Anson Chen has been busy the past few years. Having inherited Bund 18, the landmark Shanghai shopping mall with panoramic views of the Pudong district skyline and a rooftop bar deemed one of the "World's Best," he did some renovating. In came renowned French chef Joël Robuchon to update Bund 18's flagship restaurant. Then a new sushi bar was added, along with an outpost of Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan.
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But once all that was seen to, the enterprising Chen decided it was time for a new challenge. He opened Blackstone Magic Bar, China's first magic bar and one of the world's only dedicated close-up magic theatres.
Anson Chen outside Blackstone Magic Bar in Shanghai. All photos by the author.Hidden behind a pillar in Da Tong Mill, a recently revamped underground space in the city's Jing'an neighbourhood, there is a mirrored storefront. In the centre of the reflective surface is a drawing of a light bulb floating inside a birdcage. This is the entrance to Blackstone Magic Bar.Read more on MUNCHIES.
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