Revelers orphaned by the closure of Mesa/Manifesto in July need bemoan their fate no more. Vincent Landais (he opened Dr. Wine before selling up to his partner) has taken over the top three floors of the former XY One complex in hope of getting the party swinging again on this stretch of Julu Lu.
The building has been through tumultuous times indeed; despite being in prime Puxi territory a parade of owners has been unable to make this spot hop. First impressions suggest Landais et al. have the guanxi and party know-how to keep Kartel alive for more than the usual six months at this address. Design company Lime 388 (behind Yucca and The Purple Onion, among others) have blasted apart the previously dour interior and created a more sleek space. The concrete is still exposed and the lighting low, but the bar has been moved, making the space roomier and less dingy. The couches and tables were populated by a hip young French crowd sipping on glasses of wine and standard cocktails (all RMB40-60) on opening night, and you can expect that to continue. Below the main floor, there’s a VIP room catering to well-heeled loungers who need to separate themselves from the hoi polloi.
It is the spacious, wooden rooftop terrace that is Kartel’s crowning glory though. Under-utilized by the previous ownership, it has suddenly become prime drinking real estate. The deck has its own bar and around 10 tables with sofas and, with surprisingly few high-rises around, a 360-degree view of downtown. Not a bad new home for boozehounds sniffing around the area for a cocktail.
