Grapevine Pub

By Matthew Bossons, June 10, 2015

Unlike most of Guangzhou’s ‘pubs’, the floor of Grapevine Pub is not comprised of bowed wooden boards, there is no pool table and the music isn’t an awkward, seemingly non-stop loop of Nirvana and Snoop Dogg.

Located in Liede near Xingsheng Lu, the site is cramped but presents a lounge-like ambiance that is both inviting and relaxing. Aside from its airy atmosphere and prompt service, the bar boasts plenty of unique alcohol concoctions, meaning you won’t have to just guzzle booze to catch a buzz – you can slurp it.

In a throwback to those rowdy college days, the pub offers spiked Jell-O and liquor infused popsicles (RMB32 each). The Jell-O option is served either in a glass, for solo consumption, or in half a watermelon rind (RMB68) emptied of its fleshy red insides. The latter (and larger) option is perfect for sharing with a loved one or a group of young-at-heart coworkers after a long day at the office.

The ‘special’ popsicles are a real treat and come in flavors faithful to classic cocktails, such as the always-refreshing mojito. As far as we know, this is the only location in Guangzhou offering such creative liquor consumption methods.

If you prefer to drink your alcohol as opposed to eat or lick it, then dive into a Long Island iced tea (RMB60). It sounds like a cliché choice, but Grapevine Pub makes them good. Real good. If beer is more your pace, then grab a bottle of Hoegaarden (RMB45) or a pint of draft Stella Artois (RMB45) and hit the patio.

Recently introduced, high-quality food options also render this newcomer worthy of a visit. With a number of meal-sized selections, as well as a variety of artistically crafted appetizers (made in the spirit of tapas), this pub is dishing out something radical that sets it apart from the competition. The chef behind Grapevine Pub’s menu previously specialized in French cuisine and his affinity for fine food is apparent in both the polished flavors and presentation.

The pub’s only downside is that it doesn’t have its own washroom. Being attached to GTLand, patrons have to venture down a maze of corridors to use their facilities and the actual stalls resemble something torn from a war-ravaged country.