Lady M’s flagship store in Shanghai’s Xintiandi takes inspiration from Art-Deco, an artistic movement which flourished in New York and Shanghai, thus bridging Lady M’s hometown with its newest location in China.

The design also takes cues from the elegant architecture of its unique site by merging the subtle curvature of Xintiandi’s signature doors with the patisserie brand’s minimalist, pure visual identity. Through a marriage of form, material, and light, the design invites customers to walk through and experience layers of history before indulging in the delectable layers of the world-renowned Mille-Crepes cakes.

In the narrow space, a monumental lower level with marble walls and swooping arches houses the counter and display area. Walking through Art Deco-inspired doors, guests will discover a room with high-ceilings, luminous and bright, well-suited to presenting the intricate confections in their best light.

At the rear, a jewel-like stairwell leads up to the second floor, a crystalline passage guiding customers to a lighter, airier space for dining above. Here, delicate metal frames and mirrors also recall Xintiandi’s architectural influences in a quiet garden-like space among the lush tree canopy shading the street below. Behind another door, the VIP room for special events is a scintillating hideaway, its balconies overlooking a busy Shanghai street corner; a place where past and present converge.