A picture-perfect match: fine dining and art

A man admires paintings by Chinese artists Meng Yangyang and Liu Na during Shanghai Daily's exhibition over a drink at CACHET Boutique Hotel. — Wang Rongjiang

For some people, when it comes to dining out, attention is not merely paid to the food and the environment. They are searching for something more — something that is artistic, whether in the dishes, the dishware, the menu or the decorations.

At the same time, contemporary artists are exploring more opportunities to display their artwork directly to the viewers — beyond simply holding exhibitions in galleries or museums.

Xu Chenyi, a post-1980s Shanghai contemporary painter, used to run a coffee shop on Shaoxing Road, an art and cultural street known for old architecture from the 1930s and a rich history such as its legendary resident, old Shanghai mafioso Du Yuesheng (1888-1951).

The coffee shop, Gracious Xibao, stood on the second floor of a small villa and featured Western-style afternoon tea and desserts. The cafe was closed several months ago due to a rental problem, but patrons keep returning because of the art salon that was held in the café and still remains.

Xu teaches oil painting and sketch basics. Her works were displayed on the walls as decorations and also for sale. "My initial thought to open a venue like this was to make friends interested in the arts," the young artist says.

Clients liked the peaceful café, delicate hand-make chocolate cakes and coffee. So it's natural that some stayed on for the art after becoming familiar with their teacher, Xu.

"It was beyond my expectation," says Xu. "Combining art with a café or restaurant must be a trend in the future."

Having spent a couple of years in Beijing, Xu says dining venues with artworks popped up in the capital city several years ago, mostly in art hubs like 798.

In Shanghai, such restaurants are starting to mushroom. Elite Restaurant & Lounge opened this month in Xuhui District. This Western cuisine restaurant, housed in a former photo gallery, uses a theme of image, film art and film post-production. Since it began operation, the venue has caught the eyes of trendy diners and art lovers.

In a basic cool-color tone, it has a brisk, simple design with graceful lines. The dining area features geometrical lines and unique wooden boards. Artworks by famous photographers line the gray walls, surrounding diners.

"The combination of art and dining is still fresh to people in this city, but they are accepting and following the trends quickly," says Qian Kepeng, founder of Elite.