What a difference a year makes. Last September, we were telling you about WHEAT Eatery’s second location. In that time, they’ve rebranded as Chin Chin by WHEAT, but sadly their vegan coconut cream pancakes and kale margaritas will no longer be available on Donghu Lu with their recent closure. Meal plans are still available though, so all is not lost.
Image by Betty Richardson/That's
Sadly The Chop Chop Club released a statement confirming their recent closure. They cite an "inexorable droop of UNICO's bar and club activities" as well as inability on the part of UNICO "to implement the strategic shift of the entire operation under The Chop Chop Club Banner" as the reason. Both venues will be missed.
Image by Cristina Ng/That's
The South American invasion of Jing’an continues with the recent opening of La Social, just around the corner from Revolucion Cocktail and Funka Del Sur on Yanping Lu. The Beijing transplant has a cool Havana party atmosphere and serves mojitos in fishbowls. What’s not to like?
Also in Jing'an, Geo Valdivieso (RIINK, formerly The Captain and Unico) and Victor Doukov (formerly of Revolucion Cocktail) have joined forces for an ambitious new nightclub called UP on Shaanxi Bei Lu. They are working with Max Trullas Moreno (who designed all el Willy Group venues) and Chef Carlos Sotomayor (formerly EKEKO, el Efante) for food.
Image courtesy Red Cactus
Over on Yuyuan Lu, the beer scene is kicking up. Joining Stone Brewing on that street is a Belgian beer-focused bar called Red Cactus. Expect tap takeovers and other events such as the inagural Ladies Who Drink launch in the near future.
Two new cocktail bars joining the scene include 1/3 Blossom on Yanqing Lu and Art & Swigger, which has taken over the former Kaiba location on Wuding Lu.
After years on Jianguo Lu, Kakadu has been replaced by Modern Art Kitchen. The Chinese Australian fusion concept by Modern Media keeps some of Kakadu's most popular items while adding Da Dong ducks and java from The Coffee Academics.
Image by Cristina Ng/That's
LuOne, one of Shanghai’s newest malls, is starting to fill up. In addition to the third location of Austin Hu’s Diner (Plaza 66 is open now, by the way), other notable mentions include branches of Da Dong, GREYBOX Coffee, Heat and a new hot pot place called Yuan Yang, courtesy of FCC, the group behind upscale Chinese places such as Maurya, Sense 8 and The Peacock Room.
Over at Xintiandi, the FCC Group also opened an opulent Cantonese restaurant called Lion. In the same neighborhood, The Nest's new Northern European bistro slash bakery is set to open on December 1. Although earlier reports had the name pegged as The Nestling, they are now tentatively calling it Rye & Co. Last time we checked, they were working on some lovely canapé-style snacks for a rooftop cocktail lounge.
Image courtesy Social Supply
SOCIAL SUPPLY will be hosting the second edition of the SIP Cocktail Festival on Sep 15. For more details, including the full bartender lineup click here.
Image courtesy Strictly Cookies
Last but not least, Strictly Cookies is keeping their Mid-Autumn Mookie tradition alive. The tasty clash of mooncakes and cookies will be available until September 9. Butterscotch with salted egg yolk, anyone?
[Cover image via tricycle.org]
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