New Prada Restaurant | Exclusive Design Tour by Ottiu

Inside the Prada Restaurant: A Cinematic Fusion of East and West

Nestled within the historic Rong Zhai mansion in Shanghai, the Prada restaurant – officially known as Mi Shang Prada Rong Zhai – offers an immersive experience where cinematic artistry meets refined design. Housed in a meticulously restored 1918 heritage villa, the space becomes a cultural bridge between eras and aesthetics. This unique collaboration between Prada and acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar Wai transforms the villa into a stage where East meets West, and tradition dialogues with modernity.

Every element, from the ambient lighting to the curated furniture and architectural details, echoes Wong’s evocative cinematic language, while staying true to Prada’s minimalist sophistication. The result is not merely a restaurant, but a curated journey through time, design, and emotion – an elegant expression of storytelling through space.

A Cinematic Vision Realized

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Wong Kar Wai’s influence permeates every facet of the Prada restaurant’s design, infusing the space with the poetic and nostalgic sensibility that defines his cinematic universe. Drawing inspiration from iconic films such as In the Mood for Love and Happy Together, the interiors are rich with mirrored surfaces, saturated tones, and subtle contrasts — all elements that conjure a dreamlike, emotionally charged atmosphere. These visual cues echo Wong’s signature style: sensuous, introspective, and deeply layered.

The spatial narrative is further enriched by the philatelic motif of the tête-bêche — a rare pairing of stamps arranged upside down in relation to one another. This subtle but symbolic detail encapsulates the dialogue between Milan and Shanghai, tradition and modernity, East and West. Just as Wong Kar Wai’s films often explore themes of memory, dislocation, and duality, the tête-bêche becomes a metaphor for the restaurant’s cross-cultural identity, where two distinct worlds meet in perfect, poetic tension.

Spaces That Tell a Story

The Prada restaurant unfolds across multiple distinct areas, each narrating a part of this East-meets-West tale:

The Pastry Shop: Inspired by Prada’s first Milan store, this space offers classic Italian pastries crafted by World Champion pastry chef Diego Crosara.

The Caffè and The Study: Echoing Shanghai’s social hubs from the early 20th century, these areas feature elegant bar counters and intimate spaces adorned with vibrant wallpaper and antique collectibles.

The Library: A lounge housing a curated collection of books on Chinese crafts and Italian design, alongside artworks from the Rising Clouds, Blooming Flowers series, a collaboration between Wong Kar Wai and Duo Yun Xuan Art Centre.

The Dining Room: The heart of Prada restaurant, where the cinematic aesthetics are most apparent, offering Italian classics paired with Chinese ingredients under the guidance of executive chef Lorenzo Lunghi.

The Terrace: An open-air space reminiscent of Arcadia Hall, a major entertainment venue from the late 19th century, reimagined with 1930s Italian bamboo furniture and lush greenery.

A Harmonious Blend of Cultures

Prada restaurant stands as a testament to the harmonious fusion of fashion, film and gastronomy. More than just a restaurant, it is a carefully curated experience where each detail reflects a dialogue between artistic disciplines. By intertwining Wong Kar Wai’s cinematic vision – rich in mood, texture, and emotion – with Prada’s refined design ethos, the space becomes a sensorial journey. Every corner, from the lighting to the materials, evokes a scene from a film, while the culinary offerings echo the same narrative sophistication. The result is a dining experience that transcends cultural boundaries and redefines luxury as an immersive, multidimensional expression of art.