks a Victorian parlor, with brocaded curtains and a game of chess.

sherlock holmes violin

Customers can pose with the props: this is not a real violin, and obviously I don’t know how to play it. Behind me, you can spot test tubes and a microscope for Holmes’ forensic examinations.

deerstalker hat sherlock holmes pipe

A deerstalker hat and a pipe are the ultimate Sherlock Holmes fashion accessories. Below are more must-haves for gumshoes in training.

interior review 221b china

Much of the decor feels authentic to fans of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels. But a few rooms have a “huh” feeling, like this tropical wallpaper and portrait of Edgar Allan Poe. 

sherlock holmes cafe menu

The clever menu looks like a newspaper, and the top right indicates the cafe’s opening date: July 2013. The front page has “recommendations by Mrs Hudson,” the landlady of Watson and Holmes.

sherlock holmes coffee

My baby niece sniffs at the decorated latte, with a coat of arms that shows Sherlock Holmes in profile. I ordered the “Moriarty” drink, an appropriately evil mix of iced coffee with vanilla ice cream on top.

bbc sherlock cups, postcards

The cafe serves sandwiches, cakes and other snacks as well. However, the selection of BBC Sherlock memorabilia is the biggest draw.

benedict cumberbatch painting

You can pick up Sherlock-themed bookmarks, art, and jewelry.

sir arthur conan doyle museum

When you ask for the check, the waiter flips a top hat onto the table. Aha, the receipt is pinned to the brim! Case closed.

llazybonez jewelry, chinese sherlock holmes books

If you have never read the Sherlock Holmes novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, you must get your hands on them. The stories hold up over time and the writing doesn’t at all feel dated. You can get the whole Sherlock collection here.

Above is a close-up of my skeleton and black pearl necklace, by LLazy Bonez. These Hong Kong jewelers custom-make spooky skull pieces with quality silver and stones.

lane crawford shanghai china

Now, let’s explore two more uniquely-designed restaurants in China. My team and I were invited to dinner at G9, a new restaurant at the department store Lane Crawford. 

shakuhachi future minimal dress

There was a light display in front of the designer mall. (All photos by Melissa Rundle, Eric Bergemann and La Carmina.)

lane crawford china shopping

Lane Crawford is the high-fashion destination in Hong Kong and China. The floors carry international luxury brands (like this Alice + Olivia Panda sweater) as well as local labels.

G九 上海 restaurant

We were here to experience a dramatic new restaurant,  G九 (上海) – also known as G-Force or G9 Shanghai. Address: 3/F Lane Crawford block, Shanghai Times Square, 99 Huaihai Zhong Road.

Designed by Ian Douglas-Jones of Atelier I-N-D-J, the interior is pop art meets vampire — a mesmerizing play on light and shadow. Above us, nearly 1000 pendants glow in a moving wave across the room. As you talk and eat, the experience changes as the lights constantly reveal and hide.

g9 shanghai restaurant, atelier INDJ

A long brass table cuts across the room, serving as both a catwalk and a dining space. Even for jaded diners like ourselves, the atmosphere was dazzling.

lane crawford restaurant food

G9’s dramatic design is complemented by the artfully-presented meals on the menu. We shared a number of starters, including tuna tataki served in half an avocado, presented like a floral arrangement.

china interior design hip restaurants

We ordered the lobster linguine twice — it was that good. The pumpkin ravioli and dry-aged beef (carved right at the table) were also outstanding.

All of the G restaurants emphasize local and pesticide-free ingredients. I’m surprised but pleased to see this approach to food taking root in China.

Atelier INDJ, architect Ian Douglas-Jones

Dessert was literally a masterpiece. The young chef covered a canvas with Jackson Pollack-like swooshes, using ingredients like chocolate sauce as his paints. He told us the picture was inspired by the planets and stars.

jackson pollock dessert

For the grand finale, he used molecular gastronomy to release a fog of steam… and with a yelp, he smashed the “planet” on the canvas! We lapped up every last bite of the white chocolate shards and flavors.

jellyfish in fish tanks

The next night, we had Chinese food at G-2, also designed by Ian of INDJ. Once again, the interior design pulled at the imagination. We ate while were surrounded by a 14 meter aquarium of jellyfish, drifting through purple lights.

Address: G2, Shanghai Plaza, No.138 Huaihai Road 4th floor.

