Ortensia | Chris Shao Studio

Zhangyuan is a historic neighbourhood near the centre of Shanghai that has become a crossroads of fashion and culture. Ōrten- sia was founded by a Japanese chef, and a

Chinese pastry chef naturally found her place there in 2024. The restaurant serves up French and Japanese cuisine amidst a décor that is an astonishingly harmonious fusion of the three cultures.

The shikumen architecture features a ceiling and wall panels made of original wood, in a subtle reinterpretation of classical French style.

Here, delicacy and feminine sensibilities are artfully blended with Japanese refinement.

Between rustic tiling, traditional Chinese lacquer finishes, hand-carved woodwork, an exquisite colour palette and more, this composition by Chris Shao Studio turns each space into a door to a graceful, whimsical imaginary world.

The restaurant’s name was inspired by the hydrangea (hortensia in French), a symbol of poise and elegance.

Photography: Zhu Hai