24. November 2023

The Astor House Hotel was once the oldest and most reputable establishment in Shanghai, but in 1910 an unthinkable crime occurred at one of the most famous hotels of the world, that almost tarnished its reputation forever. Items acquired by us in the USA help solve the century-old mystery...

22. May 2023

This German-language advertisement booklet from our collection is by itself a bit of a conundrum, but also reminds us of a puzzling episode that happened at the hotel during the Battle of Shanghai in 1937.

28. March 2023

Like no other, this vibrant ad for the trifecta of Victor Sassoon’s hospitality empire, symbolizes the unprecedented real-estate boom and architectural splendor of Shanghai in the early 1930s. Join us on a journey through the history of the three edifices, all of which still house hotels today.

16. January 2023

Last week would have been László Hudec’s 130th birthday. In celebration of Shanghai’s most well-known architect, here is a beautiful commemorative advertising booklet from our collection about his Art Deco magnum opus: the Joint Savings Society Building, more famously known as the Park Hotel or “International Hotel” (国际饭店) in Chinese. The edifice, constructed between 1931 to 1934 at 164 Bubbling Well Road (today’s No.170 Nanjing West Road), was named after the Joint Savings...

19. September 2021

Manufactured by US company Otis and installed in 1924 at the Tientsin Astor House Hotel, when an additional building was joined to the original structure built in 1863. Otis was distributed in China by their agent American Trading Company until in 1930 the company established it's own office, located in the Shanghai Sassoon House.

17. June 2021

The "Fiaker Viennese Restaurant" was opened in 1938 by Austrian Jewish refugees Hans Jabloner and Fritz Strehlen at the prestigious address No 997 Avenue Joffre in the Shanghai French Concession. It offered “Special Viennese & Hungarian Cuisine” – most importantly “under foreign Chef”, while on the piano “Pepi” entertained the customers. The “Fiaker,” according to their self-promotion, featured “the best Sacher torte outside of Vienna,” as well as a cocktail bar, which...

17. May 2021

A unique little piece of Shanghai history: invoices and correspondence between furniture manufacturer Arts & Crafts and the offices of architect László Hudec in regards to the interior design of the Park Hotel, opened in 1934. The Park Hotel housed in the Joint Savings Society Building on former Bubbling Well Rd., is an Art Deco masterpiece inspired by the American Radiator Building. It was the tallest building in Asia from its completion until 1963. László Hudec was a famous...

05. May 2021

Just recently China Daily reported that Shanghai had become the city with the most coffee shops in the world. Close to 7,000 venues, excluding coffee services in convenience stores and fast-food restaurants, serve the 30-million population of the Chinese metropolis. While this news may come as a surprise to coffee connoisseurs in Tokyo, London or New York, Shanghai – the city that famously never sleeps - has in fact an over 150 years history in roasting, brewing and serving the delicious...