A That's series where we ask a Shanghai-based somebody to tell us 5 Things specific to his or her life.
Café Daliah, an Austrian café located on Shaanxi Bei Lu, is aruguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing café in town, where locals and expats are flocking to for brunch and contemporary eats. The space even has its own slide and swing sets!
It only makes sense that the coolest cafe is owned by the coolest Austrian lady, Daliah Spiegel. If you don’t know her personally, you’ve probably seen her rainbow locks whizzing through the streets as she goes by on her scooter or walks her dog, Donatella Versace. We talked to Daliah about what it’s like… well being her. 
1. On the hardest part about serving schnitzel to Chinese people
Making them eat the potato salad that comes with the meat!
2. On where she gets that funky wardrobe
Luckily, I was able to bring five suitcases with my favorite pieces to Shanghai. Most are from my mom or from flea markets. Here in Shanghai, it is trickier. I love clothes from different countries and a different time. I am also not really interested in fast fashion, and I am too poor to afford the really fancy shit. So here in Shanghai it is mainly Anxi market or the clothes swaps I organize once a month. 
3. On the birth of Café Daliah
I started by serving schnitzel 12 hours a day and being the worst waitress ever.
4. On creating a café that is more than just food
I always intended to make my space about more than just putting things in your mouth. The furniture can be completely disassembled, therefore we could have an empty space in a couple of minutes.
I have hosted more conventional events like charities, dog adoptions, art exhibitions, but also some more experimental ventures such a sex shop pop up in the loo, throwing thousands of colorful balls down the slide before a fashion show, dipping vibrators into chocolate fountains. I hosted events that were packed and super fun and others that were a complete fail.
Right now, I put a lot of love and passion into some sustainability projects with zero waste; a clothing swap shop and a magical fortune telling witch dinner. On my to do list is a project that I call toilet-art (Yes, again happening in the toilets. I really like that space!), a bouncy castle, an indoor swimming pool party, an augmented reality selfie project and some more undefined ideas.
5. On why she moved to Shanghai
When life gets too comfortable and you feel safe and good about what you are doing, then it is maybe time to move on. Get out your comfort zone and do something you are scared of doing.
That’s how it started. I had really no clue about what was going to happen. I love to work project based so I did a lot of different things. I worked as a freelance photographer, worked on some art projects, made a capsule fashion collection, DJ-ed, worked on my book (where I am still on my first page), worked in a hospital for a year with transsexuals... Before that, I dropped out of art school and studied medicine. The usual!
Don't miss Daliah's monthly swap shop happening this Wednesday! See event listing here.
See a listing for Café Daliah. Read our review of Café Daliah here.
For more 5 Things, click here.
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