Old Shanghai Institutions: Cafe Parisien

Cafe Parisien was one of those places that seemed to be always there. Down on the Avenue Eduard VII (the French side of Avenue Edward VII – not Yan’an Lu down towards the Bund) it was arguably the first place to ever book a jazz band in Shanghai around 1919 – the Cafe Parisien Orchestra with piano player Harry Kerrey (who remained at the venue till 1923). It’s ballroom was popular for events and dinner-dances – the Rotary Club would rent out the whole venue annually.