When a mixologist like Remy Savage enters Prada’s creative orbit, the outcome extends far beyond the idea of a cocktail menu. In Shanghai, Mi Shang Prada Rong Zhai opens a new chapter in its beverage program by appointing Savage as Lead Mixologist, marking the beginning of a collaboration set within an ecosystem where design, culture, hospitality and sensory storytelling coexist with effortless coherence.
“Joining Prada represents, for me, the meeting of two worlds that share the same attention to detail, research and timeless excellence,” says the eclectic bartender and entrepreneur. “Today, mixology can engage with design, culture and hospitality in increasingly profound ways — not only through taste, but by creating cultural experiences.”
A Cocktail Menu Rooted in the History of Rong Zhai
The new cocktail list takes shape from the layered history of Rong Zhai, the historic Shanghai mansion that houses Mi Shang. Restored and returned to the city as a cultural landmark, the residence becomes the starting point for a liquid narrative shaped by the figures who defined its identity: Rong Zong Jin, the home’s original owner; the Italian artisans involved in its meticulous restoration; and filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, who conceived the restaurant’s interiors alongside Prada.
“For the creation of Mi Shang’s new cocktail menu, we began with the heritage of Rong Zhai and its cultural stratifications. The villa represents an extraordinary meeting point between Chinese tradition, European influences, art, architecture and contemporaneity. It is precisely from these interconnections that the narrative of the menu emerges,” Remy Savage continues.
He translates that heritage into a collection of 16 cocktails conceived as an extension of the architectural space itself. The menu follows the concept of tête-bêche, a philatelic term describing two identical stamps printed in opposing orientations. Here, the principle becomes narrative architecture: East and West, past and present, preservation and reinterpretation held in deliberate equilibrium.
Four Chapters, One Mansion
The cocktail list unfolds across four chapters: Introduction, Intervention, Exploration and Revival, each corresponding to a distinct phase in the life of Rong Zhai.
Introduction looks at the parallel origins of Shanghai and Milan, drawing a line between Rong Zhai and Prada’s first boutique in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The dialogue begins with Italian and Chinese drinking traditions, as seen in the Milano Torino, built with bitter, terracotta-aged vermouth rosso and sesame oil, accompanied on the menu by a curated baijiu flight.
Intervention reflects the restoration of the villa and the arrival of Italian craftsmanship within the architectural project. Classical cocktail structures absorb Chinese ingredients, creating fresh aromatic tensions. The Blossom Negroni offers one example, revisiting the Milanese classic through gin, autumn flowers, white pepper and vermouth rosso.
Exploration guides guests through the material identity of the interiors, among cloisonné enamels, stained glass and carved wood details. The cocktails gain greater narrative independence here. Sunburst, a reinterpretation of the Sgroppino, layers citrus gelato, Longshan yellow wine and prosecco.
Finally, Revival celebrates the reopening of the villa to the contemporary world through drinks that move beyond classical grammar toward new compositions. Happy Together, with tequila, bittergourd, cucumber and agave, also nods to the cinematic universe evoked by Wong Kar Wai.
Mi Shang as a Dialogue Between Disciplines
The project aligns seamlessly with Mi Shang’s underlying philosophy. “The venue itself was born from the meeting of two complementary spirits, fine dining and mixology, creating a space where gastronomy and beverage engage in a natural dialogue,” Savage explains.
That exchange between kitchen and bar informs the experience at every level. Internationally recognized for a conceptual approach that weaves together philosophy, design, minimalism and material culture, Savage brings his distinct narrative vision to Shanghai while aligning with Prada’s refined aesthetic language.
Every Cocktail as an Architectural Fragment
The most compelling aspect of the project lies in the intellectual construction of the menu itself. “Each cocktail was conceived as a narrative fragment: ingredients, techniques and aromatic profiles engage with architectural details, historical memories and cultural exchanges that have shaped Shanghai over time,” Savage says. “From the outset, the goal was to build an experience capable of translating Rong Zhai’s identity into a sensory language.”
That framework gives the menu its resonance. The drinks operate as cultural interpretation as much as hospitality, carrying architectural references, historical echoes and emotional texture in equal measure.
A New Chapter for Prada
Savage’s arrival also signals something larger. Prada continues expanding its cultural vocabulary beyond fashion and retail, investing with growing precision in hospitality and sensory-led experiences. Mi Shang Prada Rong Zhai emerges as an expressive platform where architecture, cinema, gastronomy and cocktail culture speak the same language.
With this menu, Remy Savage begins his journey with Prada through a project built on narrative, materiality and memory.
Photo courtesy of Prada
