Fine Italian Bistro New Wave by Da Vittorio Will Impress

This venue is now closed. For more restaurants in Shanghai, click here.

New Wave is an Italian restaurant located within the UCCA Edge museum in Hongkou, Shanghai.

It opened early 2022, and is the sister restaurant of Da Vittorio Shanghai, a Michelin two-starred and Asia’s 50 Best restaurant. If I were to compare the two, I’d say New Wave is “fine bistro,” casual yet sophisticated, and much more approachably priced.

The Space

New Wave by Da Vittorio is a fine dining Italian restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

It’s located on the third floor of the partnering museum. The space includes a coffee shop out front, and a bar that leads to the dining room, which is half parlor, half glasshouse with private rooms on both sides.

It’s casual yet elegant, and a great destination for wooing your special someone.

The Food

The experience is one that’s made to impress, especially on service, which is flattering and exceptional. As for the food, it’s a mix of traditional and modern, menu designed by chef de cuisine Francesco Bonvini.

I had the six-course tasting menu priced at ¥998, which borrows from seasonal a la carte dishes and then some.

There were plenty of high notes: legumes in a rich seafood broth that was comforting yet luxurious, velvety amberjack, a playfully spicy oyster, and luscious fresh pasta with lobster. The sirloin, while enjoyable, did not showcase much else except being a cut of good meat cooked well. Had I known, I’d have opted for something more exciting.

Note: additional images are from my dining partner’s menu.

Also, I might add that New Wave caters for certain dietary restrictions quite well.

The meal ended with their version petit fours, cream-filled cannoncino and chocolates.

The Drinks

Overall the meal was pretty impressive. The drinks were equally good, courtesy of bar manager Fabio Sajeva.

The cocktails were great, but I especially applaud the effort in the non-alcoholic selection, which are innovative and enjoyable, and far from just juice and sugar topped with soda water. For wines, speak to sommelier Camilla Mora, who will charm the pants off you with her exuberant energy and knowledge about wine.