G2 极贰

The patio gave a glowing view of the city. I can’t believe how much Shanghai has developed the past 5-10 years.

modern shanghai chinese restaurant

At G2, the food is contemporary Cantonese seafood. I tried tilefish, octopus, and glass noodles with an unidentifiable seafood (despite the mystery, it was my favorite).

shanghai bund skyline

I leave you with a colorful view of The Bund. What fun to explore Shanghai, which is becoming more cosmopolitan by the day.

Oriental Pearl Tower shanghai

And here’s the Oriental Pearl Tower, glowing like a space pod.

Were you surprised to see a Sherlock Holmes theme cafe and avantgarde restaurants in China?

(PS – if you want to learn more about the clothes I wore in Shanghai, browse and click the images above.)

SHARE & COMMENT

37 Comments

  1. MelissaR
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    Shanghai fabulous! Great article!

  2. Bert
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 9:47 pm | Permalink

    my dream to visit!!!!

  3. Anada
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 9:47 pm | Permalink

    Amazing! Glad you enjoy it all.

  4. Saw
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    Wow @lacarmina, it looks like you had an incredible time!

  5. eki
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    金曜日じゃなくても毎日キンキラだね♪

  6. Raphael
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    your pics are always awesome

  7. Cathy L
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 9:48 pm | Permalink

    ahh I love Shanghai

  8. Barbarella B
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 9:49 pm | Permalink

    MultiColour Hair! Melikes! :)

  9. Firelight
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    Benedict *.*

  10. Sara
    Posted December 9, 2014 at 11:05 pm | Permalink

    Lovely

  11. 99balloons
    Posted December 10, 2014 at 1:07 am | Permalink

    SWEET!

  12. sonja
    Posted December 10, 2014 at 1:07 am | Permalink

    Wow

    sonja

  13. Wing
    Posted December 10, 2014 at 4:02 am | Permalink

    But the imitation game will not be on in mainland China…which is really fucking sad.

  14. Sue
    Posted December 10, 2014 at 8:16 pm | Permalink

    I want a chibi Dr Watson doll.

  15. ll
    Posted December 10, 2014 at 8:16 pm | Permalink

    The game is afoot. thanks for sharing this

  16. Dew drop
    Posted December 11, 2014 at 12:38 am | Permalink

    I want to visit China with you.

  17. ophelia
    Posted December 11, 2014 at 12:39 am | Permalink

    That panda top. Obsessed.

  18. West LA
    Posted December 11, 2014 at 7:08 pm | Permalink

    You look totally awesome in our @shakuhachi_ dress thanks for sharing it with us xoxo

  19. JOse
    Posted December 11, 2014 at 7:08 pm | Permalink

    aye it’s pretty great :)

  20. Gemmy Bear
    Posted December 11, 2014 at 8:57 pm | Permalink

    HOLMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. Shu
    Posted December 11, 2014 at 8:57 pm | Permalink

    ni hao
    welcome to shanghai

  22. Hibari
    Posted December 12, 2014 at 6:24 am | Permalink

    Their Sherlock Holmes cafe looks so much better than the Sherlock’s Baker Street Pubs here in Texas. They’re supposed to be modeled after his study, but the one I visited only had a few old books and vaguely British-looking decor. I think I’d rather go to China to get my Sherlock fix.

    • lacarmina
      Posted December 12, 2014 at 8:26 pm | Permalink

      Ah, I didn’t know about the ones in Texas. I recently had a 1 hr stopover in Houston, so close!

  23. lacarmina
    Posted December 12, 2014 at 9:17 pm | Permalink

    xxxxx

  24. Shara
    Posted December 13, 2014 at 8:02 pm | Permalink

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  25. figbat oswald
    Posted April 29, 2015 at 2:45 am | Permalink

    greetings from tasmania

  26. figbat oswald
    Posted April 29, 2015 at 2:50 am | Permalink

    i came up with a theory that involves the book of genesis (fig leaves) buddha (sitting under the bodhi fig tree) jesus (many sayings about figs) ross hornes’ book (new health revolution) and science (figs are the most important source of food for fruit eating rainforest animals). i then experimented on the figs by eating mainly dried figs (same brand) for over 10 years now and found cycles which i related to the numbers in psgs 11/12 of the book of revelations. this theory has gone everywhere. so far i have had eliminations at days 504, 840, 1176, 1512, 1848, 2184, 2520, 2856, 3192 and 3528. today is day 3693. i have definitely found something. i am not lying. what i have discovered has gone around the world and many songs have been written about it
    …..the foo fighters’ last 4 albums…..coldplays’ last 4 albums……”vertigo” by U2 (my first name is phil). an elimination is a day when you experience strong flu-like symptoms and feel terrible. bad stuff is washed out of your body.

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