I am a sucker for an old building, especially one which serves food and coffee so I made my way down to the Shun Pao building on Hankou Lu on the junction with Shandong Zhong Lu. The building looks uninviting from the outside with an grey austere facade but a peep through the window gives a much more exciting picture. I opened the huge wooden door to enter a beautiful room with an upstairs gallery. Sitting up there, I could get a great view of the tiled floor and the beautiful ceiling, creating an impression of grandeur and a taste of old Shanghai.
I ordered the lasagne, which after being returned to the kitchen to make it hot, was reasonable. The 
portion size was generous and it filled a hole. The lemon and mint iced drink only came after few prompts and eventually arrived after the meal. It was the one year anniversary of the cafe on the day I visited and so the bar and atrium area were being made ready for a party to which I was not invited.
As a building, it is impressive and gave me a glimpse into old Shanghai but as a dining option, I am less convinced.