If a deity descended on Shenzhen, yanked a new building from the center of the city and set it down in an area of town better known for warehouse sales of Halloween tat, that would be the newly opened Halo Square shopping complex.
Sheltered beneath one of Halo’s gleaming awnings sits The Tap Room, a bar that checks the boxes for quality beer, good food and friendly service, but falls prey to a pitfall that could be fixed with a few swats at a keyboard.
First, the good. Wide sliding doors reveal an interior tastefully lit by filament-glowing Edison bulbs above wide, wood tables and comfortable seats. Tables in the back offer a bit more privacy (and a wall length padded seat) and the ostensibly ‘outdoor’ area has a roof.
During our visit, most of the 28 taps were in use, offering up selections like the RMB60 Ballast Point California Kölsch, a slightly fruity and totally accessible brew for those who can’t stomach extra hoppy IPAs.
The caramel and vanilla notes of the Founders Breakfast Stout are also worth a sip, with this chocolaty brew sporting an impressive 100 rating on ratebeer.com. But be warned, this full-bodied beverage is also wallet-lightening with a RMB80 price tag.
Food, on the other hand, is well priced for what you get. The RMB58 fried linguine with Bolognese sauce is prepared fresh and a RMB28 order of two roast frankfurter sausages (RMB28) comes with pickled gherkin, mashed potatoes and grilled baby tomatoes soaked in olive oil – practically a meal itself.
Not to knock bars nestled on the edges of ‘the nice part of town,’ but the quality food was a surprise until we learned the chef cut his teeth working in some of Shenzhen’s top hotels.
Now for the bad: the music. On our visit, the music was a dozen or so songs looped at conversation murdering decibels starting at 9pm. Though the couple playing liar’s dice didn’t mind, a Spotify account and a leftward nudge on the volume knob would no doubt earn the appreciation of some customers.
For anyone passing through the area or simply interested in Shenzhen’s latest craft beer destination, the Tap Room is worth a swallow. It’s also ample evidence that even rough-at-the-edges parts of Shenzhen are making way for the clean lines of oddly-named shopping centers.
Price: RMB100
Who’s going: dice rattlers, suited men
Good for: sausage snacks, craft beer
See our listing for The Tap Room.
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