A Day in the Life of an Urban Literary Guy: URBANSELECT’s Healing-Style Grocery & Gourmet

Text & Photos / A Man’s Daily Life

In mid-September this year, during the autumnal equinox, a new URBAN SELECT,

URBANSELECT quietly opened in an alleyway on Zhongshan North Road—a two-story white building with floor-to-ceiling windows whose decorations, seen from afar, resemble house motifs.

By day, a small pool in front of the entrance teems with fish swimming freely amid lush greenery.

At night, the lights hanging from the second floor cast a star-like glow from the building, warm and serene.

URBAN SELECTThe first floor is a curated brand selection space.

The second floor houses URBAN Cafe, offering a novel dining concept from morning till night.

The basement level serves not only as a dining area but also hosts occasional art and cultural exhibitions.

Currently in soft-opening phase, the official grand opening is set for December 23, followed by a two-day event through December 25.

At the entrance, shelves are lined with various styles of succulents and planters.

The right section showcases lifestyle brand items handpicked by the owner from around the world.

Some are playful, some design-forward, others carry a literary vibe—each small item in the boutique has the power to spark unique conversations about life.

(Image provided / A Man’s Daily Life)

The tortilla is soft and moist, while the filling carries the aroma of mushrooms and truffle cheese, making for a truly distinctive flavor.

(Image provided / A Man’s Daily Life)

A chicken leg roasted in a 250°C oven.

URBAN SELECT The premium chicken thigh meat remains tender and juicy, locking in all the flavors.

It also pairs nicely with the shop’s homemade salsa, adding a refreshing touch.

On the side, there’s pesto-flavored bread and fresh lettuce—crisp and delicious on their own.

Or you can drizzle on generous amounts of sesame sauce for extra flavor.

(Image provided / A Man’s Daily Life)

Two cloud-like sunny-side-up eggs, prepared like baking a cake—whipped egg whites are poured in before going into the oven.

Two cloud-like sunny-side-up eggs, made like baking a cake — the egg whites are whipped before being put into the oven,

After taking the photos, we couldn’t wait to cut into them and take a bite—the texture was just like flavorless cotton candy,

and they had a fluffy sensation in the mouth.

It’s recommended to sprinkle some salt and pepper on them for better taste. The appearance is quite creative, but I personally still prefer the usual sunny-side-up eggs.