Before you ask, there is no special meaning behind Mod’s name. It was chosen because it’s simple, easy to remember and three letters long.
The simplicity extends to the bar’s indirectly lit interior: a humble rectangular space dominated by a pine wood bar and tables, which are serviced by two black-clad staff.
A rear area with soft, dark pleather seating attached to the wall makes for a cozy nook, though the bar is sadly sans toilet. A bathroom is available outside and up a flight of stairs, or you could just pop into the Houhai location of Frankie’s Bar and Grille next door.
So what sets Mod Bar apart? Well, juice. An avid juicer founded the establishment to offer up favored mixes discovered over the years.
The non-alcoholic Mod chao green (RMB45) is colored as its name suggests, and includes apple, celery, spinach, lemon and ginger. It’s a blend you wouldn’t expect to work, but the ginger and lemon hold the drink together – albeit with a kick you wouldn't imagine could come from a pulpy green beverage served in a mug.
The Mod funk green (RMB65) is the chao’s sassy cousin. It has the same base ingredients, but lets its hair down a bit with a healthy dose of Tabasco and vodka, creating a spicy mix not recommended for the easily offended.
The hong pingguo (RMB50) includes a shot and a half of vodka, but you wouldn’t know it. The tart mix of apple and lemon juice paired with grenadine masks the spirit so well we have to ask if there is actually alcohol in it. There is, we’re told, but the cold pressed juice has ‘absorbed’ the alcohol taste.
Mod has Estrella Damm on tap (RMB30), a light lager that would pair well with the reasonably priced pepper chicken panini (RMB35), but beer is more of a second thought – suds-seeking customers will likely head to Frankie’s glistening taps.
When we visited, Mod’s soft opening already had well-balanced and fruit-focused creations in cup, though changes to the menu are planned for after Chinese New Year.
For health conscious drinkers – or even those just curious about the union of cold pressed juices and spirits – Mod is more than worth a sip.
Price: RMB100
Who’s going: health conscious drinkers, Frankie’s wanderers
Good for: cold pressed juices, getting dates tipsy
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