Banu quit her corporate job at the end of 2025 and moved her personal collection of 280 gin bottles into an old warehouse along Suzhou Creek, opening a restaurant-bar called Juniper. In under six months, that wall has grown to 450 bottles — reportedly the largest gin collection in Shanghai, nearly double what she started with at home.
The address is 195 Guangfu Road, a building with history of its own: it once housed the legendary restaurant Ultraviolet, now reimagined as a warehouse cluster of restaurants and concept stores. Juniper is split into three zones — a dining room, a bar lounge, and a soon-to-open chef's table centered around gin tasting menus.
The dining area keeps the warehouse's original high ceilings and columns, with earthy tones and warm evening lighting; on nice days, the side doors open and a few tables move outside — dogs welcome too. The bar area is an entirely different vibe: a wall of bottles stacked to the ceiling, so tall you'd need a ladder to reach the top shelf. At the end of the bar, a spotlit still isn't just for show — this is where regular gin tastings and distillation workshops happen, letting guests craft their own gin.
The Menu: From Duck Liver Croquettes to Argentinian Beef Skewers
The kitchen team has Michelin-starred backgrounds, and the menu leans into global flavors while weaving in Banu's Turkish and German family roots. The Duck Confit Water Chestnut Croquettes (¥98 for five) come coated in panko for a crisp bite, with the water chestnut's crunch balancing the richness of the duck confit — a solid opener. The Argentinian Beef Skewer (¥108), served with chimichurri and house-made pickles, features tender beef lifted by the sauce's acidity and herbs — understated but satisfying.
The standout of the night was the Moro Squid (¥128) — braised until extremely tender, set over dried tomatoes and hazelnuts, with a harissa-like tomato pepper sauce that builds heat gradually. The Smoked Cauliflower (¥68), drizzled with satay sesame sauce and topped with crushed cashews, has lightly charred tips and eats light. The Citrusy Capellini (¥68) layers lemon juice, lime zest, and finger lime for bright, fragrant notes — the angel hair is thin as silk, a refreshing alternative to the usual heavy meat-sauce pastas. For mains, the Sous Vide Short Rib (¥258) melts in fat, with a rosy pink center and silky jus, paired with sautéed seasonal vegetables and potato mille-feuille.
For dessert, the Black Tea Brûlée (¥68) with seasonal fruit was solid but unremarkable — the black tea flavor could come through stronger. The gin-infused Tiramisu (¥68), on the other hand, was more of a crowd-pleaser, making you wish the brûlée had leaned that direction too.
The drinks list is naturally the main event: the signature House G&T (¥68), built on Bombay, is the perfect entry point into that wall of bottles. Wine by the glass starts at ¥60, with bottles from ¥350. Whether you're here for the gin or the wine, Juniper has you covered.
Juniper is located at 195 Guangfu Road along Shanghai's Suzhou Creek. The restaurant, bar, and soon-to-open chef's table operate as separate zones — check with the venue directly for hours and reservations.
