Shintori, Shanghai

Shintori in Shanghai is my second best restaurant, I decided today. What an experience. Will knows the best places in town, but this takes it all. We first met at People 9, which is the adjascent bar, very unique in itself. You've got to stick your hand in 9 different holes for the doors to finally open. Looking almost intimidating and unwelcoming at first, it opens the doors to warm people and a great bar. You almost feel teased and taken on a ride of lows and highs. Very low music, no smoke, SPACE (yes, you notice it in comparison to HK). My Capricorn cocktails tasted more like a diluted toothpaste with a touch of Malibu, but the margarita squared it all. Shintori (the restaurant) is well known for its unique design on minimalistic concrete walls, floors and tables, open spaces, food lift, open-kitchen with showman-cooks and some pretty good Japanese food.

Maybe it's the place, or maybe it's the company of a friend you can spend 3 hours with and wonder where did the time go..

Shanghai is becoming my second home now.