Lapis Lazuli

Like most of the restaurants on Dongping Lu, diners simply can’t go wrong with Lapis Lazuli. The restaurant has a cool ambiance, polite staff, and pricey yet tasty food. Even when one can’t avoid the wait for a table, Lapis Lazuli even has a well chosen ceramics shop downstairs that always seems to be having a sale.
 
The food is mainly continental, with a little Asian flare tossed in for good measure. At night the restaurant is bustling, so I recommend making a reservation. The best time to come, however, is during lunch, when the patrons are mainly “ladies who lunch” and employees that work in the neighborhood.  The lunch specials are quite a deal, and perfect for those with an appetite.  I like the club sandwich special, which comes with a salad, soup and tea or coffee for RMB 48. At dinner time the prices are significantly higher, so while the food is indeed good… well, let’s just say it tastes a lot better when it’s not making such a dent in the pocket.
 
Nonetheless, Lapis Lazuli is a cool locale well worth checking out, and if dinner is all you have time for, I still recommend it.  I love the wood furniture, which feels almost Thai, and the flowers and artwork definitely exude an enjoyable tropical feel. Try to swing a seat by the window to take advantage of a good view of the drinking crowds piling into Zapata’s and Sasha’s next door. The menu is really easy, so those worried by a group that might be hard to please can rest assure that the wide selection certainly won’t disappoint.
 

Take Metro Line 1 to Hengshan Rd station.  Exit onto Hengshan Rd. and head northeast to Dongping Rd., about a 10-minute walk. Take a right on Dongping Rd. to find Lapis Lazuli.