Todd Pearson moved from Australia to China in 1999, flying into Hongqiao airport because the Pudong airport only did not open until later that year. Having come to Shanghai on an 18-month "hardship posting" with the Queensland government, he fell in love with the city.

When the posting came to an end, Pearson decided to stay. Fast forward to 2013, and he had the opportunity to co-found The Camel Hospitality Group, opening bars, restaurants and gyms in both Shanghai and Suzhou.

"It has been an incredible journey staring from The Camel Sports Bar on Yueyang Road, growing to about 20 venues in 2018," Pearson said.

Pearson has lived in Xuhui District, not far from Yongkang Road, the entire 20-plus years, observing the street grow from its humble beginning as a wet market to a "bar street" to now being a wanghong coffee street. (Wanghong culture is that popular with "influencers," "online celebrities" and their followers on social media.)

Could you introduce the neighborhood you live in?

I've been living in Xuhui District, not far from Yongkang Road the entire 20-plus years I have been in Shanghai. Back then, Xuhui was one of the most popular areas of town for young expats. The older historic part of Xuhui was bustling with so many small designer shops, boutique hotels, bakeries, restaurants, and trendy cafes, Its tree-lined streets and historic art deco architecture mixed amongst new modern architecture makes the area one of the most unique areas of any city in the world to explore.

I spend the bulk of my time in and around Yongkang Road, which from humble beginnings as a wet market had its run of being the Shanghai "bar street" to now being a wanghong coffee street. I originally used to buy fruit and vegetables on Yongkang Road in the early 2000s when it was a wet market – and then a few bars started to open so we took a spot and opened Sliders Bar which was the third bar to open on the street. At its peak as a Bar Street, Yongkang Rd had almost 50 places you could have a drink.

In recent years, the street has re-invented itself as a wanghong hotspot. It is unique in its lack of big brands, all the businesses on the street are privately owned, and it has a real community feel that makes everyone feel welcome which is so special in a city as big as Shanghai.

What's the best thing about living in this neighborhood?

Yongkang Road is now an "all-day" destination, a great place for coffee in the morning, a street side lunch or an ice cream, some shopping and then onto evening drinks and dinner. Yongkang Road remains such a big part of my week – I work and arrange most of my meetings from one of the cafes on the street, meet friends after work and entertain the kids on Yongkang over the weekends where they love to explore the little stationery shops with their pocket money. The Camel Hospitality Group still has three venues on the street, The Blarney Stone Irish Pub, KIN Urban Thai Kitchen, and D.O.C Italian which has just moved to Yongkang Road.

What attraction here should not be missed?

It has a distinctive blend of foreign and local influences creating a vibe that's unique to this part of Shanghai.

Each person may have different tastes, but they all want a great cafe. What's your favorite one near home?

In the morning I often work out of one of the cafes with Yongkang Road having some of Shanghai's best independent coffee shops. My go-to places are Loop 58 (58 Yongkang Road 永康路58号) for my morning latte or Café del Volcán (25 Yongkang Road 永康路25号).

Where should someone eat around here?

For lunch on Yongkang Road, I have to mention KIN Urban Thai Kitchen (45 Yongkang Road 永康路45号), which we opened in 2019. You have to try the Khao Soi which I find myself ordering almost too often! Khao soi is a dish from Chiangmai which is a rich coconut broth with chicken and egg noodles topped with fried noodles; it's an amazing mix of intense flavors and textures and then wash it down with what has become the Instagram special Thai Milk Tea Ice cream Float.

The newly opened TonTon (176 Yongkang Road 永康路176号) is my other favorite lunch spot on the street, they have some of the city's best pastries and killer sandwiches for lunch!

On weekends, my kids love a walk down to Yongkang Road and always have us lining up for frozen yogurt at Spoon (59 Yongkang Road 永康路59号) or an icecream at Azabuya (51 Yongkang Road 永康路51号) whose caramel sea salt ice-cream is a must!

The kids always insist on getting a drink from the Bear or at least a friendly wave of the paw at Hinichijou Café (68 Yongkang Road 永康路68号). This hole in the wall café is completely staffed by people with disabilities, they take orders through a QR code, and a bear paw serves your drink through a small hole in the wall, the bear claw shakes your hand before waving goodbye. Only in Shanghai would you see something as unique as this!

From high fashion to emerging designers, from flowers to fresh produce, where do you shop in your neighborhood?

The neighborhood is just a stone's throw away from the large malls at Xujiahui and IAPM, but what's most fun is beyond the malls.

Melt Season (No. 1, Lane 45, Taiyuan Road 太原路45弄1号) is a unique fragrance store with art installations that is like nothing you would find anywhere else.

SUZUO (281 Xianyang Road S. 襄阳南路281号) has an eclectic collection of unique gifts and is the perfect place to find that something that you didn't know you were looking for!

Riverside Flowers (62 Yongkang Road 永康路62号): Anna is my go-to for flowers, she has a great weekly subscription service to have fresh flowers delivered every week!

Is there a neighborhood place you recommend for a night out or simply a drink after work?

For drinks on Yongkang hood, I love Bar à Vin, it's a hidden gem just off Yongkang Rd (87 Jiashan Road 嘉善路87号). They have an ever rotating wine bottle selection at reasonable prices and a great French fusion menu that surprises me every time I visit!

Despite no longer being a bar street, Yongkang Rd still has lots of options for drinks, and for me the best option is always The Blarney Stone (77-79 Yongkang Road 永康路77-79号). It is without doubt Shanghai's most authentic Irish Pub, in fact perhaps Shanghai's most "authentic" pub full stop.

The Blarney Stone first opened in 2001 on Dongping Rd before being moved to Yongkang Road in 2013. The beers and whiskeys and pub food (the bangers and mash are my go-to) are all great, but the hidden surprise is that Roy behind the bar used to mix cocktails at the Long Bar at the Waldorf Astoria – he makes some of the city's best Martini's! Tell him what flavor profile you like and he will make you something off menu.

Whilst in all my years in Shanghai I've seen the city change so much, from zero to 8,000 coffee shops. I've watched Yongkang Road change from wet market, to bar street, to wanghong coffee street, but my happy place is still sitting at the end of the bar at The Blarney Stone watching the world go by on the street outside in the city I have called home for the last 20 years.

Have you made any new discoveries in your neighborhood lately?

As the Shanghai "bar streets" and popular wanghong streets have moved around the city, so too has our Italian restaurant D.O.C Gastronomia Italiana, which we opened on Dongping Road back in 2013. D.O.C quickly became a neighborhood favorite for authentic wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta and when the restaurants along Dongping Road all had to close, D.O.C moved over to Dagu Road in Jing'an District. We recently decided to move D.O.C back to Xuhui, back to its original hood with its re-opening at 43 Yongkang Road (永康路43号) giving Yongkang Road an authentic option for quality Italian pizza and pasta in a cosy space.