Design can be delectable, soothing the senses and the soul simultaneously. The world’s first DG Caffè in Shanghai, part of the Italian luxury label’s Chinese expansion strategy, is proof. At first glance, it’s a burst of hues, a kaleidoscope that draws you in. But what makes you stay is not just the signature design ethos but the traditional Italian culinary arts. The venue is packed with ample doses of the iconic Carretto Siciliano motif, freely used to create a unique Mediterranean atmosphere in Jing’an’s central district. With every color in the spectrum incorporated, the 200-square-meter space is an ode to Sicily, the favorite island of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.
The walls and milieu of DG Caffè reflect the same motifs found on the plates arranged for formal dining and casual afternoon teas. Even the culinary offerings showcase Dolce & Gabbana’s iconic symbols, with cakes shaped like Sicilian lemons and roses, and tiramisu served in Moka pots adorned with Carretto Siciliano designs.
For the gastronome focused on food, there are delights like tomato-mozzarella, fine charcuterie, and pesto pasta, thanks to partnerships between Dolce & Gabbana and several Italian agri-food brands. The café also serves as a retail space, offering items like Bialetti coffee makers, Di Martino pasta, Donnafugata wines, and Panettone by Fiasconaro.
“It is an honor to open the world’s first D&G Café in Shanghai. We look forward to strengthening our presence in the [Chinese] market, using the evolving traditions of Italian cuisine to showcase the art of Italian craftsmanship and convey Dolce & Gabbana’s pursuit of well-being as a lifestyle,” said Alfonso Dolce, CEO of Dolce & Gabbana.
While this is Dolce and Gabbana’s first café, other luxury brands have also established cafés in China, merging high-end fashion with refined dining experiences, such as Louis Vuitton’s The Hall, the Maison Margiela Café in Chengdu, and Dior Café in Shanghai.
[All images by Dolce and Gabbana]
