When it comes to food imports, Tianjiners have several options. It’s 2017, after all, and Taobao has become China’s one-stop shop for all things everything. Taobao is fast, it’s cheap, it’s easy.
But you know what Taobao isn’t? A party. Shopping on Taobao is a solitary experience. One does not make friends while shopping on Taobao.
One does, however, make friends at M-Port.
M-Port is more than an imported-food grocery. It’s a bona fide hangout. The shop – which stocks snacks, cooking supplies and drinks from East and West – also doubles as a bar. The concept is simple: grab a bottle from M-Port’s selection, and instead of heading back out into the city, grab a seat in the room adjacent to the checkout.
At M-Port, bottles of imported beer are sold at astoundingly low prices. Our favorite, Goose Island IPA, goes for merely RMB18.80. For some perspective: At Beijing bars, a bottle of the same stuff would set you back around RMB30. We also appreciate the bargain Blue Moon (you may notice a preference for North American brews here), plus the variety of fancy Belgian beers at less-than-fancy prices. You can also grab a bottle of wine – M-Port’s selection spans worlds both old and new.
Craving a snack? An entire grocery store is at your disposal. We dare you to knock back a few beers without raiding the Japanese candy section. Or the American potato chips section. Or the... well, you see what we mean.
Our only issue, then, is the lack of space. M-Port’s seating area is dark and rather small, only seating around 10 people. When it’s empty, it feels like you have a private room to yourself. But in reality, prepare to share the long table with another party. If there’s really no space, you can take your purchases elsewhere – this is a grocery, after all.
See a listing for M-Port and read more Tianjin Bar Reviews
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