Well, well, well, if it isn't time for November gossip already. Once again, we have another jam packed month of openings for your degustation...
First up: a new hidden bar, due to open at a ~secret location~ in the former French Concession. Named Dry Goods Cold Drinks (DGCD for short), the bar will be accessible through an inconspicuous-looking general store front, behind which a luxurious whisky cocktail den awaits. Rick Starr, formerly of Commune Social will be manning the bar.
Shanghai's also getting its first magic bar, courtesy of local illusionist and Bund 18 owner, Anson Chen and fellow performer Joe Deng. Blackstone Magic Bar will be a combination of "Japanese-style magic bar and a German close-up magic theatre," and situated in Found 158 (where else?!). Chris Xi of EPIC will be in charge of cocktails, and Kokai Studios will be putting together the sexy interiors.
Now 'soft open' and catching the tail end of the temperate weather is Highline, an eatery and cocktail lounge by F&B bad boys John Liu (Scarpetta, Coquille), Cody Allen (Le Baron) and Michael Sun.
Daimon Bisto, Alvin Leung's casual restaurant in Bund 5 is also now open, and slinging tricked out contemporary Canto food. Think fried chicken and egg waffles (a famous Hong Kong street snack), foie gras pot stickers, boozy milk tea cocktails and crazy-flavored xiaolongbao.
In other similarly exciting news, a real, fully-sanctioned Hard Rock Cafe is coming to the 'Hai, slated to open later in the year. That'll be at a new development called Fengsheng Li on Maoming Bei Lu by Nanjing Xi Lu.
Also coming to that same development at the end of 2016 is a stand-alone Goose Island Brewhouse, set in a yuuuuge 1,200 square meter space. Our man on the ground tells us they'll be brewing Goose Island onsite in addition to importing beers, and will have an extensive food program with dry-aged meat cooked in an imported Josper oven from Spain (like the one they've got over at RAW).
Speaking of loosey gooseys, Logan’s Punch bar in Jing’an is debuting one heck of a free-flow deal. But here’s the catch: it’s on a Monday. Still, RMB150 for all the Goose Island Honker’s Ale you can drink from 9pm until closing is hard to say no to. The eponymous bar owner Logan Brouse (below) *may or may not* have plans to spread his wings and open a new bar in Jing’an.
News reaches us from the Shanghai Brewery Group that one of their centrally-located branches, Hengshan Lu, will be closing for two and a half months for renovation. Luckily, there's always Shanghai Brewery Hongmei Lu and Donghu Lu...
It’s been another busy month for The Camel Group, whose caravan of concepts stretches ever longer with the announcement of two new venues in Found 158: El Santo and Hooked. The former will be a modern Mexican cantina with a focus on mescal-based cocktails, and the latter a beer bar serving a daily catch of seafood fare like fish ‘n’ chips and poke bowls, and even a soft shell crab burger.
If you can't wait until Hooked opens to get your soft shell crab burger fix, totally go eat the one at Blue Feaster (below), a new restaurant we just reviewed. It's rad.
Speaking of burgers, Cali export Fatburger has made an appearance in China, ensconced within the welcoming bosom of Sinan Mansions. Find there a streamlined version of Fatburger's OG menu of reasonably priced burgers, shakes, onion rings and the sweet smell of freedom (fries).
Fine dining lovers, Stefan Stiller’s Michelin starred restaurant Tai’an Table will be back in action at an all-new location at the end of November after a brief hiatus, when it arose they didn’t have the correct licenses for restaurant operation. Oops!
Meanwhile a flurry of new menu items have hit the stage over at EGG Café. Old favorites like the potato rosti waffle have returned, alongside a particularly delish cola-brined pulled pork eggs benedict, served on a fluffy American-style biscuit. And get this: the 'Hollandaise' sauce is made with butternut squash! What is even going on with the world today.
They might have said adieu to The Pantry on Wulumuqi Lu, but Amelia’s, purveyors of fine British jams, chutneys and more, have opened a brand new shop at 699 Julu Lu. Here you’ll find breakfasts, lunches, coffee, tea and alcoholic drinks too.
Fans of comfort food will also delight in news of a new Al’s Diner branch, situated conveniently (or inconveniently for your diet) right above their bakery at 174 Xiangyang Nan Lu. Worth checking out for the exclusive menu items, including chicken and waffles.
Another homegrown brand has sprung from the fertile soil of Shanghai’s entrepreneurial landscape: Kobo. Specializing in healthy, unprocessed snack boxes, we imagine these will be the guys to keep you from going Paleo to pizza when hunger sets in (www.eatkobo.com)
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