With all the hustle and bustle that surrounds you in Shanghai, sometimes you just want to get away. Luckily, there is a street that offers a sense of small-town (well, at least smaller town) charm. Dagu Lu 大沽路, which runs between Chengdu Lu and Shimen Yilu, a short walk south of Nanjing Road, and just around the corner from the Four Seasons Hotel (500 Weihai Lu, near Shimen Yilu; 威海路500号近石门一路; 021 - 6256 8888), provides a delightful respite from the frenetic pace of city life.

(Note that the addresses specify which end of the street the venue is closest to, but often there’s not much in it. It takes no more than five minutes to walk from one end of the street to the other.)

What to do?
Besides just enjoying your leisurely walk down this charming street, there are a few stops along the way you should check out.

Start your relaxing day off right with a trip to Skin City 5.5, an internationally focused spa that specializes exclusively on skincare. Their facial treatments use Babor products, a well-known German brand that uses all-natural ingredients.

Skin City 5.5: 476 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路476号,近成都路；021 - 6340 1235

If it’s a massage you’re after, there’s nowhere better than Dragonfly, a chain of charming retreats with locations around the city. (For more on massages in Shanghai see our feature here.)

Dragonfly : 458 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路458号,近成都路；021- 6327 1193)

Once you’re spa’d or massaged out, stock up your DVD collection by popping into one of Dagu Lu’s countless DVD shops. Movie Star, Movie House and Big Movie are all famous for their excellent customer service. Their knowledgeable staff will point you in the right direction, or simply use their computer databases to find the movie you have your heart set on.

Movie Star: 407 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路407号，近成都路
Movie House: 391 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路391号，近成都路
Big Movie: 382 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路382号，近成都路

Miss a certain food that you just can’t seem to find in Shanghai? Look no further than Feidan, where you’ll find a wide variety of imported foods, beers, and wine, along with some of the best deli items around. With a particular emphasis on Italian food, this is the perfect place to pick up ingredients for your next pasta night.

Feidan: 382-1 Dagu Lu , near Shimen Yi Lu; 大沽路382-1号, 近石门一路; 021 - 6340 0547

Where to eat?

A truly international street, Dagu Lu offers up a little bit of something for everyone. Masala Art serves up classic Indian dishes at a reasonable price. For some fresh Mediterranean flavors, try Haya’s Mediterranean Cuisine. If you have a pad thai craving, Da Papa Thai is the place to go.

Masala Art: 397 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu大沽路397号，近石门一路; 021 - 6327 3571
Mediterranean Cuisine: 415 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu大沽路415号, 近成都路; 021 - 6295 9511
Da Papa Thai: 376 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu大沽路376号, 近石门一路; 021 - 6340 1615)

For authentic Italian food made by an authentic Italian man, try Da Papa Mario or the equally good Dome in the Pitch . In the mood for something a little lighter? Bovo Mondo has a great café atmosphere. My Nyonya Gallery Authentic Malaysian Cuisine Restaurant and Café offers up a fusion of Chinese and Malaysian fare that’s well worth a try.

Da Papa Mario: 370 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路370号, 近成都路; 021 - 6340 1615
Dome in the Pitch: 421 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路421号, 近成都路; 021 - 6327 6332
Bovo Mondo: 427 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路427号 , 近成都路; 021 - 6327 3778
My Nyonya Gallery Authentic Malaysian Cuisine Restaurant and Café : 417 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路417号 , 近成都路; 021 - 6327 0800

Where to drink?
While Nova (418 Dagu Lu, near Chengdu Lu; 大沽路418号 , 近成都路; 021 - 6340 1889) is technically a French restaurant, their outdoor patio is one of the best places to enjoy some samplings from their extensive wine list. This combined with their Sunday brunch results in the perfect weekend afternoon stop.

Another place to enjoy a glass of wine al fresco is Just Grapes (462 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yilu; 大沽路462号， 近石门一路; 021 - 3311 3205), where you can also purchase bottles to go. It’s a great place to lounge around while soaking up your surroundings.

Where to party?
Admittedly, Dagu Lu is not exactly a party street, but that doesn’t mean its residents don’t know how to live it up! Frangipani (399 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yilu; 大沽路399号近石门一路; 021- 5375 0084) is a well known gay bar (not to be confused with the pedicure parlours of the same name) and offers all visitors a night they’ll never forget.

And, if you just want to knock back a beer and play some bar games, stop by Zero Darts Bar (413 Dagu Lu, near Chongqing Lu; 大沽路413号近成都路; 021 - 6327 1627) for some laid back fun.

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