Lunar is a Modern Chinese restaurant situated inside a standalone villa at the heart of Shanghai on West Jianguo Road, which is running by opposite group and chef Johnston Teo. Termed Modern Chinese, the cuisine at Lunar is to celebrate the quintessential way of Chinese dining. The namesake pays homage to the Chinese lunar calendar. Resonating with the lunar customs is essential to the ethos of dining experience design. Embracing the seasonality and terroir is at its core.
The tea stall is located on the first floor. The soft lighting showered over the shoulder, conveying a sense of comfort, combines with the scent of tea brick and bamboo curtain immerses one in a moonlight night the moment of stepping in.
Ascending along the stairs, the passing pebble-paved trail would land one on the second floor of Lunar. A unique hanging cornice, made possible by the outlining curves of classical Jiangnan garden fusing into the architectural structure of the space, guides the way connecting to the dining area and private dining room. The mural hand painting renders orange fluorescence like moonlight shadow, echoing the shooting tea stall on the first floor. Collaborating with the florist and designer Maggie Mao to add an orange haze to the space, the small and delicate decoration adds a touch of Zen in the simplicity.
The most important material in the whole space is matte surface. Without excessive reflection, conveying calm and beauty through the texture and touch.