Would You Visit This Café Just Because of Li Zongsheng?

Imagine walking into a two-story Shanghai café where the walls aren’t just decorated—they’re packed with celebrity-curated details: guitars, vintage-style leather bags, books recommended by known ‘craftspeople,’ and even in-house music to listen to while you sip. That’s the reality at (Youlian), a new music-and-coffee hybrid spot in Xintiandi. But here’s the real question: if you’re not already a fan of the legendary musician Li Zongsheng, is there any reason to wait in line for a table?

Probably not—unless you’re deeply interested in curated artisan spaces or Li Zongsheng’s personal taste in design and music. The café is undeniably well crafted, but its appeal is tightly tied to his brand. For the average coffee drinker, the space may feel overcrowded with nostalgia rather than offering a functional café experience.

What Is , Exactly?

is a two-story, lifestyle-oriented café located in Shanghai’s Xintiandi district, currently in soft opening. It blends a café with a music-themed retail and exhibition space. The ground floor serves as the ordering area, flanked by display walls filled with curated objects—books, tools, and vintage curiosities. Customers are expected to decide what they want before heading upstairs to the seating area.

What’s Inside: Li Zongsheng’s Personal Touch

The second floor is where Li Zongsheng’s influence really shows. According to staff, many of the display elements, including a wooden cabinet for guitars and a small listening lounge, were flown in from Taiwan and originally belonged to Li himself. The space includes a collection of his guitars, leather goods he designed, T-shirts, headphones, and guitar picks for sale. The walls feature design sketches for the brand and written reflections on the brand’s ethos by both Li and Taiwanese musician Ashin.

Why the Space Feels Overstuffed

Despite its stylish appearance, the café has a major spatial issue. At roughly 100 square meters, the second floor is densely packed: there’s a barista counter, kitchen, guitar and merch display shelves, a clothing rack for T-shirts, a long bar for listening to curated playlists, and limited seating. Some customers report having to place personal items on the floor due to lack of space. The overall effect is more gallery or shrine than functional café.

What Li Zongsheng Says About the Brand

Li Zongsheng describes the brand’s philosophy as: “Started plainly, persisted dutifully, trained relentlessly—that’s the origin of .” While this ethos clearly informs the thoughtful design and attention to detail, it also underscores that the concept is deeply personal. The result is a space that feels more like an extension of Li’s creative identity than a broadly appealing coffee shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the café mainly about coffee, or is it more of a music and lifestyle space?

is primarily a hybrid space that blends a café with a music-themed retail and lifestyle experience. While it does serve coffee, much of the focus is on Li Zongsheng’s curated guitars, merchandise, music, and design elements. The café atmosphere takes a backseat to the artistic and nostalgic elements.

Do they sell Li Zongsheng’s music or products in the café?

Yes, the café sells a range of music-related products associated with Li Zongsheng, including headphones, guitar picks, and T-shirts that he designed. There are also leather music bags and other merchandise on display and available for purchase.

Is the café crowded or hard to move around in?

Customers have noted that the second floor, which is around 100 square meters, feels cramped. The space includes multiple functional areas—like a guitar display, listening booth, merchandise shelf, T-shirt rack, bar, and seating—all in close quarters. Some visitors have mentioned having to put personal belongings on the floor due to limited table space.

Would I enjoy this café if I’m not a fan of Li Zongsheng?

Likely not. The café’s design, product selection, and overall vibe are heavily influenced by Li Zongsheng’s personal taste and brand. Without an existing interest in his music or aesthetic, the space may feel overly niche or crowded with sentimental value rather than offering broad appeal.

What’s the best thing about the café’s design?

The most distinctive elements are the personal touches brought in by Li Zongsheng, such as his own guitars, a listening lounge, and furniture imported from Taiwan. The curated bookshelf, featuring titles recommended by figures like Linghu Lei and Meng Jinghui, also adds a layer of artisanal curation to the space.

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