It’s part dining room, part library, and 100% event friendly. Housed in the Hengshan Fang complex near Xujiahui, Gourmet Library is a crossover concept led by Brian Tan, proprietor and chocolatier of dessert shops hoF.
The main attraction of this event space, besides the multitudinous collection of food books (for sale and perusal), is the show kitchen. The centerpiece is an open kitchen with an island counter equipped with plenty of induction burners. It doubles as a studio kitchen, too, with cranes and mounts affixed overhead.
Gourmet Library does have a regular menu, but the concept’s main focus is to be a space that showcases different chefs, new talent, and pop-ups through events, and to act as an incubator and test kitchen. One of the latest events was a Yang Jing Bang noodle bar pop-up led by Nat Alexander (also of Homeslice). According to the WeChat account, there’s also an ongoing pastry making class.
It’s a gorgeous space, and we’d like to see more pop-ups. Until then, you’d probably find us pouring over the cookbooks in a quiet corner of the room.
For those looking rent the space: Gourmet Library’s rates are subject to demand. The rates for the “Social Kitchen” area start at RMB800 per hour, while the private room starts at RMB400 per hour. Rates may change depending on season and vary for weekends and public holidays. It’s a little difficult to find—it’s on Tianping Lu, on the third floor of the building where retail shop “Mr. Blue” is located.
Address: 3/F, 326 Tianping Lu (near Hengshan Lu) 天平路326号3楼 (近衡山路)