Here are all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our January 2019 issue:
New Restaurants
Kenichi
Image by Rason Wu/That's
With a menu touching on both Japanese and Taiwanese cuisines (but mostly Japanese), Kenichi draws a valid and under-appreciated connection between these two island regions.
While a large portion of the menu is given over to fish-based dishes, like sashimi, crab rolls and sushi, the folks at Kenichi know precisely how to tenderize a good steak. We began our feast with the grilled rib eye (RMB680), which was tender, juicy and pulled apart at the slightest touch of our teeth.
We finished our evening with a peanut butter old fashioned (RMB88). While we’ve tried peanut butter beer, we’ve never had a peanut butter cocktail. On first sip, it tasted quite the same as a glass of whiskey. After a second or two, however, the sharpness of the whiskey gave way to a sweet aftertaste. We went back for another taste, and then another. Needless to say, we were charmed by this new-fangled old fashioned cocktail.
Price: RMB200-400
Who’s going: Japanophiles, meat-freaks
Good for: sashimi, tenderized steaks, fancy cocktails
Nearest metro: Convention and Exhibition Center (Exit D), 2 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Kenichi.
Skina Tapas Bar & Restaurant
Image via Skina Tapas Bar & Restaurant
Nestled in the Ping An Finance Center, with an outdoor area large enough to host a large party, the establishment will soon welcome a new walkway that will connect it to the soon-to-be-opened Park Hyatt Hotel on the opposite side of the street.
The original Skina in Spain has quite the reputation, having earned a star from the folks at the Michelin Guide for four years in a row. Out of the approximately 40 edible items on the menu, we started our meal with one of Skina’s signature dishes: the crunchy suckling pig cut with roasted potatoes (RMB328). The small portion of lean meat arrives with a crispy skin and succulent layer of fat, which acts as a tender buffer zone for diners.
We finished our visit with two house special drinks from their wide selection of cocktails and wines: ‘backyard garden’ (RMB98), a floral vodka-based cocktail, and ‘blossom’ (RMB98), a lighter, floral and fruity cocktail beautifully covered with crushed rose petals. These refreshing and visually satisfying drinks are perfect for capping off a substantial meal, while also making for some Insta-worthy snaps.
Price: RMB250
Who’s going: lovers of Iberian cuisine, cityview enthusiasts
Good for: authentic tastes of Spain, laid-back atmosphere
Nearest metro: Shopping Park (Exit D), 5 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Skina.
New Bars
Bar Ink
Image via Bar Ink
Tucked in a corner building overlooking a small grassy field, Bar Ink is one of the latest F&B additions to Shenzhen’s hipster enclave, OCT Loft. The tattoo themed bar and restaurant was dreamed up by the owners of Lotus Ink, one of the city’s most acclaimed tattoo studios. Bar Ink’s menu boasts an array of Western dishes, which chef Eli Gregory tells us are a fusion between Spanish and French cuisines. Ordering a drink proves to be a unique experience. Reflecting the arty theme, Bar Ink’s cocktail menu is arranged not by liquor but by color, with a selection of both classic and creative drinks.
Price: RMB100-200
Who’s going: tattoo lovers, hipsters and fine food fans
Good for: elevated food and drinks in an artsy but homey space
Nearest metro: Qiaocheng North Station (Exit B), 10 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Bar Ink.
Hepburn
Image by Jonathan Zhong/That's
We heard of Hepburn’s arrival in Shenzhen way back in October, when club-going friends and acquaintances began hailing the club as the ‘new cool spot in town,’ allegedly due to the hundreds and even thousands of patrons that pack the establishment most nights.
“Good gracious! For real, bro?” That was the impression we had upon seeing Hepburn’s through-the-roof drink prices. Most of the offers come in package deals, with prices ranging from around RMB1,300 to as much as over RMB240,000, the latter featuring very fancy drinks such as Champagne Armand de Brignac and Richard Hennessey, amongst others. Any single bottle of wine or champagne will cost you thousands on average, if not an arm and a leg to boot.
Despite being an undoubtedly crowded space, one impressive aspect of the dance floor is that it’s built on a layer of spring coils, which enable you to physically feel the music as it vibrates to the explosive techno tunes.
Price: RMB500-2,000 per person
Who’s going: rich kids, techno fanatics, club goers
Good for: feeling (or pretending) you’re rich, squandering money, futuristic vibes
Nearest Metro: Hongling North (Exit B), 10 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Hepburn.
Read more Shenzhen restaurant reviews and bar reviews.
[Cover image via Skina Tapas Bar & Restaurant]
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