AnThai: A Tiny Thai Restaurant With A Speakeasy Bar (Closed)
AnThai is a tiny Thai restaurant with a speakeasy bar located near Xintiandi. It opened late last year, and is operated by Korean bartender Bee.
Update: AnThai has relocated to 594 Fuxing Middle Road.
The food is simple and tasty enough, and portions ample. I think the vibe and space is the bigger draw, which attracts a buzzing young and hip crowd. It’s definitely an interesting destination for a low-key date night, followed by drinks at the bar.
Minced pork with lettuce (¥68) - Spicy larb with fresh lettuce. Always fun to eat and tasty. The spice level is maybe "three out of five chilies" for me—it packs some heat.
Morning glory (¥48) stir-fried with spicy fermented soybean paste.
Angus beef with red curry (¥188) - I wouldn't say it's a traditional dish. Beef cooked medium over a ton of wilted spinach with mushrooms. The curry was tasty, but too little an amount.
AnThai spiced chicken (¥58) - Chicken thigh with a super thin, crispy casing, served with shredded marinated cucumbers and house fish sauce to dip. Lovely!
As for the bar, it’s through the door at the end of the dining room.
Cocktails start at ¥118, made with house infusions. They're served bespoke, tailored to preference within reason. Infusions rotate regularly based on availability, seasonality, and the creative whimsy of Bee.
The two drinks I tried leaned sweet-sour and came across a bit one-dimensional, which was a pity. But a sampler of the “pea” cocktail, which was earthy and grassy, was rather nice.
Other cocktails on the night included ones made with passion fruit, yuzu, rose, and cucumber.
In summary, the cocktails aren't great and they won't blow your mind. I just did not get a quality drink for the price, and despite the effort, the drinks were only "OK". For the vibe of the restaurant and the gimmicky experience of a speakeasy, it's still a good date night option as something outside of the box.
AnThai
Address: 89 Xing'an Lu 兴安路89号
Tel: 18049883318
Hours: Bistro, Tue-Sun, 5pm-midnight; Bar, 7pm-2am; closed Monday
About Rachel Gouk
Founder & Editor, Nomfluence
Rachel Gouk is a seasoned dining journalist based in Shanghai with over a decade of experience covering food culture, restaurant developments, and the Asian culinary landscape.
