Here are all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our November 2017 issue.
Restaurants
Moka Bros
Defined by a wholesome rather than staunchly healthy approach to life, Beijing-born fast casual eatery Moka Bros, from chef-sommelier duo Daniel Urdanata and Alex Molina, has already made an impression since opening in October.
Verdict: 4/5
Price: RMB60-150 per person
Who's going: young locals and expats
Good for: healthy-ish food, lunch dates, meetings, hangouts
Read the full review here. See listing for Moka Bros.
Tiger Bites
A venue that defined Shanghai’s bar scene during the great speakeasy boom of the last few years, Flask’s untimely closure due to leasing issues was shocking. After overseeing newer ventures like green-fingered cocktail bar Botanist on Xiangyang Bei Lu and military-themed Bunker in Xintiandi, Taiwan-American owners Jackson Cheng and Kevin Yu have reopened the bar that started it all at a flashy new location just off of Huaihai Zhong Lu.
Those acquainted with the old Flask will notice one huge difference – the famous coke machine ‘secret entrance’ is gone. As is the sandwich shop façade that was at the former location. Instead, there is a new concept, a snack bar called Tiger Bites, which holds the secret entrance to Flask, and to our reckoning offers more reason to get excited.
Verdict: 3.5/5
Price: from RMB20 per person
Who's going: local office workers, pre-Flask imbibers
Good for: quick eats, breakfast, snacks, lunch, solo dining
Read the full review here. See listing for Tiger Bites.
De Carbon Bar
From the creators of Opposite, culinary adventurers Jenson Pei and Kevin Hu, is De Carbon, a buzzy restaurant and bar specializing in barbecue. Tucked into 688 Square just off Nanjing Xi Lu, the location already makes us nervous; it’s a notorious restaurant graveyard for previous ventures (anyone remember Sweet & Sour?).
Verdict: 1.5/5
Price: RMB200-350 per person
Who's going: mainly locals
Good for: cocktails, those avoiding overeating
Read the full review here. See listing for De Carbon Bar.
Kun Thai
For a city that has it all, Shanghai’s options for Thai food are sparse if you’re looking for authenticity. There are Thai-style restaurants where you can eat very well, but with perhaps the exception of Michael Wendling’s T for Thai, most of them serve food adapted for local and Western palates. At newly-opened Kun Thai, itself owned by a Hong Kong boss, the menu offers a deeper cut into Thai culture that goes beyond creamy green curry and sweet chili sauce.
Verdict: 3.5/5
Price: RMB60-120
Who's going: mainly locals
Good for: the closest thing you'll get to real Thai food in Shanghai, spice fiends
Read the full review here. See listing for Kun Thai.
Bars
Ounce
Apart from the success Daniel An’s Shrine bar, or Mack Ross’ Magnolia Room and Tour, semi-open air complex United Valley’s story so far has been one of failure to launch. This is despite its promise of being a haven for quirky F&B venues, and prime location on Shaanxi and Changle Lu. However, after a recent visit to Ounce, one of the newest places to open there, it seems the vision is coming into focus after all.
Read the full review here. See listing for Ounce.
Flask
Gone but not forgotten, FLASK bar (the one with the coke machine entrance) has reopened at a sleek new location on Xiangyang Bei Lu. It's right next to the new Beef & Liberty, and Shanghai's first Moka Bros. Boy, must be great to have an office in that area.
Read the full review here. See listing for Flask.
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